Worried i have gave my son a girls name

[girlsnameboysname]

Name changed for this.

Please be kind, I'm feeling a little stressed.

My son was born 6 weeks ago and we struggled to pick a name. I chose Riley and I really like the name. OH took a bit of convincing as he felt it was very unisex. I had only really thought of it as a boys name though. After a couple of days OH 'gave in' and we named him Riley.

But since then we've had various comments about it being unisex and iv also now heard of 2 girls in my daughter's school with the name!

I'm also still following various baby name groups on FB and keep seeing Rylie/Rayleigh/Rylee etc being suggested for a girl.

I'm now feeling a bit of name regret and worrying that the name is now becoming a girls name.

It will bother me lots of there are other Riley's in his school group and even more so if they are girls.

Yes I'm aware this might be seen as ridiculous, but it's how I feel.

Ps, I haven't spoke to OH about this as I was the one rubbishing his (I feel now valid) concerns.

It was always a boy name until the film inside out, where the main character is a girl called Riley, now it’s unisex

Originally a boys name, now unisex. Absolutely lovely name for a boy. Don't worry, enjoy your son 😊

I agree that Inside Out has made it much more popular with girls. However it is still perfectly normal for a boy :)

Are you thinking of changing it to Morris?

I'm a secondary teacher and there are several Rileys at school - all male.

It's 100% unisex and a lovely name for a boy. I feel like it was a boys name first and girls being called Riley are more recent. Congratulations on your little one and don't worry

The only Riley's I know are boys. If you said the name I'd assume it was a boy you were speaking about.

It is a unisex name but it’s a lovely name.

Riley is a boys name in my opinion. Enjoy your precious bundle OP.

I know over 20 Riley's ranging from 0-20 and they are all male. I don't know of any girls.

I know 3 Rileys and a boys so this wouldn't have occurred to me at all!!

It’s definitely still a boy’s name! There are plenty of Rileys in my school and all boys. It’s a great name! Rileys are always full of personality too.

*all are boys

However with names things tend to go in one direction Male->Female. Once a name starts being popular with girls, parents of boys drop it. (eg Hilary and Shirley)

Thanks, I think I'm worried as it now seems more common for girls. As in, there won't be any boy Riley's his age, they will all be girls. But I agree it was definitely a boys name originally.

Sorry I don't understand the Morris post?

Would others change it if in my position?

Unisex but much more common for boys. I'd assume a Riley was male. Similar to Bailey or Taylor.

Yeah this is my worry I suppose

I think it’s become more popular for girls recently, but it’s unisex - like Rowan, Robin, Alex, Arran - all great names

I would instinctively think it was a boys name. I have never heard of the film Inside out so unaware of a female character of that name.

Personally I would be more concerned if you had a daughter and was concerned the name would be read as a male name.

Riley is very male to me.

It’s true that used to happen, not sure it would so much these days.

I worked in education for years and all of the Riley’s I met were boys. If I saw it written down I would assume a boy.

I only know one male Riley, no female Riley’s and one as a surname

What’s his middle name?

It's been unisex for decades

OP, as a teacher, I’ve only ever taught Rileys who were boys. This year I’ve had 2 in the same class and I know a baby who is called Riley, also a boy. I think it’s a fairly popular name for boys (where I am anyway) but would be unusual for a girl.