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    The first name Ridley

    A unisex name from English meaning “reeds”, “cleared land”, “wood”.

    Pronounced /ˈɹɪdli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Ridley means “reeds”, “cleared land”, “wood” in English.

    Place names in England, Old English hrēad (“reeds”) or rydde (“cleared land”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Thus, equivalent to reed or rid + -ley (“lea”).

    More names that mean earth, forest.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 13 boys were named Ridley, making it the 1,897th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 20 births (#1,270).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    253
    babies named Ridley, 1996–2025
    #1,897
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ridley with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Ridley at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 95 girls born in the United States were named Ridley, the 2,013th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2018, when 124 were.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    2,892
    babies named Ridley since 1880
    #2,013
    rank in 2025
    2018
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Ridley

    5 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Ridley Scott
      English filmmaker (born 1937)
    • Frances Ridley Havergal
      British poet and hymn-writer (1836-1879)
    • Ridley Pearson
      American writer, born 1953
    • Robert A. Parker
      American astronaut, born 1936
    • Osgood Perkins
      American actor (1892-1937)

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Ridley mean?
    Ridley means “reeds”, “cleared land”, “wood” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Ridley?
    Place names in England, Old English hrēad (“reeds”) or rydde (“cleared land”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Thus, equivalent to reed or rid + -ley (“lea”).
    How popular is the name Ridley?
    In 2025, 13 boys born in England and Wales were named Ridley, ranking 1,897th. Its peak was 2012, with 20 births.
    Is Ridley a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 2,892 US babies named Ridley since 1880, 47% were girls and 53% boys.
    When was Ridley most popular?
    2018 in the United States, when 124 babies were named Ridley, its highest rank at 1,684th.
    How do you pronounce Ridley?
    Ridley is /ˈɹɪdli/, 2 syllables.
    Is Ridley also a surname?
    Yes. Ridley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.