Ryan
Irish boy's name meaning “little king”
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Irish
- Meaning
- little king
- Syllables
- 1
- Letters
- 4
- US rank (2023)
- #83
- Born in 2023
- 4,034
- Peak year
- 1993 (#13)
Meaning & origin
Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'.
Is Ryan an Irish name?
Yes — Ryan is an Irish name meaning "little king". Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'. You may also see it described as Gaelic or Celtic, which refer to the same root.
Popularity
In the latest US data, Ryan ranked #83 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
In 2023, 4,034 US boys were given the name Ryan.
US popularity rank over time
Peaked at #13 in 1993
“Unranked” means Ryan was outside the US top 1,000 that year.
See more boy names starting with R.
How to spell Ryan
Ryan is spelled R-Y-A-N — 4 letters and 1 syllable.
Ryan: frequently asked questions
What does the name Ryan mean?
Ryan is a Irish name meaning "little king". Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'.
Where does the name Ryan come from?
Ryan is of Irish origin. Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'.
Is Ryan a boy or a girl name?
Ryan is used for both. In the latest US data it was given to 432 girls and 4,034 boys — about 10% girls and 90% boys.
How many babies are named Ryan?
In 2023, 4,034 US boys were given the name Ryan.
Is Ryan a popular name, and is it rising or falling?
In the latest US data, Ryan ranked #83 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
How do you spell Ryan?
Ryan is spelled R-Y-A-N — 4 letters.
How common is the name Ryan?
In 2023, 4,034 US boys were given the name Ryan. In the latest US data, Ryan ranked #83 for boys. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.
Is Ryan an Irish name?
Yes — Ryan is an Irish name meaning "little king". Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'. You may also see it described as Gaelic or Celtic, which refer to the same root.
What does Ryan mean in Irish?
In Irish, Ryan means "little king". Ryan comes from the Irish surname O Riain, 'descendant of Rian', usually read as 'little king'.
Is Ryan a Gaelic name?
Ryan is usually classified as Irish, and Gaelic belongs to that same tradition — so yes, it is commonly described as Gaelic too. It means "little king".