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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Possibly 'little king' (from rí); the original meaning is uncertain
- Origin
- Irish
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- REE-uhn
Rian is an Irish name pronounced REE-uhn. It's possibly 'little king,' from the Irish word rí, though the original meaning is uncertain. It's a short, easy-to-say name that's rarely heard in the U.S.
Meaning & Origin of Rian
Meaning: Possibly 'little king' (from rí); the original meaning is uncertain.
Origin: Irish.
How to Pronounce Rian
REE-uhnIPA /ˈriːən/
Popularity of Rian
In the U.S., Rian ranked #905 in 1979 with 94 babies given the name. In 2024 it sat at #1262 with 156 babies, so more children are named Rian now than at its peak, even though its rank is lower.
Names Like Rian
These names have followed a similar path to Rian in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Rian mean?
Possibly ‘little king’ (from rí); the original meaning is uncertain.
How do you pronounce Rian?
Rian is pronounced REE-uhn (IPA: /ˈriːən/).
Is Rian a popular name right now?
Rian peaked at #905 in 1979 and is ranked #1262 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1948–2024.)
Make Rian Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Rian, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Rian? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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