Definition of "Ryan"

A surname

1. A surname from Irish, anglicized from Ó Riaghain, Ó Riain (“descendant of Riaghan, Rían”). Riaghan/Rían is perhaps from rí (“king”) + -án (diminutive suffix), meaning “little king”.  examples

2. A surname from Irish, an alternate anglicization of Ó Maoilriaghain, Ó Maoilriain (Mulryan).  examples

3. A surname from Irish, a rare anglicization of Ó Ruadháin, Ó Ruaidhín (Rowan, Rouine).  examples

4. A surname from Irish, a rare anglicization of Ó Sraitheáin, Ó Sruitheáin, Ó Srutháin (Strachan, Strahan).  examples

A unisex given name

1. A male given name

   1. A male given name transferred from the surname, popular in English-speaking countries from the 1970s to the 1990s.  examples

   2. A male given name from Arabic رَيَّان‎ (rayyān). Sometimes written and pronounced as Ryan in English due to the phonetic similarity with the Arabic name.  examples

2. A female given name

   1. A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1970s and later usage.  examples

   2. A female given name of 1970s and later usage, variant of Rhian.  examples

A placename

1. A locale in Australia.

   1. A suburb of Mount Isa, Queensland; named for Dr. Joseph Ryan, medical superintendent of the local hospital during WWII.  examples

   2. A village in New South Wales.  examples

2. A locale in the United States.

   1. A city in Iowa.  examples

   2. A city in Oklahoma; named for early settler and rancher Stephen W. Ryan.  examples

   3. An unincorporated community in California; named for borax industry businessman John Ryan.  examples

   4. An unincorporated community in Minnesota.  examples

   5. An unincorporated community in Illinois.  examples

   6. A township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.  examples

   7. An unincorporated community in West Virginia; named for early settler and minister Thomas P. Ryan.  examples

   8. A ghost town in Washington; named for early settler Henry Ryan.  examples