Ryanna
A feminine name of Welsh origin meaning "maiden's melody".
Name Census estimates that about 1,298 living Americans carry the first name Ryanna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ryanna today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ryanna births was 2007 (92 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ryanna. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 264,063 Americans
Peak year
2007
92 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,105
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Ryanna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ryanna from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 627 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ryanna 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 Ryanna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ryannas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, Florida, Texas recorded the most babies named Ryanna, while Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ryanna
The name Ryanna is a modern variant of the traditional Irish name Riona, which is derived from the Gaelic word "rí" meaning "king" or "sovereign." The name's origins can be traced back to ancient Ireland, where it was often given to girls born into noble families or those with royal lineage.
Riona was a popular name among the Celtic people, who inhabited parts of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales during the medieval period. It was believed to impart a sense of strength, leadership, and authority to the bearer. The name's connection to royalty and power made it a coveted choice for parents hoping to bestow these qualities upon their daughters.
While the name Riona has been documented in Irish historical records and ancient texts, the variant spelling Ryanna is a more recent development, likely emerging in the late 20th century as a way to give the name a more modern and unique flair. This adaptation reflects the evolving nature of names and the desire for individuality in naming practices.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Riona was Saint Riona, an Irish abbess who lived in the 6th century AD. She is venerated as the patron saint of Waterford, Ireland, and her feast day is celebrated on March 8th. Another notable figure was Riona Ní Fhailbhe, a 16th-century Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts, who is credited with preserving many ancient Irish manuscripts and literary works.
Throughout history, the name Ryanna (and its variations) has been carried by several notable individuals, including:
1. Riona O'Connor (born 1945), an Irish actress known for her roles in films like "Circle of Friends" and "The Boxer."
2. Riona Kelly (born 1975), an Irish fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the clothing brand "Riona Tré."
3. Riona Nissley (born 1987), an American model and actress who has appeared in various television shows and films.
4. Riona Fairhead (born 1961), a British businesswoman and former chairperson of the BBC Trust.
5. Riona Conner (born 1982), an Australian singer-songwriter and musician known for her folk-rock style.
While the name Ryanna may not have the same historical depth as its traditional Irish counterpart, it carries a sense of strength, nobility, and uniqueness that continues to resonate with parents and individuals alike.
People
Ryanna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ryanna 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
Ryanna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ryanna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,298 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ryanna 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 264,063 US residents.
Is Ryanna a common name?
We classify Ryanna as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,321 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ryanna most popular?
The single biggest year for Ryanna was 2007, when 92 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ryanna is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ryanna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ryanna in the SSA data are female. 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.