unisex name · in the US
Riel
ree-EL
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 436
Riel is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 15% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 13 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
- Peaked in Canada in 2013, when 24 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in Canada.
- Today about 1 in 61,058 babies in Canada is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1991.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Riel Over Time
Births per decade in Canada, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2024.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 54 |
| 2000s | 89 |
| 2010s | 114 |
| 2020s (to 2024) | 30 |
How Popular Is Riel?
In 2024, Riel was given to 5 babies in Canada. It is a rare choice.
Where Riel Is Used
Figures for Canada leave out any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Riel
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Riel Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Riel over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Riel is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- Canada Boys' 0% girls · 68 babies
- United States Both 17% girls · 58 babies
How to Say Riel
- Pronunciation ree-EL
Sibling Names for Riel
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Riel — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Riel
How popular is the name Riel?
In 2024, Riel was given to 5 babies in Canada. It is a rare choice.
Is Riel a girl's or a boy's name?
Riel is used for both girls and boys. About 15% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Riel?
Riel has 2 syllables.
When was Riel most popular?
Riel peaked in 2013, when 24 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Riel a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Riel currently ranks #3,575 in Canada. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.