Rigley is of English origin, derived from an Old Norse personal name composed of the elements 'Hrēkr' meaning 'powerful' and 'lēifr' meaning 'descendant'. It was introduced to England by Scandinavian settlers in the late 9th century during the Danish conquests. The name Rigley was traditionally given to boys, but today it is often used for girls as well due to its unisex nature. The name gained popularity in the mid-20th century and has since seen steady usage. Notable individuals with this name include American actress and singer Kristy McNichol (née McNichol), who was known professionally as Kristy Rigley during her early career.
Rigley is not a particularly popular name for girls, with only 5 births recorded in 2008. There was a slight increase in popularity between 2009 and 2016, with 7 births each year. However, the name gained some traction in 2017 with 9 births that year. Despite this recent uptick, Rigley has remained relatively uncommon overall, with a total of 43 births recorded since 2008.