Riley vs Jay

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Riley

Boy #229 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"courageous, valiant"

Origin: Irish

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Riley Rank #229

Jay Rank #397

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

Is Riley or Jay more popular?

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

What do Riley and Jay mean?

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

Are Riley and Jay boy or girl names?

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