Kennedy vs Riley

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Riley

Girl #42 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"Courageous, valiant"

Origin: Irish

Cultural Roots

Irish English American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#42
Total SSA Count
4,644
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Ri, Rile

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Riley →

Popularity Comparison

Kennedy Rank #89
Riley Rank #42

Riley is more popular, ranked #42 vs #89 for Kennedy.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Kennedy ___

  • Kennedy Grace
  • Kennedy Rose
  • Kennedy Mae
  • Kennedy Claire
  • Kennedy Jane
  • Kennedy Anne

Riley ___

  • Riley Grace
  • Riley Mae
  • Riley Ann
  • Riley Jo
  • Riley Kate
  • Riley Claire

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Kennedy

Reagan Quinn Avery Riley Connor

If you choose Riley

Avery Parker Quinn Logan Morgan

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kennedy or Riley more popular?

Riley is more popular, ranked #42 compared to Kennedy at #89 in the United States.

What do Kennedy and Riley mean?

Kennedy means "ugly head (from ceann donn)" (Irish origin). Riley means "Courageous, valiant" (Irish origin).

Are Kennedy and Riley boy or girl names?

Kennedy is primarily a girl name. Riley is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Kennedy ← Full profile: Riley Browse all baby names