Ryle is an English masculine given name of Old Norse origin, meaning 'landowner' or 'rich'. It was popular among the Normans who invaded England in the 11th century and has since been used sporadically throughout history. The name Ryle may have derived from various Old Norse names such as Ryggil, which consists of the elements 'rygi' meaning 'powerful' or 'strong', and 'gil' meaning 'dell' or 'valley'. Alternatively, it could be a shortened form of names like Ryolaf or Ryulf, both of which contain the Old Norse element 'ulfr' meaning 'wolf'. The name Ryle is associated with notable figures such as Ryle Dwyer, an Irish journalist and author, and Ryle of the Ryle Brothers, a popular American sibling musical duo.
The name Ryle saw a notable increase in popularity from the late 1980s onwards, with a significant spike in births starting around the year 2000 and peaking in 2023 with 29 births. However, there were fewer than 10 births per year in the decades prior to this trend.