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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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ComtesseDeSpair · 14/08/2013 10:11

I know a Riley with a twin sister named Sloane - affluent, professional parents who I imagine could afford Eton or Winchester if they were so inclined. Also various other boy and girl Riley's from fairly ordinary, middle-of-the-road MC families.

I think Riley is quite popular in Scotland; I know of a lot of them here. 'Surname'-type first names generally seem to be a lot more ordinary and common here than south of the border.

Layl77 · 14/08/2013 10:52

There's far more Noah, theo and isaacs here. Next years list I predict those to be up there

Original poster
MexicanHat · 14/08/2013 18:32

Thanks for the replies. I have no strong opinions either way on the name Riley, it just took me by surprise as I know several and then some children of every other name in the Top 10 Boys & Girls list (including my DD!!)

OP posts:
captainmummy · 14/08/2013 18:35

BB King's real name is Riley (King). The BB comes from 'Blues Boy'. I know a huge fan of BB king who named his son Riley.

BigBongTheory · 14/08/2013 20:44

I find it really bizarre that it's in the top ten. Not because of the name itself but There are so many surname type names I'd have thought there would have been a more even spread between them.

mathanxiety · 15/08/2013 05:02

All the parents of the Rileys I know are university educated. All have more than one degree in fact. However, they are not people with any sort of roots in any culture/ very bland suburban by choice/ very 'white bread and mayonnaise'/ not likely to live in an integrated or quirky or multicultural neighbourhood. The people who whine at their DD Riley are selling up and moving to a very predictable place where they have already bought another house.

Chubfuddler · 15/08/2013 05:06

There are two in the my ds's class of 14 at a very nice prep school.

evamummy · 15/08/2013 07:12

Must be regional - not a single Riley around us. Lots of Williams, Hugos, Sebastians, Quentins and Georges though.
I don't mind the name, quite like it. Like op, am surprised it is in top 10!

Chubfuddler · 15/08/2013 07:13

Got lots of those too.

RileyMum · 15/08/2013 07:27

I've name changed for this because it could well out me. I have an 18 year old son whose middle name is Riley. I was very, very tempted to use it as his first name but I have an older son whose name is Rory and some people felt they were too similar, so I used it as a middle name instead. I loved it back then, I got TONS of compliments on it, and for years my DS said he wished it was his first name.

And then they started. The Rileys. About 5 years ago. And the people who chose it always seemed to be...let's just say not my type of people. I hate it now (funny how that can happen to a name depending on the who you learn to associate it with) and I am SOOO glad I did not use it as a first name now.

My DS says he knows of loads of baby Rileys. Their mothers all seem to be about 16.

evamummy · 15/08/2013 07:41

Tyler is another name I don't know any boys called. And yet it is high up the charts.

lljkk · 15/08/2013 07:45

One Riley, about 8, no screeching.
Tylers coming out of our ears, here. No screechy parents for them, either.
Don't know a single Hugo/Sebastian/Quentin.

jannettejames77 · 01/04/2017 17:20

One of the most awful boys names in my opinion, so common. Defiantly up there with Tyler and Chay etc.

ClaryBeanHorshAndMe · 01/04/2017 19:30

I don't think I've ever met a Riley. But I don't think it's awful. It seems like a reasonable choice! :)

TheJiminyConjecture · 01/04/2017 19:32

jannettejames77

Why bump a thread from 2013 just to say something nasty?

MrsDc7 · 01/04/2017 19:35

My friend has a Ryley and he's lovely. The family are nice and respectable too

Presstheresetbutton · 01/04/2017 19:39

I know a family who called their free benefits goat Riley.

True story

Jooni · 01/04/2017 22:15

Agree jannette why the out-of-the-blue Riley resurrection just to say it's "common"? V odd and uncalled-for.

FWIW Riley is not in the Top 10, nor was it in 2013. It was #21 in 2013, and was at #40 in 2015 (the latest year with available stats). People always mistake the "most popular" lists on certain websites which go by number of searches/hits for actual usage statistics but they're not the same!

itsacatastrophe · 01/04/2017 23:46

I know a few Rileys. Only boys though. And unfortunately they are poorly educated, unemployed parents but that probably says more about the people I know then anything else.

Wasn't Riley the name of the girl in the Inside Out film? I think it's an awesome girls/unisex name.

itsacatastrophe · 01/04/2017 23:46

Ooo I didn't realise this was a zombie thread. My apologies

buttercup54321 · 01/04/2017 23:48

I know a very nice Riley aged 6. His Mum is lovely. Ive never heard her shout it.

SimplyTwinkly · 20/08/2018 16:28

I have a 13 year old son Riley. Born in 2005 there were no others,so was quite upset when 5 years later so many baby Rileys appeared :(

OutPinked · 20/08/2018 22:07

That surprised you??? It’s really, really common here. There’s two in my youngest DD’s year and one in my middle DD’s. I hear it being shouted a lot when I’m out and about too. A woman I went to school with has a Riley.

I don’t like it.

manicinsomniac · 20/08/2018 22:29

I know one. He's 13 though so not part of any recent name stats.

sunshineandshowers21 · 21/08/2018 04:22

very, very popular where i’m from. it seems like every other kid is either riley or ellie-may/mai/mae. i know of at least five of each!