Find out how popular the first name Rylee has been for the last 44 years (from 1980 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rylee by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Rylee is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 92% of people named Rylee being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,328 female babies and 116 male babies born with the name Rylee.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 116 baby boys were named Rylee in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Rylee

The name Rylee is a gender-neutral name of English origin, derived from the Old English surname Riley, which itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "rig" meaning "ridge" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." The name Rylee can be traced back to the Middle Ages, with records showing its use as a surname in England as early as the 13th century.

While the exact origin of the name Rylee as a given name is unclear, it is thought to have emerged as a variant of the more traditional names Riley and Ryleigh in the late 20th century. One of the earliest recorded uses of Rylee as a given name can be found in the 1970s, likely influenced by the growing popularity of unique and unconventional baby names during that time period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rylee, although many of them may have used it as a surname or middle name rather than a first name. One notable example is Rylee Batt, an Australian para-athlete who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, winning a silver medal in the women's javelin throw F38 event.

Another historical figure with the name Rylee is Rylee McGraw, a 19th-century American outlaw and gunslinger who was active in the American Old West during the latter half of the 1800s. Records show that Rylee McGraw was involved in several bank robberies and shootouts with law enforcement before eventually being killed in a gunfight in 1887.

In the world of literature, Rylee Mackenzie is the protagonist of a series of young adult novels written by Canadian author Kelley Armstrong, which follow the adventures of a teenage girl who discovers she has supernatural abilities.

Moving to the realm of sports, Rylee Steele was a professional baseball player from the United States who played as a catcher in the Negro Leagues during the 1940s and 1950s. Steele was known for his defensive skills behind the plate and was considered one of the top catchers in the Negro Leagues during his career.

Finally, in the field of music, Rylee Walker is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released several critically acclaimed albums in the genres of folk and Americana. Walker's unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles has earned him praise from both critics and fellow musicians alike.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rylee was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rylee, please contact us.

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