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 experienced a significant surge in popularity beginning in the late 1970s, reaching its peak in the mid-1980s with over 700 births per year between 1984 and 1987. After this period, the number of babies named Ryan began to decline steadily, though it remained a popular name throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, the popularity of the name Ryan has continued to decrease, with fewer than 500 births per year recorded since 2017.