Reilly

Reilly is an Irish surname anglicized from Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach,' a personal name possibly derived from raghal (valiant) or connected to Old Irish elements meaning 'race' and 'mighty.' The phrase 'the life of Reilly' — meaning a life of ease and pleasure — has given the surname an additional connotation of effortless joy.

Reilly carries a particularly wonderful bonus meaning: 'the life of Reilly' has been an English idiom since the late 19th century, meaning a life of perfect contentment and ease. For a pet, this is almost impossibly apt — because what is a beloved pet's life if not the life of Reilly? The Irish heritage adds warmth and authenticity, and the double-L spelling signals someone who paid attention to the details. It suits happy, sociable dogs who seem to have figured out the secret to effortless contentment and are not sharing it.