Ripley
From the Old English folk name for the Anglian tribe, *Hrype + Old English lēah (“woodland clearing”).
Every Ripley since 1918 — 3,590 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ripley
Ripley is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,032 in 2025 with 243 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1918, 3,590 American babies have been named Ripley — about 71% girls and 29% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2025, when 399 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ripley stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ripley year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 243 | #1,032 | 156 | #1,266 |
| 2024 | 187 | #1,249 | 135 | #1,394 |
| 2023 | 203 | #1,184 | 118 | #1,506 |
| 2022 | 207 | #1,171 | 108 | #1,621 |
| 2021 | 171 | #1,320 | 76 | #1,980 |
| 2020 | 171 | #1,297 | 66 | #2,133 |
| 2019 | 172 | #1,331 | 41 | #2,983 |
| 2018 | 192 | #1,222 | 22 | #4,579 |
| 2017 | 143 | #1,540 | 26 | #4,082 |
| 2016 | 128 | #1,681 | 26 | #4,071 |
| 2015 | 97 | #2,038 | 30 | #3,667 |
| 2014 | 76 | #2,408 | 22 | #4,505 |
| 2013 | 65 | #2,702 | 16 | #5,595 |
| 2012 | 56 | #3,037 | 11 | #7,441 |
| 2011 | 31 | #4,657 | 9 | #8,627 |
| 2010 | 39 | #3,943 | 8 | #9,491 |
| 2009 | 44 | #3,667 | 13 | #6,734 |
| 2008 | 32 | #4,737 | 11 | #7,598 |
| 2007 | 31 | #4,782 | 10 | #8,048 |
| 2006 | 28 | #5,068 | 10 | #7,879 |
| 2005 | 27 | #4,936 | 15 | #5,521 |
| 2004 | 37 | #3,884 | 14 | #5,735 |
| 2003 | 22 | #5,559 | 8 | #8,459 |
| 2002 | 20 | #5,850 | — | — |
| 2001 | 15 | #7,243 | 6 | #10,284 |
| 2000 | 17 | #6,422 | — | — |
| 1995 | 5 | #15,208 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | 6 | #3,809 |
| 1950 | — | — | 6 | #3,616 |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | 5 | #4,841 |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ripley mean?
From the Old English folk name for the Anglian tribe, *Hrype + Old English lēah (“woodland clearing”).
How popular is the name Ripley in 2025?
Ripley ranked #1,032 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 243 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ripley?
3,590 babies have been named Ripley in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ripley most popular?
Ripley peaked in 2025, when 399 newborns received the name.
Is Ripley a boy or girl name?
Ripley is used for both: about 71% of babies named Ripley have been girls and 29% boys.
Is the name Ripley rising or falling?
Ripley is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.