Riley (given name)
Encyclopedia
Riley is a given name derived from the Irish
surname Ó Raghallaigh or O'Reilly. One source gives its meaning as "courageous.". Another source gives the meaning of Riley as "rye clearing" from a surname that originated with an Old English
place name.
The name and its multiple spelling variations has been popular for both sexes in the United States
. Riley was the 109th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2007 and the 52nd most popular name for girls.
Riley ranked among the top 10 most popular names for boys born in Australia
in 2008 and in New Zealand
in 2007.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
surname Ó Raghallaigh or O'Reilly. One source gives its meaning as "courageous.". Another source gives the meaning of Riley as "rye clearing" from a surname that originated with an Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
place name.
The name and its multiple spelling variations has been popular for both sexes in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Riley was the 109th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2007 and the 52nd most popular name for girls.
Riley ranked among the top 10 most popular names for boys born in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 2008 and in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 2007.
Real
- Riley Armstrong (disambiguation), multiple people
- Riley P. BechtelRiley P. BechtelRiley P. Bechtel is the chairman and CEO of the Bechtel Corporation. He is the great-grandson of Warren A. Bechtel, the founder of the company. His parents are Elizabeth Hogan and Stephen Bechtel, Jr., the former chairman and CEO of the company.-Biography:He received a bachelor's degree in...
(1952–), American businessman - Riley A. BenderRiley A. BenderRiley Alvin Bender was a United States businessman and political candidate.Born in Chicago, Illinois to Edward Bender and Josephine David Bender, he was a lifelong resident of his native city. Bender was an entrepreuer in the areas of hotel and music store management...
(1890–1973), American businessman and politician - Riley BreckenridgeRiley BreckenridgeJames Riley Breckenridge is the drummer for Post-hardcore band Thrice. He plays C & C Custom Drums, and uses Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads, with Drum Workshop hardware and pedals.-Biography:...
(1975–), American musician - Riley BrettRiley BrettRiley Brett was an American racecar driver.-Indy 500 results:...
(1895–1982), American race car driver - Riley ChamberlinRiley ChamberlinRiley Chamberlin was an American silent film actor. He began acting in films at the age of 57, and starred in over 100 films until his death five years later at the age of 62.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
(1852–1917), American silent film actor - Riley CoteRiley CoteRiley Cote is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and is currently an assistant coach with the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League...
(1982–), Canadian hockey player - Riley DarnellRiley DarnellRiley C. Darnell was the Tennessee Secretary of State.Defeated for reelection to the state Senate in November, 1992, Darnell's political comeback was immediate...
(1940–), American Secretary of State of Tennessee - Riley HernRiley HernWilliam Milton "Riley" Hern was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was the first professional goaltender to play on a Stanley Cup-winning team....
(1880–1929), Canadian ice hockey player - Riley KeoughRiley KeoughDanielle Riley Keough , known as Riley Keough, is an American actress and model. She is the daughter of singer/songwriter Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough, and the oldest grandchild of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.- Model :...
(1989–), American model, granddaughter of Elvis Presley - Riley MartinRiley MartinRiley L. Martin is a self-described alien contactee, author, and radio host. Martin is the author of the book The Coming of Tan, which describes his life and his alleged abduction by aliens. He hosts The Riley Martin Show on the Sirius Satellite Radio channel Howard 101...
(1946–), American author - Riley MathesonRiley MathesonRiley Matheson was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for ten seasons for the Cleveland Rams, the Detroit Lions, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers....
(1914–1987), American football player - Riley MattsonRiley MattsonRiley Carl Mattson is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of Oregon and was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft....
(1938–), American football player - Riley Franklin McConnellRiley Franklin McConnellRiley Franklin McConnell was a United States Navy officer who served during World War I and World War II. McConnell was awarded the Navy Cross for service during World War II. A US Navy destroyer escort was named in his honor in 1943.-Biography:...
(1884–1940), American recipient of the Navy Cross - Riley NashRiley NashRiley Nash is a Canadian ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. He was originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1st round, 21st overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft....
(1989–), Canadian ice hockey player - Riley Dobi NoelRiley Dobi NoelRiley Dobi Noel was a murderer executed for the June 5, 1995 murder of Marcell Young, 17, Malak Hussian, 10, and Mustafa Hussian, 12 – all siblings – in Varner, Arkansas.-The Murder:...
(1972–2004), American murderer - Riley O'NeillRiley O'NeillRiley O'Neill is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for MyPa of the Finnish Veikkausliiga. His position is striker.-Career:...
(1985–), Canadian soccer player - Riley OdomsRiley OdomsRiley Mackey Odoms is a former American football tight end. He played college football at the University of Houston and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
(1950–), American football player - Riley L. PittsRiley L. PittsRiley Leroy Pitts was a United States Army Captain and the first African American commissioned officer to receive the Medal of Honor. The medal was presented posthumously by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson on December 10, 1968 for actions in Ap Dong, South Vietnam.-Biography:Riley Leroy Pitts was...
(1937–1967), first African-American to be awarded the Medal of Honor - Riley PuckettRiley PuckettGeorge Riley Puckett was an American country music pioneer mostly known for being a member of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers.-Biography:...
(1894–1946), American musician - Riley Ann SawyersRiley Ann SawyersRiley Ann Sawyers was a two-year-old girl from Mentor, Ohio, who was beaten to death by her mother and stepfather, and whose body was subsequently discovered in Galveston Bay. At this point police began a nationwide effort to identify her, and was known in the press as Baby Grace while her...
(2005–2007), American baby beaten to death - Riley SalmonRiley SalmonRiley Salmon is a volleyball player from the United States. He graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, and played two years of varsity volleyball at Pierce College from 1994-96 before joining the men's national team in May 2001 as an outside hitter. He competed at the 2004...
(1976–), American volleyball player - Riley SchillaciRiley SchillaciRiley Schillaci is recognized internationally as one of the few Female Sword Swallowers in the world. She has appeared in local publications, news broadcasts, opened for international bands, and appeared at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Niagara Falls.Riley's other skills also include: Fire Eating,...
(1982-), American sword swallower - Riley SkinnerRiley SkinnerRiley Skinner is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Wake Forest.-College career:...
(1986–), American college football player - Riley Taylor (1995–), Guitarist and lead vocalist for the band Q=7
- Riley SmithRiley SmithRiley Smith is an American film and television actor and singer for the band The Life of Riley.-Background:Smith's parents are Russ and Roxanne Smith...
(1978–), American actor - Riley Smith (American football)Riley Smith (American football)Riley Henry Smith was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He was the second player taken in the 1936 NFL Draft and was the first player that was signed from the draft that played in the NFL...
(1911–1999), American football player - Riley E. StrattonRiley E. StrattonRiley Evans Stratton was an American attorney and judge in Oregon. He served as the 11th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1859 until 1866. He was one of the first group of justices elected to the court along with Aaron E...
(1823–1866), Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court - Riley SteeleRiley SteeleRiley Steele is an American pornographic actress.Steele grew up in Escondido, California, United States, and before starting her adult film career worked at Starbucks and at a golf course snack bar. She met porn star Jesse Jane at the signing for Pirates, where Jane advised her to get into the...
a porn star - Riley SwansonRiley SwansonRiley Swanson, Jr. is an American football defensive back for the Arizona Rattlers of Arena Football 1. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wake Forest....
(1984–), American football player - Riley ThomsonRiley ThomsonRiley A. Thomson, Jr. was an American animator and comics artist who spent most of his career working with Walt Disney films and characters. He directed six Disney short films including The Nifty Nineties and Symphony Hour.-Career:Thomson began his career in 1935 at Leon Schlesinger Productions ...
(1912–1960), American animator and comics artist - Riley WallaceRiley WallaceRiley Wallace was the men's basketball coach at the University of Hawaii. When Wallace took over the program in 1987, it had suffered through four-straight losing seasons, including a combined 11-43 mark during the latter two years...
(1941–), American college basketball coach - Riley Goll A world famous photographer from the Netherlands
- Riley WestonRiley WestonRiley Elizabeth Weston is an actress and screenwriter from Poughkeepsie, New York. Weston became embroiled in a debate about ageism in Hollywood after it was discovered that she lied about her age to get work as an actress in the entertainment industry....
(1966–), American actress - Riley J. WilsonRiley J. WilsonRiley Joseph Wilson was a Louisiana educator, attorney, and legislator in the first half of the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century. A Democrat, Wilson served in the United States House of Representatives from 1915 until 1937...
(1871–1946), American educator, attorney, and United States Representative - Riley B. King (B.B. King) (born September 16, 1925), known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter acclaimed for his expressive singing and guitar playing.