Riker
Riker was the 2709th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 48 babies. Its best year was 2015, when it ranked 1665th with 95 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,044 places. More babies were named Riker in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Ryker) Origin uncertain · Dutch, American English
- Rank in 2025
- #2,709 boys, down 647 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 48boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201595 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,258babies recorded
What does the name Riker mean?
Riker is a spelling of Ryker, pronounced the same way, so it shares Ryker's meaning and origin.
Ryker is an American surname used as a first name. Wikipedia describes Riker or Ryker as a surname of Dutch origin related to Richard, a Germanic name meaning roughly 'powerful ruler'. Wiktionary gives no etymology for the spelling Ryker. Its modern use as a first name is recent and largely American, and it is given almost only to boys. Wiktionary records it as an American surname transferred to a first name.
How sure is this? Uncertain. Possibly a Dutch surname related to Richard; not confirmed by a dictionary.
Related names: Riker, Richard.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ryker', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Riker', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Riker popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,709 | 48 |
| 2020 | #2,062 | 69 |
| 2010 | #4,208 | 24 |
| 2000 | #7,279 | 9 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Riker, counting every spelling?
Riker is a spelling of Ryker, a name family that ranked #192 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,709 for Riker on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,056 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryker | 2,003 | #183 | 10,667 |
| Riker | 48 | #2,709 | 360 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Riker?
48 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Riker (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Riker born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 175 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Riker.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Riker?
About 1,200 people born in the US named Riker are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 5 and 13. That makes Riker a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Riker by state
How common Riker was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 42 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Riker: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Riker, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Riker
What does Riker mean?
The origin of Ryker is uncertain: Possibly a Dutch surname related to Richard; not confirmed by a dictionary.
How popular is the name Riker?
Riker was the 2709th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 48 babies. Its best year was 2015, when it ranked 1665th with 95 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,044 places. More babies were named Riker in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Riker a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Riker in the US.
Where is Riker most popular?
In 2021–2025, Riker was most common in Utah (0.07 per 1,000 boys), followed by Virginia and Ohio.