Help - is Riley the new Madison?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-21-2004
Help - is Riley the new Madison?
17
Sun, 01-09-2005 - 1:15pm

We love the name Riley but have heard it is becoming very trendy and even noticed it was #4 on the most popular girls names for 2004.

We have thought about naming her Riley Mills and then calling her by her middle name which would be Mills (a family name). I just wonder if that is too strange for a little girls name (Mills)? I would love everyones thoughts..please be honest. Thanks so much!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-10-2005
Mon, 01-10-2005 - 4:48pm

I love the name Mills. I think that we will have a Walker (girl). If you like Riley, use it. I am going to probably use Emma and I didn't want to use a pop name. It was my ggramas
name.

Michelle
EDD 9/16/05

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 01-10-2005 - 9:09pm
I love the name Riley & I don't think it's very popular at all. Riley Mills is adorable!!! Riley is definitely a girl's name--I know people say it's unisex but maybe it used to be--not anymore. Who in their right mind would name a little boy Riley now that it's becoming more popular as a girl's name?
I think it's a great name. You never hear it so I'm really surprised that it's ranked #4. I think it's totally unique & really beautiful. Go for it if you love it!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 1:09am
I find Riley to be very popular in my area, and I know a three year old boy named Reilly. It's used almost equally between boys and girls here. The next Madison is a good way to describe it, as it seems to be cropping up everywhere. My sister is a pre-school teacher in another state and has three female Rileys this year. I think Mills would make a fine middle name, but I don't think it sounds good to have two surnames together like that. If it were me, I'd find a more feminine first name with Mills, or if using a surname or more unisex type name, I'd go with Millie as the middle name. I wouldn't use the name Riley at all.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 2:24pm

I know several dozen Rileys!!! Seriously!

What about Millicent and call her Mills? That would still honor the family connection. Or you could use Camille or Camilla and call her Mills/Milla.

Riley Mills will always sound like a boy name, I think. Just my opinion, though.

Carrie

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2005
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 3:50pm
Yes, Riley is one of the new Madisons. Mills is a nice mn, but I don't know if I'd like to be called Mills. Why not give her an actual girls' name for a fn and use Mills as the mn?
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-07-2003
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 10:02pm

I love the name Riley for a girl or boy- my Riley happens to be a 6 month old girl! I have only met a few in our town,a couple boys and one other girl and I know it is gaining popularity but who cares??? I love her name, that's why I chose it, why shouldn't others love it ,too? I also have a 7yr old son named Bailey which has since blown up in popularity for girls but I love it still and still get tons of compliments. My oldest is Chase which is also unisex but have not met any girls ( only in movies) named Chase.

Go with what you love! I am expecting DD in July '05 and LOVE the name Finley. I guess I am partial to surnames!

Mills is adorable but I am more partial to Riley. ( or biased you might say)

Good luck,
Dawn

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Sun, 01-16-2005 - 12:30am

I checked our local hospital ( we are on the west coast in a city of about 250,000) in the last 6 months there have been 3 Rileys, 1 Rylee and 3 Madisons- so maybe!

You know my first instinct on Mills was NO, but the more I say it and think about it- I kind of like it!

KIM

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Bridget Ila-Alison

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