NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Rylea

Variant of the Scottish name Riley, meaning "rye meadow" or "from the rye field.".

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 16 boys.

Rylea is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Rylea popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 5 births.

This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2005 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Rylea. 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

  • Rylea ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 5 girls were registered as Rylea.
  • Rylea is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rylea as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 61.9% of Rylea registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4763

2017

Births in 2017

4

Latest year

Peak year

2005

5 births

Estimated living

26

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Rylea

In England and Wales birth records, Rylea has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 38.1% of registrations are for boys and 61.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

38% boys
62% girls
Boys16 (38.1%)Girls26 (61.9%)

Rylea registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,685 in 2013
  • 3 boys registered in 2013
  • Peak: 2007 (4 births)

Rylea registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,763 in 2017
  • 4 girls registered in 2017
  • Peak: 2005 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Rylea mean?

The name Rylea is a relatively modern invention, likely derived from a combination of the more traditional names Riley and Leah. Its origins can be traced back to the English and Hebrew languages.

Riley is an English surname that originated as a variant of the Old English given name Ralliah, which means "courageous" or "brave." It was initially used as a masculine name but has gained popularity as a unisex name in recent decades.

Leah, on the other hand, is a Hebrew name meaning "weary" or "tired." It has biblical roots and is mentioned in the Book of Genesis as one of the wives of Jacob and the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.

While the name Rylea itself does not have a long historical lineage, its components have been around for centuries. The earliest recorded use of the name Rylea seems to date back to the late 20th century, likely as a creative combination of the two established names.

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who have borne names similar to Rylea's components. For instance, Riley Darnell (born 1952) is an American former professional baseball player, and Leah Remini (born 1970) is an American actress best known for her role in the sitcom "The King of Queens."

Additionally, Rylea may have been inspired by the name Ryleigh, which has gained popularity in recent years. Ryleigh is a variant spelling of the name Riley and has been used as a feminine name since the late 20th century.

While the name Rylea does not have a rich historical background, its components have been part of various cultures and traditions for centuries, lending it a unique and creative flair that has appealed to modern parents seeking distinctive names for their children.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rylea over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rylea in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Rylea, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02457200520112017

Decades

Rylea by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rylea 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 #4754 12 3
2000s #4921 14 4

Related

Names similar to Rylea

FAQ

Rylea: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rylea in the UK right now?

In 2017, Rylea was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Rylea most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 5 babies registered as Rylea in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rylea?

Variant of the Scottish name Riley, meaning "rye meadow" or "from the rye field.".

How many people are called Rylea in the UK?

A total of 26 babies have been registered as Rylea across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.