Find out how popular the first name Ryleigh has been for the last 38 years (from 1986 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ryleigh by gender

Based on the last 38 years of data, Ryleigh is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Ryleigh being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,186 female babies and 18 male babies born with the name Ryleigh.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 18 baby boys were named Ryleigh in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ryleigh

The name Ryleigh is a modern variant of the English name Riley, which originated as a surname derived from the Old English words "riċe" meaning "rich" and "lēah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It was initially a locational surname referring to someone who lived in a rich meadow or clearing.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Riley dates back to the 13th century in England. Over time, some families adopted the surname as a given name, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. The variant spelling Ryleigh emerged in the late 20th century, likely influenced by the popularity of names ending in "leigh" or "lee."

While the name Ryleigh does not have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to Old English, which was the language spoken in parts of Britain from the 5th to the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Riley as a given name is Sir Benjamin Riley (1758-1828), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Appleby and Calne.

Another notable bearer of the name was James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916), an American writer and poet known as the "Hoosier Poet" for his works celebrating the rural life of Indiana. His poems, such as "When the Frost Is on the Punkin" and "Little Orphant Annie," became widely popular during his lifetime.

In the 20th century, Riley B. King (1925-2015), better known as B.B. King, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter who popularized the blues genre and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ryleigh Vaughan (born 1992) is a British actress and model known for her roles in television series such as "Hollyoaks" and "The Royals."

Riley Pint (born 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2016 MLB draft.

While the name Ryleigh is a relatively modern variant, it has roots in the rich linguistic history of Old English and has been borne by notable individuals throughout the centuries.

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 Ryleigh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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