Ryan
Ryan is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Little king or descendant of Rian.
Origin and history
Ryan is derived from the Irish surname Ó Riain, historically meaning descendant of Rian. Rian is thought to mean little king or illustrious. It became extremely popular in the United States in the late 20th century and remains a classic choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
964,123 babies in the United States have been named Ryan since 1880. It ranks #31 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #77.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.3 %)
- NY (6.7 %)
- TX (5.9 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 10 |
| 1910-1920 | 55 |
| 1920-1930 | 111 |
| 1930-1940 | 134 |
| 1940-1950 | 500 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,961 |
| 1960-1970 | 11,322 |
| 1970-1980 | 139,635 |
| 1980-1990 | 278,938 |
| 1990-2000 | 241,248 |
| 2000-2010 | 173,244 |
| 2010-2019 | 91,006 |
| 2020-2029 | 25,959 |
Famous people named Ryan
- Ryan Gosling: Actor, Musician
- Ryan Reynolds: Actor, Producer
- Ryan Seacrest: Television Host, Producer
Nicknames
Ry
Fun facts
- The name traces back to the ancient Irish personal name Rian, which combines elements signifying royalty.
- Originally used strictly as an Irish family surname, Ryan gained massive popularity as a given name in North America during the 1970s.