Baby naming debate... please vote!

[Green with Envy]

We are naming our baby boy, due in May, and my favorite name is Riley. I see in the Pottery Barn kids catalog, Riley is sometimes used with the baby blue colors. Personally I don't know anyone named Riley, I just like the way it sounds.

Now many people are telling me that Riley used to be a boy name, but it is very trendy to use it for girls. Maybe 20 years ago I could name my son Riley, but now most people will assume a baby named Riley is female.

I understand that I can name my son whatever I want, but I don't want to burden him with a "girl" name. We looked online and saw in recent years Riley is ranked in the top 100 names for girls and no where to be found on the boys list.

Can you please share your opinions... I know it can be used for either gender... but what do you think of most. Riley is for a baby girl? or baby boy?

Thanks for feedback!

 

[Enerchi]

I know 2 families with son's named Riley, so I voted as a boy name.

As long as you and DH are happy and you prefer that name - go for it! No matter what name you give your child, there will always be unsolicited opinions offered. Its unavoidable.

 

[decodelighted]

Riley is a boys name that became trendy for girls. Historically: male. I think it's kind of a welcome switcharoo to start using it for boys again.

OR - what about Rider? Ryder? Raylan? (I've been watching too much "Justified"!) Ryler?

 

[Skippy123]

I know a girl named Riley, the only one with that name. Go with whatever you like though. Congrats on a baby boy!!!

 

[monkeyprincess]

I know one of each. I have a co-worker with a 5 year-old daughter named Rylee (pronounced Riley), and I have a friend with a one-year old boy named Riley. I hate that so many cute boy names have been taken over as girl names, but in this case, I think it is sufficiently unisex that you shouldn't worry too much about it if that is the name you like.

 

[stephbolt]

On the social security name index, Riley is hovering around 100th for boys, and is around 40th for girls. So based on that, it is certainly more commonly used for girls, but wouldn't be an uncommon boys name either. I'd say it's a true unisex name right now, so as long as a name like that doesn't bother you, go for it. Your son may have a few people who think he's the opposite sex if they read his name without meeting him/talking to him, but it will clear up quickly once they meet him!

ETA: I only searched the spelling Riley - other spelling variations might change how common a name seems to be. Rylee, for example, is around 100th for girls, so combined with Riley that may push the name more strongly female. But still not an uncommon boys name!

 

[iheartscience]

I voted girl's name because I don't know of any boy Rileys. Plus names that end in an "ee" sound seem more feminine, IMO.

 

[amc80]

On the social security name index, Riley is hovering around 100th for boys, and is around 40th for girls. So based on that, it is certainly more commonly used for girls, but wouldn't be an uncommon boys name either. I'd say it's a true unisex name right now, so as long as a name like that doesn't bother you, go for it. Your son may have a few people who think he's the opposite sex if they read his name without meeting him/talking to him, but it will clear up quickly once they meet him!

ETA: I only searched the spelling Riley - other spelling variations might change how common a name seems to be. Rylee, for example, is around 100th for girls, so combined with Riley that may push the name more strongly female. But still not an uncommon boys name!

Riley jumps way up to #14 (as of 2010) for girls when all of the spellings are considered. (http://www.namenerds.com/uucn/pop/2010/2010xx01.html) It's #103 for boys when grouped.

I have four friends who have kids named Riley. Well, two Rileys, a Rylee, and one other spelling that I can't remember. One Riley is a boy, the other 3 are girls.

Based on trends, I'd say Riley is going to the girls.

 

[Green with Envy]

Wow... glad you added that site that considers all spellings. #14 is high! guess we are back to the drawing board!

other possibilities for us are...

Bradley
Michael
Alexander
Mark
Nicolas.

I think ALL of the those are 100% boy!

 

[MuffDog]

I also had Riley on my list for our little guy, however I do think that (these days), it is going to the girls. While I think it is still a great boys name, I don't really want my son in a class with 4 other Riley's, all of which are girls.

Picking a boys name is tough especially when half the good ones are being taken over by girls! Although, if I were having a girl, I'd consider Riley too

The other names you picked are very, very BOY so you should be safe!

 

[amc80]

I also had Riley on my list for our little guy, however I do think that (these days), it is going to the girls. While I think it is still a great boys name, I don't really want my son in a class with 4 other Riley's, all of which are girls.

Picking a boys name is tough especially when half the good ones are being taken over by girls! Although, if I were having a girl, I'd consider Riley too

The other names you picked are very, very BOY so you should be safe!

Riley is our #2 name on our girl list. But the debate is the spelling- I want Riley (or even Rylee) but DH wants Ryleigh.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I think of Riley (man) on Buffy. And oddly enough, I've known two women named Michael. The first was Michael Ann, and the second was just simply a Michael.

Both my kids have very unisex names. My daughter's name is equally a boy and a girl's name, but started out as a boy's. My son's nickname is definitely more boy and if you heard it, you'd think boy first, but there are plenty of girls with it. His middle name is in my opinion, more girl than boy. DH thinks exactly the opposite. And actually, I think it's more a black Lab's name

 

[stephbolt]

On the social security name index, Riley is hovering around 100th for boys, and is around 40th for girls. So based on that, it is certainly more commonly used for girls, but wouldn't be an uncommon boys name either. I'd say it's a true unisex name right now, so as long as a name like that doesn't bother you, go for it. Your son may have a few people who think he's the opposite sex if they read his name without meeting him/talking to him, but it will clear up quickly once they meet him!

ETA: I only searched the spelling Riley - other spelling variations might change how common a name seems to be. Rylee, for example, is around 100th for girls, so combined with Riley that may push the name more strongly female. But still not an uncommon boys name!

Riley jumps way up to #14 (as of 2010) for girls when all of the spellings are considered. (http://www.namenerds.com/uucn/pop/2010/2010xx01.html) It's #103 for boys when grouped.

I have four friends who have kids named Riley. Well, two Rileys, a Rylee, and one other spelling that I can't remember. One Riley is a boy, the other 3 are girls.

Based on trends, I'd say Riley is going to the girls.

Wow that site is interesting! I'll admit that given unlimited time, I still couldn't come up with some of the creative spellings listed on there! But definitely useful to consider how multiple variants of a name affect it's perceived popularity.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

There are two Rileys in my kids' school and both are boys. But, they're in elementary school, so they're at least 7+ years old.

 

[Puppmom]

I think of Riley as a girl's name only because I don't know any boys by that name. Maybe it's a regional thing?

I Alexander. Maybe even Alexander Riley! When he becomes all grown up, he can be really important and go by A. Riley Soandso.

 

[Pandora II]

I also love Alexander!

 

[PetitiePoire]

I haven't read all of the responses yet, because I want to give my first thoughts.

As a teacher, I wouldn't automatically think boy or girl, if there was a student on my list with the name Riley. If I think too much about it I might think it was a boy name, but could just as easily be gender neutral. That being said, I know a young girl named Riley, but it still doesn't make me assume girl when seeing just the name.

 

[steelmagnolia]

I think it's still one of those that is an either/or for gender. I wouldn't automatically assume one of my children's friends was a boy or girl based solely off that name.

I have a daughter who has a name that is traditionally a boy's name. I thought she might be a boy, loved the name, found out she was a girl, and just changed the spelling to a slightly more feminine style. It now seems that the name has been "taken over" by the girls, as I've met far more girls with the name than boys. It is still a very strong male name, though, and I wouldn't hesitate to have named a boy that if I hadn't already used it, no matter how many girls seem to be using it now.

I did used to find it somewhat odd when people would say they needed to meet the baby first and then decide on the name, but after wishing I'd done that with one of my five, I get it now. Since you have many other choices on your list, you may want to consider waiting to meet him first and see which name you think suits him best?

 

[Rhea]

I've never heard that name! I guess I don't watch enough American tv. I like Alexander Riley, it has a nice ring to it.

 

[Haven]

Riley is super trendy for little girls in my area right now, and I was surprised the first time I heard it for a girl.
But so is Bailey, which happens to be my dog's name, and the name of at least ten other dogs I've met!

I think if you love a name, go for it. DH and I will definitely be giving our future children very unusual names, and we don't care what other people think about them!

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Riley is super trendy for little girls in my area right now, and I was surprised the first time I heard it for a girl.
But so is Bailey, which happens to be my dog's name, and the name of at least ten other dogs I've met!I think if you love a name, go for it. DH and I will definitely be giving our future children very unusual names, and we don't care what other people think about them!

OMG! Bailey is my son's middle name!! Like I said early, I think it's a black Lab's name (my boss' black Lab is named Bailey), but DH has always liked it so we went with it.

 

[Laila619]

Wow... glad you added that site that considers all spellings. #14 is high! guess we are back to the drawing board!

other possibilities for us are...

Bradley
Michael
Alexander
Mark
Nicolas.

I think ALL of the those are 100% boy!

Hi,

I like these much better than Riley. Very strong and classic names!

Congrats on your boy!

 

[Haven]

Riley is super trendy for little girls in my area right now, and I was surprised the first time I heard it for a girl.
But so is Bailey, which happens to be my dog's name, and the name of at least ten other dogs I've met!I think if you love a name, go for it. DH and I will definitely be giving our future children very unusual names, and we don't care what other people think about them!

OMG! Bailey is my son's middle name!! Like I said early, I think it's a black Lab's name (my boss' black Lab is named Bailey), but DH has always liked it so we went with it.

See! That's what I'm talking about!

We adopted our pup from a shelter, and she was already named Bailey. As was my best friend's male dog. We didn't like any other names that rhyme with Bailey, so we figured we'd just keep it and change the spelling to Bailee so we could at least differentiate the two pups' names somehow. Her full name is Bailee Faye.

There are three little girl Baileys in our neighborhood, and I once met a woman on a train with a brand new granddaughter--Bailee Maye! I couldn't tell her my dog was named Bailee Faye, but it definitely made me laugh on the inside.

The thing with names is that they always sound different when they're associated with a real human being. I'm a teacher, so I've met a lot of people with unusual names over the years. When I see them on my roster I think, "Hmmm . . . strange." But after knowing them, the names always seem just right, and often I find myself loving a name after using it for a while.

 

[vc10um]

The only Riley I know is a little boy, and he's 4.

I LOVE the sound of Alexander Riley or Nicolas Riley, though! That sounds like a fantastic compromise and a way to still use your favorite name!

 

[packrat]

The only Riley I know is Rylee, a girl in London's grade. But before I met/saw her, I assumed she was a boy. I like it and it was one of the names on our list for boys back in the day..but my dad said he would be teased "Life of Riley"..and we ended up having a girl.

 

[audball]

I know at least 8 Rileys and only one is a guy (and he's a bit older than me at 26ish).

I love the rest of your names for boys though. Nicholas is one of my all time favorite classic names. Around where I live, though, it's more classically spelled with an 'h' as in Nicholas instead of Nicolas but I love it either way. I also like it's nickname "Nick". A lot of classic names I don't like the associated nickname which would lead me away from it.

My other favorite boy name (not on your list) is Nathan aka Nate.

Good luck in choosing! I can't imagine how I'll be able to choose someday! So many things to consider.

 

[SandyCheeks]

I think Riley can go boy or girl. There is a boy Riley in my son's first grade class. My 10 yr old daughter has lots of contemporaries named Kylie which rhymes with Riley. I do, however love a traditional masculine sounding name for boys. My son is a Nicholas and we've always called him Nico. Congratulations and good luck choosing a name for your sweet baby!

 

[kefira]

I think that if you love the name Riley, you should go for it. There's really no argument, I mean it IS a boy's name, even if it's used for baby girls as well. But that's probably just me being typically ISTJish. Even other names that have been appropriated (think Leslie, Robin, Ashley, Carey - a personal favorite) don't make me think, "Oh, he's got a girl's name." I think more along the lines of, "Cool, his parents went with the name they loved. Screw society's whims." I think using a name in its traditional form is a great way to buck trend.

 

[distracts]

Riley is super trendy for little girls in my area right now, and I was surprised the first time I heard it for a girl.
But so is Bailey, which happens to be my dog's name, and the name of at least ten other dogs I've met!I think if you love a name, go for it. DH and I will definitely be giving our future children very unusual names, and we don't care what other people think about them!

OMG! Bailey is my son's middle name!! Like I said early, I think it's a black Lab's name (my boss' black Lab is named Bailey), but DH has always liked it so we went with it.

I had no idea it was a common dog name - two weeks ago I rescued a dog named Bailey that I found wandering on my street and returned him to his owners. That's my Bailey-dog experience! /threadjack

I've never known a girl named Riley, but I've known several boys with that name, and seen it as a boys name on several tv shows.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

I strongly prefer Riley for a boy but I do know a 2 1/2 year old girl named Riley....

Nicolas Riley I think sounds great...and I also like Riley Alexander