How to say it
RY · an
ˈraɪ.ən
Masculine
Ryan
Little king
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Riain, 'descendant of Rían' (Rían being an Old Irish name probably meaning 'little king').
Ryan is the anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Riain, 'descendant of Rían' (likely from rí 'king' + a diminutive suffix). The surname-to-first-name jump happened in the US through the 20th century. Ryan was a top-15 boys' name in the 1980s and 1990s and has slid steadily since, but is still a top-100 stalwart. Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, and Ryan Phillippe kept it in the cultural foreground for a generation. Rye is a rare short; most go by the full Ryan.
How to spell Ryan
The standard spelling is Ryan. Common variants include Ryann, Rian, but Ryan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #11 in 1986, currently #99 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Rye is a rare short; most Ryans keep the full single-syllable Ryan in adulthood.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ryan Gosling Canadian actor, La La Land and Barbie
- Ryan Reynolds Canadian actor, Deadpool and Free Guy
- Ryan Murphy Television producer, Glee and American Horror Story
Spelling variants
- Ryann
- Rian
Names with the same feeling
See Ryan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Ryan mean?
- Anglicized Irish surname Ó Riain, 'descendant of Rían' (Rían being an Old Irish name probably meaning 'little king').
- What does Ryan mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Ryan means "Little king." Ryan is the anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Riain, 'descendant of Rían' (likely from rí 'king' + a diminutive suffix). The surname-to-first-name jump happened in the US through the 20th century. Ryan was a top-15 boys' name in the 1980s and 1990s and has slid steadily since, but is still a top-100 stalwart. Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, and Ryan Phillippe kept it in the cultural foreground for a generation. Rye is a rare short; most go by the full Ryan.
- How do you pronounce Ryan?
- Ryan is pronounced ˈraɪ.ən. Say it as RY-an, with the stress on the "ry" syllable.
- How do you spell Ryan?
- The standard spelling is Ryan. Common spelling variants include Ryann, Rian.
- Is Ryan a boy or girl name?
- Ryan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ryan?
- Ryan ranked #99 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.