Total births
5,528
Unisex name · since 1978
Reilly
Since 1978, U.S. Social Security records show 5,528 babies named Reilly, peaking in 1998. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2709
- among girls today
- 5,528
- born since 1978
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 85%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Reilly is the #2709 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 5,528 recorded since 1978.
Social Security Administration records show Reilly recorded 5,528 times among girls since 1978, holding rank #2709 nationally today, ahead of 85% of girls, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1978 to 2025.
- #2709 among girls today
- 5,528 born since 1978
- 2000s peak decade
- 85% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Reilly is currently the #2709 unisex name in America, more common than 85% of girls - 5,528 born since 1978, peaking in the 2000s.
- #2709
- among girls today
- 5,528
- born since 1978
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 85%
- more common than other girls
Reilly vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#2709
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 85% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Reilly was born in this single decade.
1998
Single peak year
379 babies were named Reilly in 1998 - its busiest year on record.
How Reilly compares
5,528 Top 12% higher than 88% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Reilly's all-time total is 14x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Reilly | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 5,528 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 379 | 48 | 19,840 |
Reilly's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Reilly's SSA record in two at 2002 and the more recent half accounts for 58% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 42%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1981, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1998 peak of 379, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Reilly at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1998
Current rank
#2,709
Active since
1978
Reilly popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1978–2025
- Peak year (1998)
- 379
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Reilly popularity over time - boys
4,560 total births recorded since 1953 (Reilly as boys' name)
Reilly by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Reilly's strongest decade.
2,437 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Reilly births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
- 1980s 108
1980s
108 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,596 births
- 2000s
2000s
2,437 births
- 2010s
2010s
996 births
- 2020s 385
2020s
385 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 2,437 births (44% of all-time use).
How Reilly compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Reilly's total volume
Reilly vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Reilly by state
Where Reilly concentrates geographically, total births since 1978
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 423 | 7.7% |
| #2 | New York | | 412 | 7.5% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 359 | 6.5% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 285 | 5.2% |
| #5 | New Jersey | | 240 | 4.3% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 208 | 3.8% |
| #7 | Texas | | 193 | 3.5% |
| #8 | Florida | | 180 | 3.3% |
California share of Reilly's total US births 7.7%
Even split
423 of 5,528 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 34 reporting states.
Reilly appears in 34 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Reilly? ▼
5,528 babies have been named Reilly since 1978. It currently ranks #2709 among girls. The peak year was 1998 with 379 births.
When was Reilly most popular? ▼
Reilly was most popular in the 2000s decade with 2,437 total births. The single peak year was 1998.
Where is Reilly most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Reilly are California (423 births), New York (412 births), Pennsylvania (359 births).
Is Reilly a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Reilly is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 5,528 births, and as a boy's name it has 4,560 births.
How long has the name Reilly been used? ▼
Reilly has been recorded in Social Security data since 1978, spanning 48 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Reilly? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Reina, Reign, Reita, Reid, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Reilly's data
- Reilly's decade-level peak was the 2000s (2,437 total births); usage has since declined to 385 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Reillys (423 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Reilly
Nearby Names Like Reilly
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Reilly
Reina Girl
#552 14,080 births
Reign Girl
#435 7,989 births
Reita Girl
1,364 births
Reid Girl
#4491 992 births
Reiko Girl
671 births
Compare Reilly side by side: Reilly vs Reina Reilly vs Reign Reilly vs Reita
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Reilly
Rhyan #2708
3,097 births · Peak 2018
Diara #2710
800 births · Peak 2024
Yulissa #2707
4,151 births · Peak 1997
Caleigh #2711
5,768 births · Peak 1999
Fiorella #2706
1,639 births · Peak 2025
Sitara #2712
805 births · Peak 2025
Kaley #2705
13,682 births · Peak 2003
Kamaya #2713
1,913 births · Peak 2008
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1978–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Reilly: #2709 Unisex Name - 5,528 Births, Peak 1998." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/reilly. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Reilly draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.