Ryan is a highly popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #36 in 2011 with 2,151 recorded births. This places Ryan in the top 1% of ranked UK boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Popular. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 6,496 births ranking #7. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 66.9%. In 2011, approximately 1 in every 161 boys born was named Ryan. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Ryan is a hugely successful Irish-rooted name usually explained as little king. It feels friendly, modern, and effortlessly familiar.
The name moved from Irish surname use into mainstream first-name use and later became one of the major boys' names of the late twentieth century. Its continued strength comes from its simplicity and ease.