Irish · Boy name
Ryan
“little king”
About the name Ryan
Ryan comes from the Irish surname Ó Riain, meaning descendant of Rian. The personal name Rian is usually explained as coming from the Irish rí, meaning king, combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the sense of little king. The Ó Riain family was historically based in counties Tipperary and Limerick. As a first name it spread from Ireland to the English-speaking world, especially in North America. Well-known bearers include the Canadian actor Ryan Gosling. The surname also appears in the novel and film Saving Private Ryan.
- Meaning
- little king
- Origin
- Irish
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- RY-an(2 syl.)
Middle names for Ryan
- Ryan James
- Ryan Thomas
- Ryan Michael
- Ryan Patrick
- Ryan Alexander
Questions about Ryan
- What does Ryan mean?
- Ryan is an Irish name meaning "little king".
- How do you pronounce Ryan?
- Ryan is pronounced RY-an, with emphasis on the first syllable.
- What are variants of Ryan?
- Variants of Ryan include Rian, Ryen.
More names like this: Irish baby names