How Many People Are Named Ryan?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Ryan

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 5,072 living people in the United States currently have the first name Ryan. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 7,053 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #380 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~5,072CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)7,053Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#380U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1959 (120 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~5,072
Historical Births (SSA)
7,053
All-Time Rank
#380
Historical Peak
1959

Key Insights for Ryan

Estimated Living Bearers
~5,072 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#380
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1959
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
96.3% Male · 3.7% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~634 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Ryan

Living Population Model
~5,072

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
7,053

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
4,598

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
44.9 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1959

Highest annual total: 120 registrations in 1959.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-2%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Ryan has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Ryan (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1959 (~120 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201058580
201158580
201258580
201358580
201457570
201557570
201657570
201757570
201857570
201957570
202056560
202156560
202256560
202356560
202456560

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
71/100
1950s
97/100
1960s
98/100
1970s
74/100
1980s
40/100
1990s
19/100
2000s
52/100
2010s
49/100
2020s
24/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Ryan is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (96.3% male births).

Male: 96.3% (~6,789 births)Female: 3.7% (~264 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Ryan

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Ryan in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ryan appeared 4,598 times, ranking #472 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
4,598 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#472
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Ryan Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~634 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~63412.5%
Texas (TX)~4679.2%
Florida (FL)~3456.8%
New York (NY)~3096.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2034%
Illinois (IL)~1983.9%
Ohio (OH)~1833.6%
Georgia (GA)~1673.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 5,072 people named Ryan are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 44.9 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Ryan: 44.9 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ryan

How many people in the U.S. are named Ryan?

Approximately 5,072 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Ryan. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 7,053 birth applications for Ryan between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Ryan?

Ryan ranks #380 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Ryan comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Ryan most popular in America?

The name Ryan reached its peak historical popularity in 1959, when 120 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Ryan?

Ryan has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Ryan?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Ryan is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (96.3% male births).

Where is the name Ryan most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Ryan resides in California, with approximately 634 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Ryan in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Ryan appeared 4,598 times in census returns, ranking #472 in official 2020 returns.

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