Riordan
From Irish Gaelic meaning "red poet's descendant".
Name Census estimates that about 281 living Americans carry the first name Riordan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Riordan today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Riordan births was 2013 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Riordan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
281
~ 1 in 1,219,766 Americans
Peak year
2013
18 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2023 SSA rank
#7,636
Tracked since 1986
Popularity
Riordan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Riordan from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 97 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Riordan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Riordan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Riordan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Riordan
The name Riordan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Riabhartach," which means "freckled" or "swarthy." This name has its roots in the Celtic culture of Ireland and can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded use of the name Riordan dates back to the 12th century, when it was often spelled as "Riordain" or "Riordane." During this time, Ireland was a predominantly Gaelic-speaking society, and names were closely tied to physical characteristics or occupations.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Riordan was Riordan O'Malley, a 14th-century Irish chieftain who ruled over a territory in County Mayo. He was known for his fierce resistance against English rule and his defense of Gaelic traditions.
In the 16th century, the name Riordan gained prominence with Riordan O'Donnell, an Irish lord who played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English forces. He was renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to preserve Irish sovereignty.
Another historical figure bearing the name Riordan was Riordan O'Flaherty, a 17th-century Irish historian and chronicler. His works, such as the "Ogygia" and the "Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar Connaught," are considered invaluable sources for understanding Irish history and culture during that period.
In the 19th century, Riordan O'Conor was an Irish-born American priest and author who advocated for the rights of Irish immigrants in the United States. He founded several schools and churches, and his writings played a crucial role in preserving Irish heritage and traditions among the diaspora.
Riordan Maldoon, a 20th-century Irish painter, was also a notable figure with this name. His vibrant and expressive works, often depicting rural Irish landscapes and people, earned him acclaim both locally and internationally.
While the name Riordan has deep roots in Irish culture and history, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Irish ancestry or an appreciation for Celtic traditions.
People
Riordan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Riordan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Riordan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Riordan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 281 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Riordan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,219,766 US residents.
Is Riordan a common name?
We classify Riordan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 285 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Riordan most popular?
The single biggest year for Riordan was 2013, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Riordan is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Riordan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Riordan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.