noun
Common
Ryan
REYE-uhn
Ryan (noun) means a given name, originally an Irish surname meaning roughly "descendant of Rian," now common for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. Example: “They named their son Ryan after his grandfather.”
noun
1
A given name, originally an Irish surname meaning roughly "descendant of Rian," now common for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries.
"They named their son Ryan after his grandfather."
How to use Ryan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA popular first name of Irish surname origin, used for both men and women.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Ryans
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They named their son _____ after his grandfather.
Etymology
From the Irish surname Ó Riain, "descendant of Rian," later adopted widely as a first name from the 1970s onward.
Synonyms
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Rian
Ryann
Ryanne
Rhymes for Ryan
See all rhymes for Ryan →Frequently asked questions
What does “Ryan” mean?
The word “Ryan” means a given name, originally an Irish surname meaning roughly "descendant of Rian," now common for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. In plain terms, a popular first name of Irish surname origin, used for both men and women.
How do you pronounce “Ryan”?
“Ryan” is pronounced REYE-uhn (/ˈɹaɪən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Ryan” in a sentence?
Here is “Ryan” used in a sentence: “They named their son Ryan after his grandfather.”
What part of speech is “Ryan”?
“Ryan” is a noun.
Where does the word “Ryan” come from?
The word “Ryan” dates back to around 1970 and comes from Irish. From the Irish surname Ó Riain, "descendant of Rian," later adopted widely as a first name from the 1970s onward.
Is “Ryan” a common word?
“Ryan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What does the name Ryan mean?
Ryan comes from the Irish surname Ó Riain, meaning roughly "descendant of Rian." The old name Rian is often linked to a word for "king" or "little king," so Ryan is commonly said to carry the sense of "little king" or "kingly." It began as a family name before becoming a first name.
Is Ryan a boy's or girl's name?
Ryan is traditionally a boy's name and remains far more common for boys. It is also used for girls, especially in the United States, sometimes spelled Ryann or Ryanne to signal the feminine form. Overall, though, most people named Ryan are male.
What is the origin of the name Ryan?
The name is Irish in origin. It began as the surname Ó Riain, an old Gaelic family name, and only later became popular as a given name in Ireland and across the English-speaking world during the twentieth century. It is now one of the most familiar Irish-derived first names.
Is Ryan an Irish name?
Yes, Ryan is Irish in origin, rooted in the Gaelic surname Ó Riain. It is one of the most common surnames in Ireland and has spread worldwide as a first name. Its strong Irish heritage is a big part of its appeal to parents looking for a name with Celtic roots.
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