Gender Masculine & Feminine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. RIE-lee  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From a surname that comes from two distinct sources. As an Irish surname it is a variant of Reilly. As an English surname it is derived from a place name meaning "rye clearing" in Old English.

Before 1980, this was an uncommon masculine name in America. During the 1980s and 90s this name steadily increased in popularity for both boys and girls, and from 2003 onwards it has been more common for girls in the United States. Elsewhere in the English-speaking world, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, it has remained largely masculine.

Related Names

Popularity

People think this name is

modern   youthful   informal   common   natural   wholesome   strong  

Categories

Entry updated January 21, 2022