WeeNames Scotland’s favourite name finder

← All names

Ripley

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ripley: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2025.

Ripley is an English surname turned first name, rooted in Old English words meaning “strip of land” or “rye field,” originally referring to the village of Ripley in Surrey. The name gained fame through the iconic Ellen Ripley, the fearless protagonist of the Alien film series (played by Sigourney Weaver), who remains a touchstone of strong female characters in sci-fi. It also recalls Robert Ripley, the American cartoonist and founder of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! empire. As a unisex choice, Ripley has seen a steady rise in Scotland since the 1990s, partly thanks to pop culture and a modern love for surname-names. Its double “p” gives it a crisp, memorable sound that suits both boys and girls.

Girl 1 of 52 years

Peak year
20253 babies
Latest (2025)
#7803 babies
Total births
3since 2025
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2025 · 3
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).