Riley: Girl's name or boy's name?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2006
Riley: Girl's name or boy's name?
9
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 11:41pm

Riley: Girl's name or boy's name?



  • Girl
  • Boy
  • Either
  • Neither, I don't like it
  • I really like Riley as a boy's name, but I would hesitate to use is as many...
  • people are using it as a girl's name


You will be able to change your vote.


Katy

Proud mommy of Makayla (4-years-old)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-26-2007
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 11:45pm
While it is a popular name for both boys and girls, I like it better for a girl. My neices name is Riley (spelt differently) and it fits her perfectly.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2006
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 11:50pm
I voted for 'Either' simply because I think Riley has now become a truly unisex name (along with others like Jordan, Taylor or Avery). That said, I really prefer it on a boy.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sat, 05-26-2007 - 11:56pm

Riley (or Reilly) is a surname, so it can and has been used for both genders at some point. However, it may interest you to know that Riley has been in the top 1000 BOY names every single year searchable on the SSA site (1880 to 2006). Bottom half, most of the time, and in the 200s as far back as the 1880s! It's only been on the girl side at all since the 90s.


So while it's highly likely he'll run into female Rileys at some point, that doesn't necessarily mean most will automatically assume him a girl if pressed. It's been common on boys/men for so long, I'd still assume male if I had to guess.


Also, if you're considering Riley for a boy, you might think about using the more surnamey Reilly spelling. So far, I've only met boys with this spelling ... girls are generally Riley or some kre8iv form (Ryleigh, Rylee, etc.).


HTH


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Avatar for prifti
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 12:04am
I voted boy but I except it on girls I just prefer it on boys. I am fine with unisex/cross over names I just really love Reilly on a little boy. Oddly I would hate to see a girl spelled Reilly but don't have an issue with the Riley spelling on boys or girls.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 11:09am

I love it as a boy's name and find it spunky and cool. As a girl's name, I find it trendy and outdated. USE IT!

-Nikki
http://destastory.blogspot.com/


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2005
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 1:37pm
I voted "either," but really prefer it on a boy. I may be biased, though, since I've been planning since childhood to name my first son Iain Reilly (Reilly is my mother's maiden name).


Edited 5/27/2007 1:38 pm ET by soma_holiday
Avatar for dr_kae
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 2:10pm
I prefer it on a boy, but I admit to having a hard time seeing it on a 50-year-old. (Maybe if he's Irish...in Ireland...in a pub...with sheep. Maybe then. But in an office or a garage or at a t-ball tournament, it just sounds out of place to me.)
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2007
Sun, 05-27-2007 - 9:23pm

A lot of people are using this name for their girls, but I rather it for a boy...and I *really* love the Reilly spelling a lot!


Good luck.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2006
Mon, 05-28-2007 - 1:41pm
A girl in my daughter's class spells it "Ryleigh" which I think is more feminine and won't be confused as a boy's name like "Riley" may.