Ryelan
An Old English name meaning "rye meadow" or "rye clearing".
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the first name Ryelan. It is a predominantly male name (95.8% of registrations). The average person named Ryelan today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ryelan births was 2011 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ryelan. 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
117
~ 1 in 2,929,524 Americans
Peak year
2011
12 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,577
Tracked since 2003
Gender
Gender distribution for Ryelan
Ryelan leans heavily male at 95.8% of total registrations, but 5 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Ryelan as a male name
- Ranked #9,577 in 2023
- 8 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2017 (10 births)
Ryelan as a female name
- Ranked #19,024 in 2011
- 5 female births in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (5 births)
Popularity
Ryelan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ryelan from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 69 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ryelan 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 Ryelan 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 Ryelan
The name Ryelan has its origins in the ancient Celtic language, specifically from the region of modern-day Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have emerged around the 5th century AD, during the height of the Celtic cultural influence in these areas. The name is derived from the Celtic words "rye" meaning "king" and "lan" meaning "land" or "territory".
According to historical records, the name Ryelan was initially used by Celtic chieftains and nobility to signify their authority and ownership over vast lands. It was a name of great prestige and was often associated with bravery, strength, and leadership qualities. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to an ancient Celtic manuscript from the 6th century, where a powerful chieftain named Ryelan is mentioned as leading his clan in battles against invading forces.
In the 9th century, a renowned Irish warrior and nobleman named Ryelan mac Fergus played a significant role in defending his kingdom against Viking raids. His exploits were documented in various medieval Irish annals, further solidifying the name's association with valor and military prowess.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ryelan gained popularity among the noble families of Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer of the name was Ryelan MacLeod (1270-1345), a Scottish chieftain known for his fierce loyalty to the Scottish crown and his involvement in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English.
In the 16th century, a famous Irish poet and bard named Ryelan Ó Maonaigh (1530-1605) gained recognition for his masterful compositions in the Irish language. His works were widely celebrated and helped preserve the cultural heritage of Ireland during a turbulent period of English colonization.
Another prominent figure in history with the name Ryelan was Ryelan MacCarthy (1594-1661), an Irish nobleman and military commander who fought against the English forces during the Irish Confederate Wars in the mid-17th century. His bravery and leadership skills were widely acclaimed, and he became a symbol of Irish resistance against English domination.
While the name Ryelan may have faded in popularity over the centuries, it remains a powerful reminder of the rich Celtic heritage and the valor of those who bore this name throughout history.
People
Ryelan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ryelan 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
Ryelan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ryelan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 117 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ryelan 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 2,929,524 US residents.
Is Ryelan a common name?
We classify Ryelan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 118 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ryelan most popular?
The single biggest year for Ryelan was 2011, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ryelan is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ryelan a male name?
Yes, 95.8% of people registered as Ryelan 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.