I didnt realize how popular [name]Riley[/name] was for girls now.
Does this mean that [name]Riley[/name] for a boy has gone the way of [name]Vivian[/name], [name]Evelyn[/name], [name]Lindsay[/name], [name]Leslie[/name], [name]Sandy[/name], etc.?? would the spelling [name]Reilly[/name] help this name be more masculine again?
I think that unlike the other names you mentioned [name]Riley[/name] is still very much in contention for boys. Although it ranked #38 for girls on the 2009 SSA list it came in at #107 for boys; if you look at the numbers there were roughly 3 girl Rileys for every 2 boy Rileys born last year (a bit more or less depending on whether you base your calculations on the number or percentage of births, since overall there were more boys than girls born last year). Nonentheless, I think it’s a great choice for a boy! I also like the [name]Reilly[/name] spelling too (but any other alternate spellings would likely make it more feminine).
thanks [name]Reilly[/name] nn Rei is the number one boy name for us…but am having doubts as unisex names also seem to end up more as girl names than boys…
I love [name]Riley[/name] so much more for a girl than I do for a boy. If I did name my future son that, I would spell it [name]Reilly[/name]. I do not like [name]Rylie[/name] for a girl only because I have a niece named [name]Ashlie[/name]… I think it’s too similar.
These days, although there are still numerous names like [name]Addison[/name] and [name]Bailey[/name] which are now much more popular for girls, there are more unisex names holding on to their gender-neutral status (e.g. [name]Jordan[/name] and [name]Rowan[/name]). For boys [name]Riley[/name] has remained fairly steady for the past several years (although it has increased for girls), so [name]Riley[/name] may end up falling in the latter group rather than the former. As I said before, if you like it for a boy consider it!
There are two reason that names end up being taken over by girls. The first is because more people start using them for girls (obviously) but the second is because people stop using them for boys. I think if you want a name to be established as unisex then you need to keep using them for your sons and ignore those that are using them for their daughters.
I think [name]Riley[/name] is super handsome for a boy. It is still well enough known as a boys name that no one will find it strange. And yes I prefer [name]Reilly[/name] for a boy. I cant imagine that spelling being used on a girl.
I don’t think it has gone to the girls as much as [name]Lindsay[/name] but it is certainly becoming trendy for girls. I love the name [name]Riley[/name] for a boy but I’m always hesitant about unisex names. My name is [name]Erin[/name] and even though it is the girl spelling I’ve had some people act surprised that I’m a girl. My brother’s name is [name]James[/name] but everyone called him [name]Jamie[/name]. Sometimes people in the community wold mix us up and call me [name]Jamie[/name] and would call him [name]Erin[/name].
I don’t think [name]Riley[/name] has gone to the girls yet. I think it can still be considered a very boyish name.
I actually do prefer the spelling [name]Reilly[/name], because girls won’t have that spelling. [name]Riley[/name] and [name]Rylee[/name] and [name]Rylie[/name], etc. are widely used by girls, but [name]Reilly[/name] is still pretty masculine.
I say go for it. We can keep [name]Riley[/name] or [name]Reilly[/name] for a boy, it doesn’t have to go over to the girls yet!
I do think it’s going to the girls. As a child I thought I might someday use it for a future son (spelled [name]Reilly[/name]) because it’s my grandmother’s maiden name and I really like it. But I don’t want a unisex name, and also my cousin used it for his daughter. My cousin’s daughter’s name is spelled [name]Reilly[/name], so that spelling does get used for girls, too. I do know a little boy (I think he’s 4 years old) named [name]Reilly[/name], too, so the name hasn’t completely gone to the girls yet.