Is Riley too "girly" for a boy's name?

Rachelly8

It's one of my favorites on the list for LO (a boy), but DH says he immediately thinks "girl" when he hears it. We have agreed on another name, Caleb, but I am having a hard time letting Riley go.

Would love your opinions! (I also posted about this on BNB.)

Luthien1015

Nope! My sister has a nephew on her husband's side named Riley, and I've heard it used for other boys too. 

SLaBM2B

I personally think it's too girly, but that's b/c I have a neice with that name.  I love Caleb though!

Amber3535

I think it could be for a boy but I do think girl right away. That might be because I know 3 Riley girls.

MrsAuby

I think its originally a boy name. We are pretty set on Riley for our girl and we have gotten a ton of comments about her having a boy name.

MissDei

not at all, especially since it was originally used as a boys name to begin with!

sparklemotion86

I always thought that Riley was a boys name since I went to school with a boy named Ryley. I thought that it seemed too boyish on a girl, but with it's recent popularity with girls, I think that people may think it's too girly. 

musicalsilver

I think of it as being kind of girly - but it's relatively unisex these days.

One of my friends named her baby Caleb last year - I like it! 

riansmommie

Its originally a boys name, but I love using boy names for girls, Riley is on our girl list. Our DD is Rian, said just like Ryan. I do like Caleb better though for your son.

Corleyrae

I know two Rileys. Both boys, both athletic, one a Marine. So... no not girly.

RileighsMom1224

My daughter is named Riley, but we have met several little boys with the name.  I think girl when I hear the name but it did start out as a boys name.  

MissMarnee

I don't think Riley is girly at all, not having net any! Perfectly great name, though Caleb is beautiful, too...

MrsKatieW

I've only ever met boys named Riley, but after being on TB, there seems to be a lot of girls named Riley out there. I don't care for it on either sex. I love Caleb!

iggles09

I don't know if I would go with Riley for a boy. I like non-gender specific names for girls but not really for boys. I know it's a double standard.

Caleb on the other hand. Love! 

PurpleCobra1

That is my SO's name, so I immediately think boy. Buuuut, I do know a few girl Rileys......that probably doesn't help much, sorry!

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BLT20051

SouthSideDrea:

Nope, Riley goes both ways.

I giggled a little at this.

I only know girl Rileys but that is just me. What about Ryder?

hjk5000

IMO, yes.

mel1987

It's unisex, because it doesn't sound very masculine (to me at least)

Also, all I can think of is dogs... I used to work with dogs and there were a MILLION dogs named Riley .... and Bailey.  GL!

Rachelly8

Thank you all for the feedback! Caleb was our first choice before Riley joined the list, so we will most likely end up going with that.

ilovemarfa

I think it's unisex. My cousin's daughter is a Riley but I know a few boys with that name.

AutumnOracle

Want a little devil's advocate?  I had a friend who's SIL named her daughter Caleb.  So it's going unisex as well.

If you're that attached to Riley and you don't name him that you might regret it for a long time.   

 Personally we're facing that with my IL's they said Quinn is to much of a boy name for a girl(they still don't know the gender), but Quinn is our little girl's name.  It just fits.   

Rachelly8

AutumnOracle - I have never heard of naming a girl Caleb, but I guess there is a first time for everything! Interesting. I totally hear you about possibly regretting not naming him Riley; maybe we'll save it for our next (boy or girl!).

And for what it's worth, I looove the name Quinn on a girl

atangiblewish

I know it's a unisex name, but, when I hear the name I instantly think boy. I know a few boy Riley's but no girls.

kriskell

I think most unisex names tend to lean more girl or more boy.  To me, Riley leans more girl.  But I think it's a fine name for a boy. 

Corleyrae

I want to add a thought or two.

I agree with Riley orginally being a boy name.

I think when the trend was to name girls with boy/neutral names Riley took off. I think it is seen as girly now because it is so popular as a unisex name that it is hardly used a boy name. But I would still use it if it was on my list regardless.

notquiteblushing

I don't think it's girly.  I know a four year old boy named Riley.

adeller11

My DH said the same thing when we are going through lists -- I think it honestly depends on how it works with your last name and what the middle name is. 

Jdawnl

This was going to be our boy middle name, as in Levi Riley, but another name won out. It is one of DH's favorite boy names.

BLT20051

This thread is why I nixed any unisex names. If you have to ask "boy or girl" I'm not a fan.

chelsmcl

I only know boy Riley's so to me it's a boys name.

flerlgirl

I think boy! I think of this boy:

Which can only be a good thing  

homebird

I would think girl.

homebird

MissDei:

not at all, especially since it was originally used as a boys name to begin with!

What it is originally used as really has nothing to do with it. A lot of names have evolved over time. Did you know Evelyn was originally a boy's name?