Riley vs Kai

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Riley

Boy #229 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"courageous, valiant"

Origin: Irish

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #76 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"sea"

Origin: Hawaiian

Hawaiian Scandinavian Japanese American Chinese

✓ All Clear

Riley Rank #229

Kai Rank #76

Kai is more popular, ranked #76 vs #229 for Riley.

Is Riley or Kai more popular?

Kai is more popular, ranked #76 compared to Riley at #229 in the United States.

What do Riley and Kai mean?

Riley means "courageous, valiant" (Irish origin). Kai means "sea" (Hawaiian origin).

Are Riley and Kai boy or girl names?

Riley is primarily a boy name. Kai is primarily a boy name.