Ryan is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #135 in 2025 with 374 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 6,496 births ranking #7. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 94.2%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 727 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.