Boy
Girl
Ryan
Gaelic
Meaning
Its source is ri, a Gaelic name meaning "King."
Meaning
Little king.
Languages used in
This boy's name is used in English.
Background story
The evolution of this English personal name can be traced through the Irish surname O'Ryan and its Irish Gaelic ancestors O Maoilriain and O Riain. These seem to have been based on the Irish Gaelic personal name Rian, but that name's derivation from ri, meaning ''king,'' is not certain. (One authority suggests ''water'' as an ultimate meaning.)
Though the surnames O'Ryan and Ryan have long been found throughout the English-speaking world, the personal name Ryan is a phenomenon of the mid-20th century. Its popularity was likely boosted by American actor Ryan O'Neal, born Patrick Ryan O'Neal in 1941.
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Statistics for the name Ryan (male)
- In USA in 2006, the boy name Ryan was ranked as number 14 on the most popular name for newborn babies
- In USA in 2005, the boy name Ryan was ranked as number 14 on the most popular name for newborn babies
- In USA in 2004, the boy name Ryan was ranked as number 12 on the most popular name for newborn babies
- In USA in 2003, the boy name Ryan was ranked as number 13 on the most popular name for newborn babies
- In USA in 2002, the boy name Ryan was ranked as number 16 on the most popular name for newborn babies