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Reilly as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Reilly

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The baby name Reilly is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈraɪli/ (RYE-lee).

Reilly is Irish in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: /ˈraɪli/ (RYE-lee)

What is the meaning of the name Reilly ?

The baby name Reilly is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈraɪli/ (RYE-lee).

Reilly is Irish in Origin.

Reilly is an Anglicized Irish surname turned given name, from Ó Raghallaigh, "descendant of Raghallach." Raghallach is an early medieval personal name of debated etymology; scholars often associate it with notions of zeal or valour (sometimes linked to Old Irish rág, "impetuosity"). The O'Reillys were powerful Gaelic lords of East Bréifne (County Cavan), prominent from the 13th to 16th centuries, which cemented the surname's visibility. As a personal name, Reilly gained traction in the late 20th century in the wider Anglophone world, pronounced RYE-lee and used for all genders.

Spelling variants and cognates include O'Reilly, Reilley, Reily, and the overlapping Riley/Ryley/Rylee/Rylie forms. Because Riley also derives from an English toponym meaning "rye clearing" (from Old English ryge + leah), modern bearers of Reilly may reference either the Irish patronymic heritage or the English locative sense; many choose it to honor Irish roots while enjoying a modern, lively sound.

Reilly has the following similar or variant Names

Reilly – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2023 #1 807
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
Canada Girls 2024 #281 5 2,795
Canada Boys 2024 #296 11 2,588
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
QA Girls 0 #343 1 15,378
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
ZA 0 #473 2 14,421
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
CR Girls 0 #569 5 11,342
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
United States Boys 2024 #847 46 7,044
United States Girls 2024 #854 63 8,487
PE Boys 0 #867 12 14,506
NL Boys 0 #938 14 5,873
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
NG Boys 0 #1,001 1 16,906
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,027 7 16,355
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,266 7 25,619

Reilly is popular in 22 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
AO

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People also ask about Reilly

Reilly is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Reilly is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈraɪli/ (RYE-lee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Riley, Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, Rileigh and Reily.
Across languages, Reilly has these equivalents: Ó Raghallaigh (Irish), Raghallach (Old Irish), Riley (English).
Yes, very popular — Reilly ranked #1 in Ireland in 2023, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Reilly ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2023).