Riley vs Derek

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Riley

Boy #229 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"courageous, valiant"

Origin: Irish

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #258 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"ruler of the people"

Origin: Germanic

English American Dutch German

✓ All Clear

Riley Rank #229

Derek Rank #258

Riley is more popular, ranked #229 vs #258 for Derek.

Is Riley or Derek more popular?

Riley is more popular, ranked #229 compared to Derek at #258 in the United States.

What do Riley and Derek mean?

Riley means "courageous, valiant" (Irish origin). Derek means "ruler of the people" (Germanic origin).

Are Riley and Derek boy or girl names?

Riley is primarily a boy name. Derek is primarily a boy name.