Ryan Name Meaning

The name Ryan is often associated with qualities such as courage, leadership, and determination. It is a strong and powerful name that conveys a sense of confidence and capability.

Origins of the Name Ryan

Ryan is a unisex name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name “Rian” which means “little king” or “illustrious”. The name was initially used as a surname in Ireland before becoming popular as a given name in the 20th century.

Popularity of the Name Ryan

Ryan has been a popular name for boys for many decades and has been in the top 100 names for boys in the United States for over 50 years. In recent years, it has also gained popularity as a girl’s name, although it is still more commonly used for boys.

Final Thoughts on the Name Ryan

Overall, Ryan is a versatile name that has a long history of popularity and a strong meaning. Whether used for a boy or a girl, Ryan is a name that conveys a sense of strength, confidence, and leadership.

Infographic of Ryan name meaning, which is An Irish name, Ryan means little king.
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Ryan Name Popularity

How popular is the name Ryan? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 0 0%
1911 0 0%
1912 0 0%
1913 0 0%
1914 0 0%
1915 0 0%
1916 0 0%
1917 0 0%
1918 0 0%
1919 0 0%
1920 0 0%
1921 0 0%
1922 0 0%
1923 0 0%
1924 0 0%
1925 0 0%
1926 0 0%
1927 0 0%
1928 0 0%
1929 0 0%
1930 0 0%
1931 0 0%
1932 0 0%
1933 0 0%
1934 0 0%
1935 0 0%
1936 0 0%
1937 0 0%
1938 0 0%
1939 0 0%
1940 0 0%
1941 0 0%
1942 0 0%
1943 0 0%
1944 0 0%
1945 0 0%
1946 0 0%
1947 0 0%
1948 0 0%
1949 0 0%
1950 0 0%
1951 0 0%
1952 0 0%
1953 0 0%
1954 0 0%
1955 0 0%
1956 0 0%
1957 0 0%
1958 0 0%
1959 0 0%
1960 0 0%
1961 0 0%
1962 0 0%
1963 0 0%
1964 0 0%
1965 0 0%
1966 0 0%
1967 0 0%
1968 0 0%
1969 2,413 5 0.0003%
1970 0 0%
1971 2,296 6 0.0004%
1972 2,356 6 0.0004%
1973 1,366 31 0.0024%
1974 1,008 71 0.0055%
1975 1,046 65 0.0051%
1976 878 103 0.008%
1977 501 328 0.0243%
1978 365 548 0.0408%
1979 394 517 0.0367%
1980 387 562 0.0384%
1981 345 639 0.0435%
1982 394 549 0.0367%
1983 363 586 0.0397%
1984 401 489 0.0329%
1985 389 542 0.0357%
1986 344 659 0.0437%
1987 343 670 0.0439%
1988 391 575 0.0369%
1989 435 520 0.0322%
1990 530 404 0.0244%
1991 567 369 0.0226%
1992 589 346 0.0217%
1993 656 291 0.0187%
1994 613 318 0.0207%
1995 611 317 0.021%
1996 614 329 0.022%
1997 622 315 0.0213%
1998 534 431 0.0288%
1999 547 416 0.0278%
2000 580 408 0.0267%
2001 561 423 0.0281%
2002 522 485 0.0324%
2003 488 554 0.0364%
2004 442 651 0.0427%
2005 446 642 0.042%
2006 457 651 0.0416%
2007 451 672 0.0426%
2008 534 534 0.0346%
2009 568 492 0.0329%
2010 625 421 0.0292%
2011 567 461 0.0324%
2012 596 429 0.0301%
2013 651 387 0.0272%
2014 501 569 0.0391%
2015 467 632 0.0434%
2016 447 655 0.0454%
2017 391 742 0.0532%
2018 350 824 0.06%
2019 382 740 0.0547%
2020 433 659 0.0518%
2021 503 544 0.0445%
2022 584 472 0.0358%

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Alabama (AL)

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Arizona (AZ)

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Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Ryan

If you like Ryan, you’ll love these other names like Ryan.


What names are variants of Ryan?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Ryan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Rian

King

Irish

Riana

Great queen, or goddess; king

Welsh

Riane

Irish

Riann

King

Irish

Rianna

Great queen, or goddess; king

Welsh

Rianne

Great queen, or goddess; king

Welsh

Riayn

King

Irish

Ryana

King

Irish

Ryane

King

Irish

Ryann

King

Irish

Ryanna

King

Irish

Ryanne

King

Irish

Rye

King

Irish

Ryen

King

Irish

Ryenne

King

Irish

Ryette

King

Irish

Rynn

King

Irish


What names sound like Ryan?

If you like how Ryan sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Ryan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Rain

Rain

English

Rana

Beautiful, eye-catching

Arabic

Rani

She is singing; queen

Indian (Sanskrit)

Rayana

English

Rayann

English

Rhyan

Great queen, or goddess

Welsh

Roana
Rowan

Of the rowan tree

Gaelic


Lists With Ryan

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Ryan.


1 Comment

  1. We always loved the name Ryan for a girl. I feel like it is feminine but strong and unique


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