Ryan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Ryan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Ryan?
Ryan is spelled R-Y-A-N. The name has 4 letters.
Ryan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The personal name Rían has an uncertain meaning. Ryan is derived from the Irish surname Ó Rían, meaning “descendant of Rían.”
- Origin
- Ryan is commonly associated with Irish origins as an Anglicized form of an Irish surname.
- Pronunciation
- RY-an · 2 syllables
Ryan Popularity in 2025
Rank#712
Recorded Births393
Rank#99
Recorded Births3,532
- Girls usage fell 11 places to #712 and recorded 7 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 12 places to #99 and recorded 374 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Ryan Mean?
The personal name Rían has an uncertain meaning. Ryan is derived from the Irish surname Ó Rían, meaning “descendant of Rían.”
Origin: Ryan is commonly associated with Irish origins as an Anglicized form of an Irish surname.
How Do You Pronounce Ryan?
PronunciationRY-an
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Ryan?
- History
- Ryan has been used both as a surname and a given name, with documented use in Ireland and adoption in English-speaking countries.
Ryan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 393 | #712 |
| 2025 | Boys | 3,532 | #99 |
| 2024 | Girls | 400 | #701 |
| 2024 | Boys | 3,906 | #87 |
| 2023 | Girls | 433 | #677 |
| 2023 | Boys | 4,035 | #83 |
| 2022 | Girls | 515 | #580 |
| 2022 | Boys | 4,403 | #74 |
| 2021 | Girls | 635 | #496 |
| 2021 | Boys | 4,735 | #66 |
| 2020 | Girls | 684 | #450 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5,348 | #57 |
| 2019 | Girls | 773 | #400 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6,127 | #54 |
| 2018 | Girls | 869 | #361 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,943 | #46 |
| 2017 | Girls | 773 | #410 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7,706 | #44 |
| 2016 | Girls | 688 | #462 |
| 2016 | Boys | 8,261 | #40 |
| 2015 | Girls | 680 | #470 |
| 2015 | Boys | 8,548 | #39 |
| 2014 | Girls | 606 | #512 |
| 2014 | Boys | 9,098 | #37 |
When Was Ryan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1985 · Boys
29,905 recorded births
National rank #12
1986 · Boys
29,524 recorded births
National rank #11
1990 · Boys
29,263 recorded births
National rank #11
1984 · Boys
28,724 recorded births
National rank #12
Where Ryan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NJ | #43 | 185 |
| NY | #45 | 334 |
| MA | #49 | 117 |
| CT | #51 | 61 |
| NH | #61 | 23 |
| FL | #68 | 295 |
| VA | #72 | 116 |
| MD | #72 | 73 |