Ryan
Peaked at #11 nationally in 1986, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1906, Ryan has been recorded 3% of the time for girls and 97% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Ryan originated as an Irish surname, an anglicization of the Gaelic Ó Riain, built from rí, meaning "king," with a diminutive ending — often interpreted as "little king." It crossed over from surname to popular first name in the United States during the mid-20th century, following a broader trend of Irish surnames becoming given names.
Notable people & culture
Actors Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds are among the name's most prominent contemporary bearers, and television host Ryan Seacrest has built a long career across radio, TV, and production. The name climbed steadily in U.S. popularity from the 1970s onward. Actress Meg Ryan also brought visibility to the surname form.
Play with Ryan
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Ryan.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Ryan — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#342
in 1986
Current rank
#702
in 2024
Years tracked
63
1959–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1959, Ryan reached its peak popularity for girls in 1986, ranking #342 nationally with 703 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #512 (2014) to #702 (2024) — a 27% drop.
As of 2024, Ryan ranks #702 nationally for girls, with 399 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #702 | 399 |
| 2023 | #678 | 432 |
| 2022 | #580 | 515 |
| 2021 | #496 | 635 |
| 2020 | #451 | 684 |
| 2019 | #401 | 773 |
| 2018 | #365 | 866 |
| 2017 | #410 | 773 |
Ryan — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#11
in 1986
Current rank
#87
in 2024
Years tracked
113
1906–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1906, Ryan reached its peak popularity for boys in 1986, ranking #11 nationally with 29,525 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #37 (2014) to #87 (2024) — a 57% drop.
As of 2024, Ryan ranks #87 nationally for boys, with 3,892 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #87 | 3,892 |
| 2023 | #83 | 4,034 |
| 2022 | #74 | 4,399 |
| 2021 | #66 | 4,732 |
| 2020 | #57 | 5,341 |
| 2019 | #54 | 6,120 |
| 2018 | #46 | 6,940 |
| 2017 | #44 | 7,705 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Ryan most popular?
Ryan was most popular in 1986, when it ranked #11 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Ryan becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Ryan?
At least 987,785 babies have been recorded with the name Ryan in the US since 1906, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Ryan? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.