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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Riley? Really?

87 replies

MexicanHat · 13/08/2013 17:29

I am very surprised to see the name Riley at no. 8 in the Top Ten Boys names. I don't know of anyone who has used this name. I've never come across the name at all. It's above William and James and I know lots of babies/children/men with these names. Obviously the list is correct - anyone know lots of Rileys?

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mathanxiety · 14/08/2013 04:48

While not screechy in a loud way, the parents of the Riley with the sister Lacey are inclined to belong to the 'children should be seen but not heard' school of parenting and treat the girls as just about tolerable nuisances whose care is mostly farmed out to others. They are not screechy only because they are not around the girls much, but if they were then I think there would be a fair amount of screeching. As it is, there is never-ending correction of them at weekends and holidays (Riley, look where you're going/ look what you've done with your drink Riley/ Riley stop that NOW). It's painful to sit out and hear all that whiny complaining at the children from the other side of the fence.

sleepywombat · 14/08/2013 06:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fairylea · 14/08/2013 06:30

I know several, all well educated parents in very good jobs. In our area (south Norfolk) it is becoming quite a classic name.

TobyLerone · 14/08/2013 07:43

The only people I have met with children called Riley are not particularly well-educated, nor have they had "very good" jobs, if they had jobs at all.

Just my observation, though.

MikeLitoris · 14/08/2013 07:53

Wow. Got to love a bot of name snobbery in the morning.

I'd rather name all my dc Riley than William or James .

What a loud mouthed, jobless harpie I must be.

ClartyCarol · 14/08/2013 07:57

I know of a Ryly. Really.

Fairylea · 14/08/2013 08:20

Well Toby you're wrong.

I'll say it.

I have a Riley. And both me and my dh are university educated, I turned down a place at oxford to care for my grandma when she was terminally ill with cancer and returned to study when I was older.

Both dh and I have (had in my case as I am now sahm) senior level positions.

We just liked the name. It really IS that simple.

We also have a dd who has an extremely unusual name, a "posh" name if you like. We just liked that name too.

I think we are all beyond the age of being able to detect income or class from a name or even considering that class or background matters. Surely EVERY child deserves their own chance in life and not to be judged according to their name or their parents?

How ridiculously snobby some people are.

Greythorne · 14/08/2013 08:31

First thing that springs to mind is 'leading the life of Riley'.

AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 14/08/2013 08:38

Stella McCartney has a daughter called Reiley. Her names are a bit 'themed' for my taste (she also has a Miller, Beckett and a Bailey) but I doubt Reiley will be complaining that the name holds her back!

cece · 14/08/2013 08:44

I know one but she is a girl.

usualsuspect · 14/08/2013 08:45

I know a few,boys and girls.

Sorry to disappoint, but their parents all work.

Rooners · 14/08/2013 09:00

There are quite a lot here. I don't like it, because it sounds like a surname and because it has 'rile' in it which rhymes with vile and isn't a nice word in itself.

Sorry, I am very odd about names...if they look the wrong colour I don't like them, either. You know. Riley is very much a black and white name.

Bailey is kind of yellow. Toby is solid white, but with pink or brownish overtones. Ellen is red.

Nagoo · 14/08/2013 09:10

It was Buffy's boyfriend. I think that was probably a surname though...

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 14/08/2013 09:12

There was a Riley in Buffy, I loved it but DP Veto-d it. Glad now it's so popular.

Would have used it boy or girl!

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 14/08/2013 09:13

X-posted!

testedpatience · 14/08/2013 09:20

I'm another one with a Riley but i do regret his name. I had no idea it would ever be popular when we chose it 6 years ago and thought he would be the only one locally.

He's the first Riley in both schools he's attended but there are many more to follow in the younger years.

Its a good name, just too popular.

TheMagicKeyCanFuckOff · 14/08/2013 09:42

I love the name Riley so much- I think it's popular for a reason! It's vaguely common in our area (does that say something abo where we live?) but I like surname names in general- Quinn, Carter, Hunter, Bryce, Ashton, for example (only like two of the names in that list though).

TheMagicKeyCanFuckOff · 14/08/2013 09:45

I know two girls, one called Ryleigh and the other called Reilly though, but have heard of a few other Ryleigh's which I personally don't like as a name as it's the changing the spelling to make it more girly which I dislike. Riley and Reilly are both quite nice surname spellings.

TheSecondComing · 14/08/2013 09:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ninilegsintheair · 14/08/2013 09:58

I know two Rileys (both boys) both of which are 2 years old. For some reason their parents think they chose a really 'unusual, out-there hippy name' . I really hope they've been paying attention to the baby names chart .

Fine as a name, but a bit gullible to think it's unusual. It's been shooting up the charts the last few years.

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 14/08/2013 09:59

I know at least 2 off the top of my head. Not a fan personally. I dont know why exactly I just dont like it. That said, my own taste in names would be deemed "common" on this site if I'm honest. Oh I also know a girl Riley, spelt Rylee. Yep def not keen.

TheWoollybacksWife · 14/08/2013 10:00

There is a Riley in my DS's class at school. He is a lovely boy - a real pleasure to have at home when he comes to play. His parents are very nice too.

Names become popular for a reason - because people like them and use them. Other names die out otherwise we would all be on a baby name forum complaining that our child is known as "Athelstan T" or "Ethelburga D" because there are six of them in their reception class. (With apologies to parents who have used these names).

I also find it hard to understand why people get hung up on using names from the top 10 or even top 100 but I say this as the mother of children with names in the top 10. They were names that we used because we liked them and they had family meaning. As it turns out they are the only ones in their year with those names - not so unusual in a small primary school but quite surprising in a large secondary.

WhatWillSantaBring · 14/08/2013 10:01

there was a comment in the press from the editor of mother and baby magazine (or some such) saying something along the lines "its a name that descends class - it is the sort of name that will be used by working, middle and upper classes".

Working and middle, yes for sure. But Upper Classes???? I would like to put £100 on their being no Rileys starting at Eton or Winchester in 2024.

TobyLerone · 14/08/2013 10:01

Well Toby you're wrong.

I don't recall saying I was right

I thought the words "Just my observation, though" might clarify that what I said was merely what I have observed. It seems not, though.

Apileofballyhoo · 14/08/2013 10:04

I know a Riley - it is his Mum's maiden name. They are from the US though so maybe more usual there - though obviously becoming more usual in the UK too! I don't see it as being any different from Ryan.

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