The first name Ryan
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈɹaɪən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
A male given name transferred from the surname, popular in English-speaking countries from the 1970s to the 1990s.
A form of Rhian.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 374 boys were named Ryan, making it the 135th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 6,496 births (#7).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ryan with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ryan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 3,532 boys born in the United States were named Ryan, the 99th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1985, when 29,905 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Ryan in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Ryan in Finnish, French and Portuguese too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Ryan
291 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Ryan ReynoldsCanadian-American actor (born 1976)
- Ryan GoslingCanadian actor (born 1980)
- Ryan O'NealAmerican actor (1941–2023)
- Ryan BabelDutch association football player (born 1986)
- Ryan PhillippeAmerican actor, born 1974
- Ryan GravenberchDutch association football player (born 2002)
- Ryan LochteAmerican swimmer, born 1984
- Ryan CooglerAmerican filmmaker (born 1986)
- Ryan BertrandEnglish association football player, born 1989
- Ryan CrouserAmerican athletics competitor, born 1992
- Ryan MurphyAmerican screenwriter (born 1965)
- Ryan SessegnonEnglish association football player (born 2000)
Questions
- How popular is the name Ryan?
- In 2025, 374 boys born in England and Wales were named Ryan, ranking 135th. Its peak was 1996, with 6,496 births.
- What are nicknames for Ryan?
- Common nicknames for Ryan include Rye, Rye-Rye.
- Is Ryan a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 97% of the 991,747 US babies named Ryan since 1880 were boys.
- When was Ryan most popular?
- 1985 in the United States, when 29,905 babies were named Ryan, its highest rank at 12th.
- How do you pronounce Ryan?
- Ryan is /ˈɹaɪən/, 2 syllables.
- What name is Ryan a form of?
- Ryan is a form of Rhian.
- What are other spellings of Ryan?
- Rian, Ryann, Ryanne and Ryana.
- Is Ryan also a surname?
- Yes. Ryan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.