Is Riley a Girl or Boy Name to You?

Riley was a boy's name used in literature and media for over 130 years. The expression, "Living the life of Riley" (which means having the ideal life -- everything comes easy) became popular in the 1880s based upon a poem. Then in the 1940s-1950s there was a radio comedy show about a man called "The Life of Riley," which morphed into a television show eventually.

I still get surprised when I hear a girl named Riley, although it has become very popular. Over history, there are FAR more boys names that transition into girl names than vice-versa. I had the same problem with the name Jordan. REALLY wanted to use it for my son, but too many girls are using it now. Oh well!

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it's both, but i have a good friend who had the same issue. Had her daughter (NOW 4) had been a boy she would have been Riley, when it turned out they were having a girl, they just figured they'd use it next time. Well their little boy isn't even a year old yet, and they both thought Riley was to girly right now.

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It is sad that so many good boy names become abused by girls. Riley used to be a very unique "Boy" name. In the last 10 years so many more girls have been named Riley (spelled various ways) that it does seem like a girl name now. I agree that it has become a Neutral name for either but I now relate it more to a girl name. As unfortunate as it is.

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Growing up, I only knew boys named Riley and I knew plenty of those. I have heard Riley for girls lately, but I think it's one of those names that is gender neutral now. Like Chris, or Pat or Robin.

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My friend named her daughter Riley (she is now 5) and at the time had the same question. I remember her husband saying he liked it because it sounded more feminine than masculine.

IMO I think it can work for both.

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Riley, Cameron, Shelby, Jordan all nongender names.
This is why we used Charles, Philip, Sarah and Jessica. And I don't call her Jessie or Jess.

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To me Riley is a boy's name (so is Ryan, Tyler, Cameron, and Jordan by the way). Leslie, Taylor, and Shelby are girl names. But I too have seen where some names have become almost gener neutral (although to me they are not). The truly gender neutral names I can think of would be Jamie or Jess.

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Either way, it can work. You may want to consider a more "traditional" middle name depending on your last name! I have one friend who named her daughter Riley Elizabeth and another Riley Jessica. It created a little bit of balance for the gender-neutral name! I have another friends whose son is Reilly (family spelling) John.

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If/when we have another girl, her name will be Riley Grace. But for a boy, it works too.

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Equally boy and girl.

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I had a youth pastor in my childhood who named his son Riley and I never questioned it. I two different friends in my church who have named their girls Riley and I have never questioned that. I also have some friends that have the last name of Riley. I think it works well for both. As a middle name, I am sure no one would question it. I have a girlfriend named Charlie. When I worked it the bank, I talked to a lady named Butch and a man named Kim quite often. I went to school with a boy named Sydney and I go to church now with a girl named Cydney.

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to me Riley is a boy name.. but you don't here it anymore.. allof a sudden i am hearing Riley and Reagan for girls a lot. I would nix the name.. unles s you are using it for 2nd name like you said Cooper Riley i like the sound of it.. you don't want him saying mom in my seond grade class their are 2 rileys and they are both girls..

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It is a gender neutral name. My step son wants to name his daughter that when he gets grown and married. I keep telling him, it isn't just his decision.

Personally I like Riley for a boy over a girl.

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Too me it is more boy, but could easily be for both. My boys are named Sage and Rayne, and I know both of those could also be used for a girl, but that does not bother me. If some girl has the same name that does not make them any less boy!

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Yep, both.

Our son's middle name is Riley. We know several boys and girls both with the name.

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Pat, Chris, Taylor, Riley...boy or girl. My dog is named Riley, we adopted him as an adult, but we call him Riles, and I know two other dogs named Riley, one male, one female. I know a boy and a girl and a family with Riley as a last name. It is a nice name.

M.

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Lol! Funny question. My husband wanted to name our son Riley but I said no because I knew too many girls named Riley so I now have 'girl' imprinted in my head with that name!

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We seriously considered this name for our girl two years ago. I have since met a few little girls with this name, so I do think more girl than boy.

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Both.

It's an ambi name

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to me it's a dog name.

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Initial hearing of the name, I think girl. But if a man introduced himself to me as "Riley" I would not feel weird about it at all. My friend was pregnant recently and didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. She chose Reily (spelled different, pronounced the same) for whether baby came out a boy or a girl. Ended up naming the boy Mason Reily though.

"Lindsay, Shannon, Kelsey - these are definitely girl names IMO, yet some men have these names). Riley can go either way.

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Riley is a LAST name to me!

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I know more girls named Riley than I do boys. Riley reminds me alot of Robin which can also be a boy or girl name.

Neither for me...I know too many people with the last name Riley and O'Reilly so I associate it with a last name--not cute for a first name--IMHO.

I say either. My daughter is Riley, but her teacher's son is Riley. I like it either way!

I think boy, but my niece is named Riley. But then, her brother is named Tyler. Both names are ambiguous to me.

Lately it has become more girl... i think anyway.

Years ago I knew an Irish Setter named Riley. I think it was a girl.

Without looking at other responses, I'd vote 'girl'.

I once knew a boy named 'Rowdy'. I've known boys AND girls named Stacy/Stacey, Lacy/Lacey, and Tracy/Tracey (and I'm not sure if the spelling was different because of gender), Dakota, Montana, Jordan, Shirley, Leslie, Dana, Carol/Carroll, etc.

I know a boy and a girl named Riley, so it's both.

To me, it is a girl name, but only because I have 3 friends with girls named Riley (2) and Ryleigh. However, I also know a mom with twins and the boy's name is Riley.

On a side note...I named my 1 and only son Cooper so I'm totally in love with that name for a boy...but had he been a girl, he would still have been Cooper :)

I have relatives and friends of both genders with the name. It has evolved into a non gender name.

I know that it is considered to be a "both" name but in my mind Riley is a girl name...probably because I have only known girl Rileys

when i hear it I think girl...but I know it can go both ways

I know Rileys of both genders, but it still strikes me as more of a Girl name.

Its both. My sons middle name is Riley, which is also my brother middle name. I think it is cute for either. Personally though if it were being used for a girl its cuter spelled Ryleigh or something like that.
It is for both now. But if your husband doesn't like it then maybe just find another name that he is happy with.
I ended up having a girl, but if I would have had a boy we were thinking about using either
Teagan or Greyson
I love both of those names. Very original.

both I have on ly known boys with that name though.

Girl but that is only because I know two people who have daughter's by that name. But I think it can be a boy's name just as easily.

I think it can go either way. I really don't think I matters if it's a second name. Personally, I would suggest not using it simply because you already know two Riley's regardless of their gender.

My name's D., it's classed as a unisex name, in fact I've met both male and female Danas.

If you still like the name use it. If not, don't stress it.

I'm waiting to see if Riley on our Mamasource site will write in...
Yes, she's a "girl" and it's her first name!

D.

I still think of it as a boy name, although I have a niece named "Rileigh" If it is something you like I would still use it. Gender neutral names are quite popular.

It used to be a boy name, but is more common with girls now. Think Cameron, Kimberly, Leslie, etc. I even know a female Ryan and Michael. For a middle name it isn't bad, but I'm not a fan of unisex names for boys.

My dentist was telling me that his name (Carson) is now being used by girls too! Carsyn, Carsin, Karsyn, etc.

My daughter's name is Riley...but we've known people who also named their sons that too!

I think of it as a boy's name, but it's definitely gaining popularity for girls.

Definitely gender neutral, I know a few and 2 are boys one is a girl.

I am not a fan of gender neutral names used for boys either.

It's one of those names that could go either way. Like Charlie or Jamie. I know one boy with that name, but he spells it "Reilly".

When I was younger Riley was always a boy. Now when someone says meet Riley I assume a girl. Every Riley I have met in the last 5-8 yrs has been a girl. Just like Leslie, Evan,Brinkley, Brooklyn all these names and the like, go both ways, since Riley can be boy or girl doesn't it matter more that you love the name?

The first Riley I ever knew was a boy... so I assumed it was a boy's name. But this year I have met 2 girls named Riley.

I think of Riley as being a boy name.

I hate Riley for a girl..... Thats so rude, but really. There's nothing worse than a feminine little girl with pony tails whose name is Riley..... It's very much a boys name!

I thought it was a boy name

I know boy Rileys and girl Rileys. But my name is B. and I'm a girl so what can I say really.