Find out how popular the first name Ryann has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ryann by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ryann is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 94% of people named Ryann being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 250 female babies and 9 male babies born with the name Ryann.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby boys were named Ryann in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ryann

The name Ryann is a modern variation of the Irish name Ryan, which itself is derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic name Riaghan or Riain. This name is believed to have originated from the old Irish word "ri" meaning "king" or "illustrious", and the suffix "-an" which was a common diminutive form.

The name Ryan has been recorded as far back as the 7th century AD in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts. It was a popular name among the Irish nobility and ruling families during the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Riain, the son of Finnchu, who was an abbot and saint in the 7th century.

In the 12th century, a famous bearer of the name was Ruaidhri Ua Conchobair (Ryan O'Connor), who was the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion. He ruled from 1166 to 1198 AD and was known for his resistance against the Anglo-Norman invasion.

Another notable historical figure with the name Ryan was Riain of Inis Cathaigh (Ryan of Scattery Island), who was a renowned Irish poet and scholar of the 12th century. He wrote several religious works and poems that are still preserved in ancient Irish manuscripts.

In the 16th century, Hugh Ó Ruaidhín (Hugh O'Ryan) was an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Ryan clan in County Tipperary. He was known for his support of the Irish Confederate Catholics during the Irish Confederate Wars against the English Parliament.

In the 19th century, Jeremiah O'Ryan was an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made a fortune in the shipping industry and founded the O'Ryan Charitable Trust in Boston, which still exists today.

The modern spelling variation "Ryann" emerged in the late 20th century as a feminized version of the traditional Irish name Ryan. While it retains its Irish roots and connection to the ancient Gaelic name Riaghan, the spelling "Ryann" is a more recent development, likely influenced by contemporary naming trends and preferences.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ryann was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ryann, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!