Ryan vs Alex

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ryan

Boy #87 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"little king"

Origin: Irish Gaelic (O'Riain)

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #205 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek

English Greek Spanish Russian French

✓ All Clear

Ryan Rank #87

Alex Rank #205

Ryan is more popular, ranked #87 vs #205 for Alex.

Is Ryan or Alex more popular?

Ryan is more popular, ranked #87 compared to Alex at #205 in the United States.

What do Ryan and Alex mean?

Ryan means "little king" (Irish Gaelic (O'Riain) origin). Alex means "defender of men" (Greek origin).

Are Ryan and Alex boy or girl names?

Ryan is primarily a boy name. Alex is primarily a boy name.