Jay vs Riley

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Jay

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Boy #229 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"courageous, valiant"

Origin: Irish

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Jay Rank #397

Riley Rank #229

Riley is more popular, ranked #229 vs #397 for Jay.

Is Jay or Riley more popular?

Riley is more popular, ranked #229 compared to Jay at #397 in the United States.

What do Jay and Riley mean?

Jay means "to rejoice, joyful" (Latin (Gaius) origin). Riley means "courageous, valiant" (Irish origin).

Are Jay and Riley boy or girl names?

Jay is primarily a boy name. Riley is primarily a boy name.