Most people these days consider [name_u]Riley[/name_u] to be a girl’s name, but I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] it on a boy. It’s in my top 3 boy names (if I had 3 sons tomorrow I’d name them [name_u]Dallas[/name_u], [name_u]Roy[/name_u] and [name_u]Riley[/name_u]!)
However I’d be worried about using it due to its current popularity for girls. I’ve actually never met a female [name_u]Riley[/name_u], though I’m sure that’d change in an instant if I spent time around the 10 and under crowd. Is [name_u]Riley[/name_u] too far gone to the girls, or could it still work on a boy?
Then there’s [name_m]Wiley[/name_m]. It sounds similar, but is far less common as I’ve never met one in my whole life. In fact, the only time I’ve actually heard this name spoken was in the movie The 6th [name_u]Day[/name_u]. I like it, but I’m concerned that it sounds a bit childish, like a very young child trying to pronounce [name_u]Riley[/name_u].
I posted a thread asking this same question on the reddit namenerds sub. [name_u]Riley[/name_u] on a boy was pretty well received over there, but almost everybody hated [name_m]Wiley[/name_m], saying it was too childish sounding/an old man name.
What do you guys think? Does [name_u]Riley[/name_u] still have life left for boys or has it turned pink? Could [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] work on an adult or does it sound too babyish?
I think [name_u]Riley[/name_u] is still standing as a boys name, I feel like it’s one of those that was used a lot for girls, but was never “exclusive”. It’s been holding strong in the top 300 for boys for the last decade. Yes, more popular for girls, but far from unused on boys.
I honestly don’t think [name_u]Riley[/name_u] is too girly. To me, [name_u]Riley[/name_u] is one of the few names that easily goes both ways. When I hear [name_u]Riley[/name_u], I don’t automatically have any reconceived notions about gender. I definitely wouldn’t worry about it being a "girls " name.
As for [name_m]Wiley[/name_m], I honestly have really liked this name for a while. I do think it’s wearable so don’t neccessarily let others deter you if you really like it! I think [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] would be very cool!
[name_u]Riley[/name_u] is absolutely great for boys. I know two male [name_u]Riley[/name_u]'s, one in his twenties, the other in his forties. It ages so well! I’ve also been hearing it on so many little guys lately, much more than I’ve been hearing upon females. [name_u]Wylie[/name_u] is okay, I just think [name_u]Riley[/name_u] will age better.
I like [name_u]Riley[/name_u] on a boy! There definitely are a lot of girls named [name_u]Riley[/name_u], but it’s not at all unusable. I’d associate it with more neutral names like [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] and [name_u]Emery[/name_u] and less with those that have “gone girl”, like [name_u]Madison[/name_u] and [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u]. (But even those aren’t always out of the question for a boy!)
Never been a fan of [name_m]Wiley[/name_m]. To me, it comes off as either a mispronunciation of [name_u]Riley[/name_u] or the adjective. Or Wile E Coyote.
I could get used to it, and everyone would eventually, but I very much prefer [name_u]Riley[/name_u]. Especially if that’s the name you really love.
[name_u]Riley[/name_u] on a boy is totally fine! It’s definitely a unisex name. It’s not too far on the girl’s side.
[name_m]Wiley[/name_m] is Wile E. Coyote for me. That’s all I can think about when I hear it. Not a fan, personally. [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] is a better choice.
I want to like [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] but it is very close to Wily which isn’t good! I would consider spelling it [name_u]Wylie[/name_u] — to make it less close and because it looks less childish. [name_u]Riley[/name_u] could easily be a boy in my mind!
I would be hesitant to use [name_u]Riley[/name_u] on a boy because why I personally prefer it on boys, it’s crazy popular for girls right now. It was 25 for girls last year (and that’s not counting the [name_u]Rylee[/name_u] and [name_f]Ryleigh[/name_f] spellings) and as a mother of a 5 and 3 year old, I run into little girls with the name everywhere. It would be similar to naming a boy [name_u]Madison[/name_u] or [name_u]Harper[/name_u].
I quite like [name_m]Wiley[/name_m]. I went to school with one and don’t recall him ever running into any issues with his name. If you’re worried about it being too childish though, you could always go with [name_m]Wilder[/name_m] or [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] with the nickname [name_m]Wiley[/name_m].
I have had male and female students with the name [name_u]Riley[/name_u] and I don’t think it suits one over the other. [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t worry about it!
I knew a guy at school named [name_u]Riley[/name_u], he’s probably in his 20s now. I think it still works as a boy name.
As for [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] I love that name. Plus, it’s hardly used compared to [name_u]Riley[/name_u]. I think [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] will age fine, on the right person.
I know two girl Rileys (one is [name_f]Ryleigh[/name_f]) and one boy (all toddlers). I think it still works on a boy. I like [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] too. I hadn’t thought of the lisp thing. It’s similar to [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] to me but less common.
I love [name_m]Wiley[/name_m], it’s unique and I think has a bit of a Southern feel (just like [name_u]Roy[/name_u] and [name_u]Dallas[/name_u])! Though I prefer the [name_u]Wylie[/name_u] spelling.
[name_u]Riley[/name_u] feels unisex, though I also dislike it since it’s so trendy that I believe it’ll feel dated in a couple of years. [name_m]Just[/name_m] my opinion though, don’t let that stop you.
[name_u]Riley[/name_u] is one of the two names I’ve loved for a really long time (the other is [name_f]Vera[/name_f]).
I know it’s still in the top 300 for boys, but it’s in the top 30 for girls, and I fear that it’ll keep rising. A lot of people seem horrified at the thought of using a name like [name_u]Riley[/name_u], [name_u]Emerson[/name_u] or [name_u]Avery[/name_u] for a boy.
I heard of someone who named her son [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], then she met another young mother who’s daughter was named [name_u]Quinn[/name_u]. Mom #1 thought it was cute, but mom #2 legitimately got FURIOUS and began shouting that “My daughter’s name is [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] therefore it is a GIRL name and you’re an idiot for using it on a boy!” Granted, that was probably an extreme case, but it unfortunately seems that more and more people these days think that [name_u]Riley[/name_u] is too soft and feminine for a boy.
But you know what? Soft sounding is okay with me. I’ve always preferred softer sounding boy names over harsh sounding ones for the most part.
I’m a teenager in the US - off the top of my head, I can think of three boy Rileys and two girl Rileys my age. It could still work on a boy, but in my opinion it’s beginning to seem dated and attached to the 1995-2010 era. I think [name_m]Wiley[/name_m] could be usable, and I like it more.
[name_u]Love[/name_u] the name - [name_u]Wiley[/name_u]!! Vintage, old fashioned. I think of the positives - crafty, clever, persistence, resolute protector. Seems like a nice alternative to ever popular, [name_u]Riley[/name_u] or [name_u]Wyatt[/name_u]. To me, it’s poised for a comeback.
I always thought of [name_u]Reilly[/name_u] as the male spelling, but I think [name_u]Riley[/name_u] still works for a boy. I also think [name_u]Wiley[/name_u] could work for an adult. He’ll grow up alongside a bunch of other adult Rileys, so it won’t seem out of place.