Ryan
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Ryan
Ryan’s use as a given name was inspired by the surname Ryan, a variation of the Irish O’Riain meaning "son of Rían." Rían is composed of the Irish-Gaelic elements rí, meaning "king" and an, a diminutive suffix. Ryan is considered a unisex name in the US, where variant spellings Ryann and Ryanne are also valid for girls.
Ryan for boys#99 US
Ryan has been one of the most popular Irish names in America for decades; it had been in the Top 20 since 1976, and dropped out in 2010 but still ranks highly, even though parents now have such a wide choice of Irish surnames, from Flynn to Finnigan, and newer Ry names like Ryder.
Ryan (born Patrick) O'Neal first brought it to light in the mid-1960s, when parents saw Ryan as a fresher and more spirited alternative to names like Brian and Kevin.
Several male marquee Ryans still keep the name in the spotlight—think Ryan Seacrest, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling and Ryan Philippe.
Ryan for girls#715 US
This ultrapopular boys' name is rapidly becoming a hot name for girls; admired for its buoyant Irish spirit.
Ryan returned to the Top 500 for girls in 2015 and will no doubt continue to climb further on the back of the success of blockbuster film Gravity.
A word of caution, however – the meaning and the movie reference may leave your daughter feeling as though you wished she were a son You may wish to go with Rion instead, which is similar in sound and means Queen in Irish. Rion is pronounced ree-on, which introduces problems of its own.
Pronounced RY-un.
As of October 2026, Ryan ranked #99 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #11 in 1990, Nameberry popularity #110.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #37 | 9,098 | #512 | 606 |
| 2015 | #39 | 8,547 | #476 | 680 |
| 2016 | #40 | 8,258 | #463 | 688 |
| 2017 | #44 | 7,705 | #410 | 773 |
| 2018 | #46 | 6,940 | #365 | 866 |
| 2019 | #54 | 6,120 | #401 | 773 |
| 2020 | #57 | 5,341 | #451 | 684 |
| 2021 | #66 | 4,732 | #496 | 635 |
| 2022 | #74 | 4,399 | #580 | 515 |
| 2023 | #83 | 4,034 | #678 | 432 |
| 2024 | #87 | 3,892 | #702 | 399 |
| 2025 | #99 | 3,532 | #715 | 393 |
World rankings
Ryan for boys
Ryan for girls
Similar names
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Ryan on lists
Famous Ryans
- Ryan McCartanBoy
American actor, singer and musician, part of the musical group 'The Girl And The Dreamcatcher' with Dove Cameron
- Ryan FarishBoy
American electronic musician
- Ryan John SeacrestBoy
American television host
- (Matthew) Ryan PhilippeBoy
American actor
- Ryan Paul DelahoussayeBoy
American musician
- (George) Ryan Ross IIIBoy
American musician
- Ryan McGinleyBoy
American photographer
- Ryan O'NealBoy
(born Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal), American actor
- Ryan Rodney ReynoldsBoy
Canadian actor
- Ryan Thomas GoslingBoy
Canadian actor
- Ryan KellyBoy
Irish singer
- Ryan LochteBoy
American swimmer
- Ryan TannehillBoy
American football player
- Ryan FitzpatrickBoy
American football player
- Ryan Paevey (born Ryan Jacob PaeveyBoy
Vlieger), American model and actor
- Ryan Allen ShecklerBoy
American skateboarder
- Ryan LaneBoy
American Actor
- Ryan James PinkstonBoy
American actor
- Ryan NyquistBoy
professional BMX rider
- Ryan Scott LeeBoy
American actor
- Ryan Earl MerrimanBoy
American actor
- (Ryan) Dallas CookBoy
American musician
- Ryan GallantBoy
American pro skateboarder
- Ryan CartwrightBoy
English actor
- Ryan BettyBoy
American singer
- Ryan TedderBoy
American singer and songwriter
- Ryan AdamsBoy
American singer and songwriter
- Ryan McLoughlinBoy
member of Irish boyband HomeTown
- Ryan KentBoy
American child actor (twin brother of Hailey)
- Ryan Higa aka nigahigaBoy
American YouTuber
- Ryan Fitzsimons aka LittleLizardGamingBoy
Irish YouTuber
- Ryan TyackBoy
Australian archer
- Ryan HeldBoy
American swimmer
- Ryan MurphyBoy
American swimmer
- Ryan Joshua "Jeffrey" MetBoy
member of band AJR
- Ryan Christopher ShuckBoy
former guitarist of Orgy, lead singer of Julien,K, guitarist of Dead by Sunrise
- Ryan BurtBoy
former drummer for Australian band The Amity Affliction
- Ryan Bruce "Ryland" AdamsBoy
American YouTube vlogger
- Ryan BergaraBoy
BuzzFeed Unsolved Host
- Ryan Otto CassataBoy
Transgender Musician
- Ryan John Shilling (b. 2013)Boy
son of World Cup winner Amy Rodriguez
- Ryan TrahanBoy
American youtuber
- Ryan Kaji (Ryan’s World)Boy
American YouTuber
- Ryan Whitney NewmanGirl
American actress
- Ryan Starr (born Tiffany Ryan Montgomery)Girl
American pop singer; finalist on "American Idol"
- Ryan HaddonGirl
American journalist and TV producer
- Ryan Destiny (Irons)Girl
American actress and singer
- Ryan Elizabeth WallaceGirl
daughter of actors Lisa Trusel and David Wallace
- Ryan Elizabeth PeeteGirl
daughter of NFL player Rodney Peete and actress Holly Robinson Peete; twin of brother Rodney Jr.
- Ryan Kate BrandenburgGirl
competitor on TV's "Master Chef Junior," daughter of baseball player Mark Brandenburg
- Ryan WilliamsGirl
American soccer player
- Ryan Justine Stewart (b. 2008)Girl
daughter of actor Josh Stewart
- Ryan Elizabeth Jones (b. 2009)Girl
quintuplet daughter of Ethan and Casey Jones of TV's "Quints by Surprise"
- Ryan Ruby Mae Pritchard (b. 2010)Girl
daughter of musician Mike Dirnt
- Ryan Elizabeth ShawGirl
Hayes (b. 2011), daughter of TV journalist Chris Hayes
- Ryan Fuller (b. 2013)Girl
daughter of model Tori Praver and surfer Danny Fuller
- Ryan James Vandermeer (b. 2014)Girl
daughter of ice hockey player Jim Vandermeer
- Ryan Ava Erhard Rosenberg (b. 2015)Girl
daughter of American actress Haylie Duff and Matt Rosenberg; sister of Lulu Gray
- Ryan Carson Curry (b. 2015)Girl
daughter of basketball player Stephen Curry
Ryan in pop culture
- Ryan EvansBoy
The High School Musical Trilogy
- Ryan AtwoodBoy
character from "The O.C"
- Ryan WolfeBoy
CSI: Miami
- Ryan HowardBoy
character on US TV series "The Office"
- Ryan AtkinsBoy
character from "Sims" series
- Ryan NewmanBoy
from TV series "Wilfred" played by Elijah Wood
- Ryan WalkerBoy
from movie "Boys and Girls"
- Ryan DunneBoy
from movie "Summer Catch"
- Ryan SinclairBoy
character from "Doctor Who"
- Ryan KinkadeBoy
the MFE pilot in Voltron: Legendary Defender
- Ryan DeanBoy
character in movie “Girl vs. Monster”
- Ryan PriceBoy
Character in the book series "Game Changers" by Rachel Reid
- Dr. Ryan StoneGirl
main character in film "Gravity"
- Ryan FitzpatrickGirl
character in HERInteractive's "The Deadly Device"
- Ryan WoodsGirl
character on Netflix original series "Greenhouse Academy"