Ryan vs Nicholas

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ryan

Boy #87 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"little king"

Origin: Irish Gaelic (O'Riain)

Irish English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #117 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"people's champion, victorious"

Origin: Greek

English Greek French Italian Russian German Dutch

✓ All Clear

Ryan Rank #87

Nicholas Rank #117

Ryan is more popular, ranked #87 vs #117 for Nicholas.

Is Ryan or Nicholas more popular?

Ryan is more popular, ranked #87 compared to Nicholas at #117 in the United States.

What do Ryan and Nicholas mean?

Ryan means "little king" (Irish Gaelic (O'Riain) origin). Nicholas means "people's champion, victorious" (Greek origin).

Are Ryan and Nicholas boy or girl names?

Ryan is primarily a boy name. Nicholas is primarily a boy name.