Ryan
Meaning: Its source is ri, a Gaelic name meaning "King."
Origin: "ri."
Languages: This boy's name is used in English.
Nicknames: Ry
Popularity: The name Ryan ranked 14th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 49th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 15th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.
This name is highly rated both on the 1990 U.S. Census list and in state data recording the most popular baby names.
Narrative: The evolution of this English personal name can be traced through the Irish surname O'Ryan and its Irish Gaelic ancestors O Maoilriain and O Riain. These seem to have been based on the Irish Gaelic personal name Rian, but that name's derivation from ri, meaning ''king,'' is not certain. (One authority suggests ''water'' as an ultimate meaning.)
Though the surnames O'Ryan and Ryan have long been found throughout the English-speaking world, the personal name Ryan is a phenomenon of the mid-20th century. Its popularity was likely boosted by American actor Ryan O'Neal, born Patrick Ryan O'Neal in 1941.
Sports
- Nolan Ryan (born 1946)
American baseball pitcher.
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 (see list of Members of the Baseball Hall of Fame)
- 1990 Sporting News Man of the Year (see list of Winners of the Sporting News Man of the Year Award)
Stage and Screen
- Ryan Francis
Actor.
- Portrayed Trevor Whitsig (see list of Actors on ''Sisters'')
- Ryan Gosling
- 1990s Mouseketeer (see list of 1990s Mickey Mouse Club)
- Ryan Harrison
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''Another World'''' (see list of Characters on ''Another World'')
- Ryan McNeil
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''The Young and the Restless'''' (see list of Characters on ''The Young and the Restless'')
- Ryan Musick
- Actor on soap opera ''''Loving'''' (see list of Performers on the Soap Opera ''Loving'')
- Ryan Phillippe
American actor
- Starred in Cruel Intentions, 54 (see list of see Hollywood Freshmen)
- Ryan Sanders
- Portrayed by Randy Spelling (see list of Characters on ''Beverly Hills 90210'')
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| Ryane | ![]() |
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| Ryann | ![]() |
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| Ryanne | ![]() |
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| Ryen | ![]() |
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| Rion | ![]() |
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| Ryin | ![]() |
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| Ryon | ![]() |
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| Ryun | ![]() |
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| Ryenne | ![]() |
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| Raeann | ![]() |
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| Raena | ![]() |
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| Raina | ![]() |
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| Raine | ![]() |
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| Rainey | ![]() |
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| Raini | ![]() |
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| Rainie | ![]() |
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| Rainna | ![]() |
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| Rainy | ![]() |
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| Rana | ![]() |
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| Ranae | ![]() |
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| Ranay | ![]() |
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| Ranee | ![]() |
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| Rani | ![]() |
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| Ranna | ![]() |
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| Ranya | ![]() |
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Shy Ry
- Fry
- Ryan the Lionhearted
- Whinin' Wyan
- Ry Shmy
- Ryno
- Lyin'
- Cryin' Ryan
- Rye bread
- Fryin' Ryan
- Ryan the lion
- Ryee
- Flyin' Ryan
- Rye Rye
- Ry not
- Rye
- Rhinoceros
- Ry-man
- Ryno roo
- Rymonster
- Ry-Guy
Meaning: Its source is ri, a Gaelic name meaning "King."
Origin: "ri."
Nicknames: Rye
Variant Forms: Riana, Riane, Riann, Rianna, Rianne, Riayn, Ryane, Ryann, Ryanna, Ryanne, Ryette, Rynn and Ryenne
Popularity: The name Ryan ranked 534th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1229th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.
Miscellaneous
- Ryan Elizabeth Peete
- Twin daughter of Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete (see list of Famous Twins and Triplets)
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| Ryane | ![]() |
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| Ryann | ![]() |
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| Ryanne | ![]() |
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| Ryen | ![]() |
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| Rion | ![]() |
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| Ryin | ![]() |
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| Ryon | ![]() |
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| Ryun | ![]() |
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| Ryenne | ![]() |
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| Raeann | ![]() |
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| Raena | ![]() |
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| Raina | ![]() |
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| Raine | ![]() |
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| Rainey | ![]() |
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| Raini | ![]() |
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| Rainie | ![]() |
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| Rainna | ![]() |
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| Rainy | ![]() |
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| Rana | ![]() |
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| Ranae | ![]() |
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| Ranay | ![]() |
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| Ranee | ![]() |
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| Ranna | ![]() |
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| Ranya | ![]() |
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