Ryan
Boy name · #99 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Ryan? In official American birth records, Ryan has been tracked continuously since 1906, giving it 119 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 3,532 baby boys were named Ryan, placing it at #99 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #39, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 510 boys born in 2025 was named Ryan.
Babies named Ryan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 119-year story
Ryan first appears in the Social Security records in 1906, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1985, when 29,905 boys were named Ryan — good for #12 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ryan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ryan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ryan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Ryan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ryan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ryan is most common in NH (5.1 per 1,000), NJ (4.7 per 1,000), CT (4.6 per 1,000), MA (4.3 per 1,000), RI (4.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ryan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ryan
Statistically, parents drawn to Ryan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bryan, Jonathan, Aaron, Adam, and Jordan.
BryanJonathanAaronAdamJordanJuanAndrewJustin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ryan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,532 | #99 |
| 2024 | 3,906 | #87 |
| 2023 | 4,035 | #83 |
| 2022 | 4,403 | #74 |
| 2021 | 4,735 | #66 |
| 2020 | 5,348 | #57 |
| 2019 | 6,127 | #54 |
| 2018 | 6,943 | #46 |
| 2017 | 7,706 | #44 |
| 2016 | 8,261 | #40 |
| 2015 | 8,548 | #39 |
| 2014 | 9,098 | #37 |
| 2013 | 9,895 | #30 |
| 2012 | 10,944 | #26 |
| 2011 | 11,503 | #25 |
| 2010 | 11,981 | #23 |
| 2009 | 13,122 | #20 |
| 2008 | 14,686 | #18 |
| 2007 | 15,722 | #16 |
| 2006 | 16,434 | #14 |
| 2005 | 17,990 | #14 |
| 2004 | 19,496 | #12 |
| 2003 | 19,578 | #13 |
| 2002 | 17,658 | #16 |
| 2001 | 18,289 | #15 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ryan?
In official American birth records, the name Ryan first appeared in 1906 (over 119 years ago), when 10 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 119 years.
Is Ryan a popular boy name?
Ryan ranked #99 among boys in 2025 with 3,532 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #39.
When was the name Ryan most popular?
Ryan peaked in 1985, when 29,905 American boys received the name (ranked #12 that year). Since 1985 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ryan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 510 newborn American boys was named Ryan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.