The first name Ripley
A unisex name from English meaning “woodland clearing”.
Pronounced /ˈɹɪpli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Ripley means “woodland clearing” in English.
From the Old English folk name for the Anglian tribe, *Hrype + Old English lēah (“woodland clearing”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 15 girls were named Ripley, making it the 1,892nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 21 births (#1,490).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ripley with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ripley at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 243 girls born in the United States were named Ripley, the 1,032nd most popular girls’ name that 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.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Ripley
- Rip
More English unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Ripley mean?
- Ripley means “woodland clearing” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Ripley?
- From the Old English folk name for the Anglian tribe, *Hrype + Old English lēah (“woodland clearing”).
- How popular is the name Ripley?
- In 2025, 15 girls born in England and Wales were named Ripley, ranking 1,892nd. Its peak was 2018, with 21 births.
- What are nicknames for Ripley?
- Common nicknames for Ripley include Rip.
- Is Ripley a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 3,590 US babies named Ripley since 1880, 71% were girls and 29% boys.
- When was Ripley most popular?
- 2025 in the United States, when 243 babies were named Ripley, its highest rank at 1,032nd.
- How do you pronounce Ripley?
- Ripley is /ˈɹɪpli/, 2 syllables.
- Is Ripley also a surname?
- Yes. Ripley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.