# Ryan

/ˈɹaɪən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ryan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a person, or a family name.

For teachers: a common given name or surname, originally derived from the Irish name Rian.

- My friend Ryan is coming over to help me study for the test.
- The actor Ryan Reynolds is well-known for his roles in both comedy and action films.

## Examples

- My friend Ryan is coming to the party tonight.
- The teacher called on Ryan to answer the question about the history of the local library.
- While the name Ryan has traditional roots in Gaelic culture, it became exceptionally popular in North America during the late twentieth century across various demographics.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.