Ryan is a popular male given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Riain," which means "little king" or "descendant of Rián." Rián was a legendary early Irish king who was said to have been murdered by his own brother, and the surname Ó Riain was given to his descendants.
The name Ryan became popular as a given name in the United States during the 20th century. It ranked among the top 10 most popular boys' names in the U.S. between the years of 1985 and 2013, according to Social Security Administration data.
There are several notable individuals named Ryan, including actors such as Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds, as well as athletes like Ryan Leaf and Ryan Howard. However, it is important to note that this text does not make any references to the personalities or traits associated with the name Ryan, nor does it mention any related holidays or celebrations.
In summary, Ryan is an Irish surname-turned-given-name meaning "little king" or "descendant of Rián." It gained popularity as a boys' name in the U.S. during the latter half of the 20th century and has been borne by several well-known individuals throughout history.
The name Ryan has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest record shows only seven births in 1959, with a consistent low number of births each year until the late 1970s when it began to rise steadily.
In 1973, there were 84 births, more than doubling from the previous year's 36 births. This trend continued, reaching a peak in 2018 with an impressive 865 births, indicating a significant increase in popularity over the decades.
However, after this peak, the number of births with the name Ryan began to decline once again. In 2020, there were 684 births, and it dropped further to 515 in 2021 and 431 in 2022. This suggests that while Ryan was once a highly popular name, its popularity may now be waning.
Overall, the total number of births with the name Ryan in the United States from 1959 to 2023 is 26,822.