MallowbyNames

Rayan

ريانrah-YAHN · Of debated origin; possibly meaning 'gates' (Arabic) or 'little king' (Irish).

2025 rank (boys)
#588
Babies named in 2025
499
Peak popularity
2023
2025 frequency
1 in 3,423 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 1988

Rising since 1988, #588 for boys today.

Popularity of Rayan since 1973

Babies named Rayan per year in U.S. Social Security records.

173345518198020002020Most births 2023GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirlsBoys
1970s028
1980s6135
1990s86268
2000s2751,444
2010s5064,216
2020s1852,804

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few 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

Variants: Ryan, Rayan, Rayan

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

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

R is for Rayan, our favorite little boy.

R is for Rayan…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Rayan's letter becomes Rayan's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Rayan's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Rayan mean?
The meaning of Rayan is debated. In Arabic, it may refer to 'gates' or specifically the gate of heaven. In Irish, it is considered a variant of Ryan, meaning 'little king'.
How popular is the name Rayan?
As of 2025, Rayan ranked 588th in the United States, with about 1 in 3,423 baby boys given the name. Its popularity has been rising since 1988, peaking in 2023.
Is Rayan a boy's name or a girl's name?
Rayan is almost exclusively used as a boy's name in the United States.