UK boy's name
Reiley
A variant spelling of the English name Riley or Reilly, meaning "valiant" or "brave".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Reiley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Reiley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3449, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 10 births.
This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2004 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Reiley. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Reiley ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 10 boys were registered as Reiley.
- • Reiley ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #648 in 2011.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reiley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3449
2017
Births in 2017
5
Latest year
Peak year
2010
10 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Reiley mean?
The given name Reiley originates from the Irish language and culture, emerging during the medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the more common Gaelic name Reilly, derived from the Old Irish word "riaghail," meaning "rule" or "regulation."
This name likely gained prominence in Ireland during the 9th to 12th centuries, as it reflects the importance of legal codes and social structures within ancient Irish society. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to historical records and genealogical accounts of prominent Irish clans and families.
One of the earliest known references to the name Reiley appears in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the 15th century. The annals mention several individuals with the name, often associated with notable events or conflicts during that era.
Throughout Irish history, the name Reiley has been borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Reiley O'Donnell, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and military leader who played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English forces in Ireland (1594-1603).
Another prominent bearer of the name was Reiley O'Rourke, a 12th-century King of Breifne (an ancient Irish kingdom) who was renowned for his military prowess and defense of his territory against neighboring kingdoms.
In the realm of literature, Reiley O'Sullivan was an 18th-century Irish poet and scribe, known for his contributions to preserving traditional Irish poetry and bardic traditions.
Moving into the 19th century, Reiley Ridgeway was an Irish-American soldier who fought in the American Civil War (1861-1865) and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863.
Lastly, Reiley Armstrong was a 20th-century Irish playwright and novelist, acclaimed for his works exploring themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern Irish life.
While the name Reiley has its origins in Irish culture, it has since gained international recognition and has been adopted by individuals worldwide, carrying with it the rich history and cultural significance of its Gaelic roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Reiley over time
The chart below shows babies named Reiley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Reiley, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2017, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reiley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reiley was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3530 | 22 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3524 | 25 | 6 |
Geography
Where Reiley is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Reiley. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Reiley ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #648 in 2011.
Across the UK
Reiley in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#648 in 2011
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Reiley
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Reiley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Reiley in the UK right now?
In 2017, Reiley was ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Reiley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 10 babies registered as Reiley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Reiley?
A variant spelling of the English name Riley or Reilly, meaning "valiant" or "brave".
How many people are called Reiley in the UK?
A total of 47 babies have been registered as Reiley across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Reiley most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Reiley ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #648 in 2011. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.