Ryan is a popular given name that originated as an Irish surname, derived from the old Gaelic name Rían. It is used for both boys and girls, although more commonly for boys. Ryan is one of those names that works well on its own as a short and sweet given name. However, Ryan is also commonly used as a shortened version or nickname for other longer names.
Ryan as a Nickname for Male Names
For boys, Ryan is most commonly used as a shortened form of the following names:
- Brian – Ryan can be used as a nickname for Brian, which comes from the old Celtic name Briain or Brianain meaning “high, noble, strong”.
- Bryan – A variant spelling of Brian. Ryan works as a nickname for this spelling too.
- Ryland – An English surname derived from “ryge lande” meaning “rye clearing”. Ryland is sometimes shortened to Ryan.
- Raymond – An old Germanic name meaning “protecting hands”. Ray is sometimes shortened to Ryan.
- Ryker – A Dutch occupational surname meaning “ruler”. Ryker can be shortened to Ryan.
- Ryder – An English occupational name for a messenger or horseman. Ryder can be shortened to Ryan.
So in summary, for boys, Ryan is most commonly used as a shortened version of Brian/Bryan, Ryland, Raymond, Ryker or Ryder. It works well as a nickname for all of these longer names.
Ryan as a Nickname for Female Names
Although less common, Ryan is sometimes used as a nickname for girl’s names too. The female names it can shorten include:
- Brianna – The feminine form of Brian. Ryan could be used as a nickname.
- Ryann – A feminine spelling variant of Ryan. The extra “n” makes this spelling more feminine.
- Ryanne – Another feminine spelling of Ryan with the extra “ne” ending.
- Mary Ryan – Ryan used as a nickname for Mary, typically when Mary is a surname in a double-barrelled girl’s name.
So while less common, Ryan can also be used as a shortened form of Brianna or feminine spelling variants like Ryann and Ryanne for girls.
Ryan as an Independent Given Name
In addition to being used as a nickname, Ryan also works well as an independent given name in its own right.
As a name on its own, Ryan has Irish Gaelic origins and means “little king” or “illustrious”. It can be used for both boys and girls when given as a full first name.
The name Ryan started being used as an independent given man’s name in the 20th century. Its use for girls is more modern, only coming into fashion in the late 20th century.
According to UK naming statistics, Ryan was the 7th most popular boy’s name from 1974 to 1984. Popularity was likely influenced by the actor Ryan O’Neal. It peaked in 1984 at #2 in the boy’s naming charts. Ryan for girls entered the top 100 for the first time in 1994. By 2019, Ryan was the 61st most popular name for boys and 968th for girls in the UK.
In the US, Ryan first entered the top 100 most popular names for boys in 1970 and continued rising in popularity through the 1970s and 80s. It peaked at #7 in 2002. For girls, it entered the top 1000 most popular names in 1990 and peaked at #349 in 2002.
So despite starting out as a surname and nickname, Ryan has become an established given name in its own right for both boys and girls.
Notable People Named Ryan
Here are some well known people named Ryan:
- Ryan Reynolds (b. 1976) – Canadian actor known for Deadpool
- Ryan Gosling (b. 1980) – Canadian actor known for The Notebook and La La Land
- Ryan Seacrest (b. 1974) – American TV host of American Idol
- Ryan Tedder (b. 1979) – Lead singer of pop band OneRepublic
- Ryan Lochte (b. 1984) – American Olympic swimmer
- Ryan Murphy (b. 1965) – American TV writer and producer
- Ryan Coogler (b. 1986) – American film director known for Black Panther
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (b. 1982) – American football quarterback
- Ryan Howard (b. 1979) – American baseball player
- Ryan O’Neal (b. 1941) – American actor who influenced the popularity of the name Ryan
As you can see from this list, Ryan is a name common among famous celebrities and athletes today. Both the first name Ryan and Ryan as a nickname are prevalent.
Popularity of Ryan by Country
Ryan has been most popular historically in English speaking countries. Here is a table looking at how popular the name Ryan is today in selected countries around the world:
| Country | Ranking for Boys | Ranking for Girls |
|---|---|---|
| United States | #57 most popular boys name | #356 most popular girls name |
| England and Wales | #61 most popular boys name | #968 most popular girls name |
| Canada | #26 most popular boys name | #234 most popular girls name |
| Australia | #18 most popular boys name | #162 most popular girls name |
| Ireland | #27 most popular boys name | Does not rank for girls |
| India | Does not rank for boys | Does not rank for girls |
From this table, we can see that Ryan continues to be most popular for boys in English speaking countries like the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia. It is less common in non-English speaking countries. The highest popularity it has reached for boys in recent years was a ranking of #18 in Australia in 2019.
For girls, Ryan is rising in popularity in the US, Canada and Australia, but still ranks outside the top 100. It is rare for girls in the UK and does not rank at all in Ireland and India. The highest girls ranking it has attained is #162 in Australia in 2019.
So while Ryan originated as an Irish surname and name, it has seen the most popularity as an independent given name in modern times in English speaking countries around the world.
Conclusion
In summary, Ryan has multiple origins and uses as a given name:
- Originally an Irish surname meaning “little king”
- Used as a nickname for longer Irish and English boys names like Brian, Bryan, Ryland, Raymond, Ryker and Ryder
- Also used as a nickname for girl’s names like Brianna, Ryann and Ryanne
- Popularized as an independent first name for boys and girls in the late 20th century, especially in English speaking countries
Ryan has been a top 100 name choice for boys since the 1970s and is now firmly established worldwide. Its use for girls is more recent but growing in popularity. The name Ryan has moved beyond its Irish roots to become a modern classic name with various origins and meanings.