Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Ryan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from an Irish surname, traditionally little kingRyan is a boy's name that is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, traditionally little king. It is used in English.
- Meaning
- From an Irish surname, traditionally little king
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #99 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ryan
As a boy's name, Ryan is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, traditionally little king. It is used in English.
Ryan is also a surname: the 201st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 137,599 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Ryan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ryan on 1 list.
“Ó Riain, descendant of Rian, or a short form of Ó Maoilriain (Mulryan); strongest in Tipperary and Limerick”
From Irish last names, most common Irish last names
How popular is Ryan?
- US rank in 2025
- #99
- 3,532 babies, 2,068 per million boys
- Best rank
- #11 in 1986
- Most babies: 29,905 in 1985
- Babies since 1906
- At least 964,123
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 7 per million |
| 1910s | 8 per million |
| 1920s | 10 per million |
| 1930s | 13 per million |
| 1940s | 34 per million |
| 1950s | 97 per million |
| 1960s | 588 per million |
| 1970s | 8,454 per million |
| 1980s | 15,111 per million |
| 1990s | 12,385 per million |
| 2000s | 8,679 per million |
| 2010s | 4,840 per million |
| 2020s | 2,505 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40 | #44 | #46 | #54 | #57 | #66 | #74 | #83 | #87 | #99 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Ryan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- RíanTraditionally little king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Names spelled like Ryan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CaraFriend in Irish; beloved in Italian (Irish and Italian, girl)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ReaganLittle king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- AbdulmalikServant of the King (Arabic, boy)
- AdaezePrincess, king's daughter (Igbo, girl)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AilbhePerhaps white or light, from Old Irish Ailbe (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- BakerFrom a surname meaning baker (Old English, boy)
- BaltasarBel protect the king (Akkadian, boy)
Middle names for Ryan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConanLittle hound or little wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConnorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DesmondFrom South Munster (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DonalWorld ruler (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Ryan: common questions
What does the name Ryan mean?
Ryan is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, traditionally little king. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Ryan a boy or girl name?
Ryan is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 393 girls and 3,532 boys in the US were named Ryan, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Ryan come from?
Ryan is of Irish Gaelic origin: from an Irish surname, traditionally little king. Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Ryan?
Ryan ranked #99 in the US in 2025, with 3,532 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ryan?
Forms of Ryan with the same meaning and origin include Rían (Irish).
What middle names go with Ryan?
Middle names that flow well with Ryan include Abraham, Alton, Archer, Atticus and Ethan. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.