Ridley, of Old English origin, is an uncommon yet distinctive given name for males. It is derived from the word 'rid', which means 'clearing' or 'meadow'. Historically, Ridley was used as a surname before becoming a first name. The name gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly after the British actor and film director Ridley Scott achieved success. Although it may not be widely known, Ridley has a certain charm and uniqueness that makes it appealing to those seeking an alternative to more common names.
The name Ridley experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. After steady growth from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, reaching a peak of 28 births in 2004, it saw a consistent decline until the early 2000s when it began to rise again, peaking recently at 92 births in 2021. Overall, there have been 1393 Ridley births recorded since 1915.