Origin, Meaning, And History Of Reilly
Reilly is a gender-neutral name of Irish origin. The surname, which originates from the Gaelic Ó Raghallaigh Sept, was found in Counties Cavan and Westmeath. The name has two distinct origins, with the English version combining ‘rye’ and ‘clearing,’ ‘meadow,’ or ‘field.’ The Gaelic version, on the other hand, is derived from the given name Raghailleach, meaning ‘courageous’ or ‘brave’ in Old Gaelic. The Irish version of the name was retained as a surname in the form of O’Reilly, signifying ‘descendant of Raghailleach.’
Reilly is one of the most common surnames in Ireland and is especially prevalent in the region of its ancestral homeland. The roots of the surname can be traced back to County Cavan, where the Reilly family were known as the Princes of East Breffny. Their lineage can be linked to Raghallaigh, Prince of Breffny, who lived in 981. Despite the Anglo/Norman invasion of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke in 1172, the Reillys managed to maintain their territory. Sir John O’Reilly, who was the Prince of Breffny at the time, later surrendered the principality to Queen Elizabeth I. This move ensured that the Reillys’ lands remained intact.
Riley, Reiley, Reilley, Rhiley, and Rilee are some variations of the name Rilley. Other variations of the name include O’Reilly, O’Reilley, O’Reily, O’Rielly, O’Riely, O’Riley, O’Rilley, and Reel.
The name Reilly has been a popular choice among writers and creators, resulting in several fictional characters with the name. In the world of comics,Ben Reillyis a clone of Peter Parker who becomes the Scarlet Spider, and May Parker, Peter’s daughter in an alternate universe.Ignatius J. Reillyis the protagonist ofA Confederacy of Dunces. Additionally, the soldier Reilly in the Irish novel seriesZom-Bis a tough and capable fighter in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies.
How To Pronounce Reilly?
Famous People With The Name Reilly
- Charles Nelson ReillyAmerican actor, comedian, director, and drama teacher, who won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performances in the original Broadway casts of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hello, Dolly!, and Bye Bye Birdie
- David Fitzgerald ReillyAmerican singer, who was a songwriting/production partner for electro-rock band God Lives Underwater
- Reilly & MaloneyAmerican folk music duo, based in the San Francisco Bay Area; they performed for two decades, touring and sharing the stage with artists like Judy Collins and Tom Paxton
- Jessica Kelly Siobhán ReillyEnglish actress, best known for her roles in the TV series Above Suspicion, Black Box, and True Detective
- Trevor McKay ReillyFormer American football outside linebacker who joined Deion Sanders at Colorado Buffaloes as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2023
Reilly On The Popularity Chart
The popularity of the name Reilly has experienced significant fluctuations over the years. Refer to the graph below for insight into how the name’s performance.
Popularity Over Time
Reilly reached its peak popularity in 2007. Check out the graph for more information.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Reilly’s ranking has varied significantly since 1980. Check out the graph below for a better overview of this name’s journey on the popularity chart so far.
Source:Social Security Administration名称与Similar Sound As Reilly
Reill sounds sweet and joyous. If you are searching for more names with similar sounds, here is a list.
Popular Sibling Names For Reilly
Other Popular Names Beginning With R
名称与Similar Meaning As Reilly
If you are looking for names that share a similar meaning to Reilly, below are some suggestions. Take your pick.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Reilly
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Reilly?
The name Reilly means a rey as in an edible grain.
2. What is the origin of the name Reilly?
Reilly has an Irish origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Reilly?
Reilly is pronounced as reil-ly.
