Ryan
Gender: Mostly Boy
Meaning: Little king or descendant of the king
Origin: Irish
Popularity: Ranked #99 in 2025 with 3,532 babies born.
History: Ryan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, meaning descendant of Rian, a name derived from the Old Irish 'rí' meaning king. It was one of the most common surnames in Ireland before transitioning to a widely used first name in the United States and English-speaking world during the 20th century. It remains consistently popular across multiple generations.
Famous people named Ryan: Ryan Reynolds (actor), Ryan Gosling (actor), Meg Ryan (actress)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Ryan? About 1 in 848 babies born in 2025 were named Ryan, or roughly 10.8 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Ryan
What does the name Ryan mean?
Ryan means “Little king or descendant of the king” from Irish roots.
What is the origin of the name Ryan?
Ryan has Irish origin. The traditional meaning is “Little king or descendant of the king”.
How popular is Ryan?
Ryan ranked #99 in 2025 — given to 3,532 babies that year.
When was Ryan most popular?
Ryan peaked in 1985 with 29,909 babies registered that year.
Is Ryan a boy or girl name?
Ryan is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Ryans in registered births are male.
Is the name Ryan rising or falling in popularity?
Ryan has risen 351 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #450 in 2020 to #99 in 2025.
How long has Ryan been recorded?
Ryan appears in birth records across 114 years — from 1906 through 2025.