Riel is a very rare variant of Riley that peaked in 2012 and remains in steady use.
Riel is predominantly a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #6,729 for boy births in the United States (and #14,145 across all names), given to 13 babies. Riel first appears in 1997 and peaked in 2025 (13 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,729 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,832 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | #17,109 | — |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | #17,178 | — |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,589 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | — | #11,845 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,833 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | — | #11,843 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | — | #13,620 |
| 2014 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,441 |
| 2013 | 11 | 11 | — | #7,450 |
| 2012 | 14 | 14 | #14,674 | #10,528 |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | #16,368 | — |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | — | #11,879 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,686 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,861 |
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | — | #12,054 |
| 1997 | 5 | — | #15,574 | — |