Ryan
Ryan was the 99th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,532 babies. Its best year was 1986, when it ranked 11th; the most babies were born in 1985 (29,905). Over the last ten years it has moved down 60 places. More babies were named Ryan in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Irish
Say it RY-uhn /ˈraɪən/
- Rank in 2025
- #99 boys, down 42 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 3,532boys
- Girls and boys
- 10% girls, 90% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 198529,905 babies
- Total since 1880
- 991,747babies recorded
What does the name Ryan mean?
Ryan is the English form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, earlier Ó Riaghain, 'descendant of Rian'. The meaning of the old personal name Rian is not known: Wikipedia quotes the Irish historian John Ryan's view that it is so ancient its meaning was lost before records began. Popular books often give 'little king' or 'champion', but those glosses are guesses. Ryan is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. As a first name it has been used increasingly for both boys and girls since the 1970s, according to Wikipedia, and Wiktionary notes the re-Gaelicized spelling Rian in modern Ireland.
Ó Riain (Irish, “descendant of Rian”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The surname is clearly Irish; the meaning of the underlying name Rian is uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'little king' (from Irish rí).
Related names: Rian, Ryann, Rhyan.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Rian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Ryan (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Ryan popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #715 | #99 | 393 | 3,532 |
| 2020 | #451 | #57 | 684 | 5,348 |
| 2010 | #631 | #23 | 465 | 11,981 |
| 2000 | #582 | #13 | 448 | 20,269 |
| 1990 | #526 | #11 | 451 | 29,263 |
| 1980 | #384 | #15 | 602 | 24,795 |
| 1970 | #2,918 | #140 | 24 | 2,323 |
| 1960 | #7,120 | #408 | 5 | 380 |
| 1950 | — | #690 | — | 99 |
| 1940 | — | #1,674 | — | 18 |
| 1930 | — | #2,155 | — | 14 |
| 1920 | — | #2,580 | — | 12 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Ryan, counting every spelling?
Ryan is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #106 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #99 for Ryan on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,566 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan | 3,532 | #99 | 20,611 |
| Rion | 27 | #4,018 | 192 |
| Ryon | — | — | 50 |
| Ryaan | 7 | #10,478 | 46 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ryan?
3,532 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ryan (0.98 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ryan born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 2 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ryan.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ryan?
About 918,500 people born in the US named Ryan are alive today, with a median age of 34; half are between 23 and 43. That makes Ryan mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ryan by state
How common Ryan was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (2.5×), Massachusetts (2.3×), Connecticut (2.2×), New Jersey (2.2×), Delaware (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in South Dakota, Mississippi, Minnesota.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ryan: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ryan, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ryan · Sibling names for Ryan
Questions about the name Ryan
What does Ryan mean?
The origin of Ryan is uncertain: the surname is clearly Irish; the meaning of the underlying name Rian is uncertain.
How popular is the name Ryan?
Ryan was the 99th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,532 babies. Its best year was 1986, when it ranked 11th; the most babies were born in 1985 (29,905). Over the last ten years it has moved down 60 places. More babies were named Ryan in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Ryan a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 10% girls, 90% boys given the name Ryan in the US.
Where is Ryan most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ryan was most common in Rhode Island (5.95 per 1,000 boys), followed by Massachusetts and Connecticut.