Rising since 1988, #588 for boys today.
Popularity of Rayan since 1973
Babies named Rayan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 28 |
| 1980s | 6 | 135 |
| 1990s | 86 | 268 |
| 2000s | 275 | 1,444 |
| 2010s | 506 | 4,216 |
| 2020s | 185 | 2,804 |
Meaning & origin
Rayan is a name with dual heritage, appealing to families with Arabic or Irish roots. In the United States, it has been in use since at least 1973, but its popularity has climbed steadily since 1988, reaching a peak rank in 2023 where it was the 588th most popular name. Currently, about 1 in 3,423 boys receives the name, with highest usage in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Illinois. The name's rising trajectory reflects a broader trend toward cross-cultural names that are easy to pronounce in English while carrying meaningful etymologies.
The name Rayan has multiple possible derivations. In Arabic, it is the plural of 'rayna' meaning gate, and also refers to the gate of heaven through which the righteous pass on the Day of Judgment. In Irish, Rayan is a variant of Ryan, itself an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Riain, meaning 'descendant of Rían', where Rían likely means 'little king'. The name has seen significant modern usage in English-speaking countries from the late 20th century onward.
Where Rayan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Rayan” around the world
Where Rayan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#57
in 2024
Ireland
16
babies in 2025
New Zealand
14
babies in 2025
Quebec
#69
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ray
Sibling names for Rayan
Names that share Rayan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Layla, Zara, Maya, Nora, Ayla, Aaliyah, Aliah, Anisa, Atiya, Aya, Daniya, Iman, Laila, Lailah, Laylah, Noor, Salma, Sama, Samiya, Samiyah, Saniya, Saniyah, Yasmeen, Ziya, Aaliya, Aiza, Aleeyah, Aleya, Alya, Ameera, Ameerah, Amyra, Anyssa, Ayra, Aysha, Azra, Dua, Inaaya, Inaya, Jannah, Karime, Nadeen, Nadiya, Nailah, Neila, Nuri, Rana, Roya, Ruhi, Saira, Samaya, Samia, Samiah, Sana, Sanaya, Saniah, Sariya, Tahira, Zarina, Zayna, Zuleyka, Aaliyha, Aamira, Aesha, Aiyla, Akirah, Alishba, Ameenah, Amena, Amerah, Amirrah, Anisah, Anum, Areeba, Asra, Aysel, Aziya, Bibi, Eldana, Enaya, Eshaal, Eshal, Esra, Fariha, Hareem, Hira, Imaan, Irha, Jaiyana, Jasmeen, Kinza, Laiba, Lamiyah, Mahira, Mahnoor, Mehak, Mehar, Meher, Minha, Miral, Mirha, Misk, Nadiyah, Najma, Navaya, Nayra, Nazia, Nou, Nur, Qamar, Queena, Raha, Ramiya, Raveen, Sadiya, Safiyyah, Saja, Samyah, Shaira, Soha, Suhayla, Tahiry, Tasnim, Zaara, Zamirah, Zoraya, Zunaira, Aaleyah, Aaliah, Aamani, Aamirah, Aayra, Afreen, Aiesha, Aima, Aliha, Almas, Ameira, Amiera, Anaaya, Anzal, Arfa, Arshiya, Ayeza, Aysa, Ayza, Bani, Bisma, Dariya, Dhiya, Eisha, Elaf, Emira, Enjoli, Farhana, Faria, Farzana, Ghazal, Hoorain, Huma, Ikhlas, Ilham, Jazira, Kamile, Khala, Khira, Laela, Lamiah, Mahum, Maleeha, Manaal, Naria, Naziya, Nehal, Nimra, Nusrat, Ramaya, Rameen, Ramyah, Ranada, Ranyah, Rateel, Rayya, Raziah, Ruhani, Safiyya, Samina, Sanayah, Saniyyah, Sanyia, Saroya, Sehar, Shanzay, Shiza, Simra, Siyah, Suhaylah, Suhey, Suleyma, Suraiya, Suriyah, Tahiri, Tuleen, Umaiza, Wania, Wateen, Yanel, Zarin, Zeenat, Zerina, Zhara, Zimal, Ziyana, Zulay, Zunairah, Izza, Menaal, Miraal, Rubani, Sabirin, Saher, Aafiya, Aaima, Aala, Abeeha, Abeera, Abrish, Afsana, Afsheen, Amaani, Amanah, Amanat, Amanee, Ambreen, Amiira, Amreen, Anhar, Aniza, Areebah, Ariba, Arshi, Azka, Cuma, Deem, Doha, Elahi, Erum, Fabiha, Falak, Farheen, Fizza, Humna, Inaara, Inayat, Insiya, Jahira, Javeria, Kafi, Kanita, Kashish, Lailee, Layaan, Laylaa, Leyli, Maham, Maysun, Meerab, Meriem, Naiyana, Namira, Narah, Naraya, Narjis, Nawaal, Nazirah, Nishat, Noorah, Nuriya, Raisha, Raushanah, Roohi, Ruhee, Sadeen, Sameen, Saniyya, Sanyiah, Sehrish, Seniya, Shamila, Soraiya, Suheily, Tamana, Tasfia, Toleen, Yasina, Yasira, Yasmyn, Yassmin, Yazaira, Yesmin, Zaharah, Zakyra, Zareena, Zariana, Zarrah, Zohal, Zuha
Brothers: Jayden, Aiden, Ethan, Liam, Noah, Aayan, Adnan, Ayaan, Ayan, Emir, Farhan, Haris, Zain, Aman, Arman, Azlan, Imran, Jahir, Kalil, Kamar, Kiyan, Nadir, Nael, Naim, Rehan, Saif, Zaine, Zaki, Aadil, Aahil, Aariz, Aasim, Abir, Adeel, Ahad, Ahsan, Aiman, Almir, Amaan, Amaar, Ameir, Amine, Aquil, Areeb, Arhaan, Arshan, Artin, Ashad, Ashar, Asir, Avan, Aymen, Azan, Azhar, Azim, Azir, Danish, Ehsan, Hashir, Irfan, Izhaan, Kashif, Kazi, Khan, Layth, Malyk, Mazin, Mirza, Nafis, Nayel, Raheen, Rahil, Rihaan, Riyaan, Sahir, Sheikh, Sohail, Suhaib, Suhail, Taim, Tamim, Yaman, Yazeed, Yazen, Zayaan, Zaydan, Zayde, Zayyan, Zein, Zidane, Ziyan, Aashir, Abrar, Ahman, Ahnaf, Ahyan, Alem, Alyan, Arhum, Arish, Arkan, Aryaan, Ata, Ayaz, Ayyan, Azlaan, Baran, Basim, Calil, Camar, Eldar, Imaad, Jahaan, Kais, Kamir, Kasir, Kerim, Keyaan, Khairi, Khairo, Khazi, Khizar, Maahir, Matin, Meer, Mehtab, Miraj, Naasir, Nayib, Prayan, Rafay, Raif, Ramar, Rehaan, Safi, Sahmir, Saifan, Salaar, Salar, Sanav, Sarim, Sartaj, Shahzain, Tahmid, Taym, Vadhir, Yacine, Zafir, Zaheer, Zaidan, Zeshan, Zohair, Alija, Amirr, Ashir, Himmat, Yahsir, Yazir, Ahil, Ahmeer, Akaay, Akon, Alyaan, Amair, Anuar, Aras, Arshaan, Asaan, Azaad, Baraa, Borna, Daanish, Dameer, Davari, Dayyan, Diar, Ehaan, Fardeen, Ghali, Hassaan, Hyder, Illias, Jiyan, Juvon, Kaamil, Kamdin, Kavian, Khamir, Khayir, Khyair, Khyir, Mahan, Nahim, Nahir, Nahsir, Nahyan, Nazair, Niyam, Omair, Omir, Ozil, Radin, Rafan, Rakin, Ramaj, Ramal, Ramiz, Rayhaan, Romin, Saafir, Saber, Safir, Samin, Shahir, Shahmeer, Shameer, Shariq, Sohil, Tahsin, Taimur, Taseen, Yassir, Zahair, Zahar, Zamire, Zarif, Zayir, Zohaan, Zoraiz

