Ryan
How to say it: RY-un · /ˈraɪən/
Little king — from the Irish surname Ó Riain, derived from the Old Irish word rí (king).
Ryan was the 96th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 3,532 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 57% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #156 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #96 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 3,532 |
| Share of births | 1 in 843 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −57% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #156 |
| In France, 2025 | #310 among boys’ names, 135 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Its high point in the 1980s feels distant now, with Ryan far below that mark and thinning. More decline appears on the way.
What goes with it
Brief and smooth, Ryan blends strength with easy movement across languages. Connor feels kindred.
Middle names that flow with Ryan →
Nicknames
- Ry
Honouring a Ryan in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ryan is about 1 in 36.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Irish.
In France: #310 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #135. Ireland: #58.
Famous people named Ryan
- Ryan Reynolds (born 1976)Canadian-American actor
- Ryan Gosling (born 1980)Canadian actor
- Ryan Giggs (born 1973)Welsh association football player and coach
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Ryanair budget airline in UK/IE/ES
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