Riker is a surname of Dutch and German origin, usually linked to the word rijk or reich, "rich" or "powerful", the same root as Richard; Rikers Island in New York is named after an early Dutch settler family. Most Americans know it from Commander William Riker of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Riker peaked at number 1,665 in 2015 and has stayed near number 2,000 since, ranking number 2,709 in 2025 with 48 births.