Ryan
Ryan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɹaɪən/
Meaning and origin of Ryan
- A unisex given name.
- A male given name.
- A male given name transferred from the surname, popular in English-speaking countries from the 1970s to the 1990s.
- A male given name from Arabic رَيَّان (rayyān). Sometimes written and pronounced as Ryan in English due to the phonetic similarity with the Arabic name.
How popular is Ryan?
Since 1880, 27,624 girls and 964,123 boys in the U.S. have been named Ryan (3% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #342 in 1986. Its highest rank for boys was #11 in 1986. In 2025 it ranked #99 for boys, with 3,925 babies given the name.
Names similar to Ryan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Ryan
Sister and brother names that share Ryan's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ryan FAQ
What does the name Ryan mean?
A unisex given name. A male given name. A male given name transferred from the surname, popular in English-speaking countries from the 1970s to the 1990s. A male given name from Arabic رَيَّان (rayyān). Sometimes written and pronounced as Ryan in English due to the phonetic similarity with the Arabic name.
What is the origin of the name Ryan?
Ryan is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Ryan?
Since 1880, 27,624 girls and 964,123 boys in the U.S. have been named Ryan (3% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #342 in 1986. Its highest rank for boys was #11 in 1986. In 2025 it ranked #99 for boys, with 3,925 babies given the name.
Is Ryan a boy or girl name?
Ryan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 27,624 girls and 964,123 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.