Ryan is derived from the Irish name Rian, meaning "little king" (from the word rí, meaning "king" and a diminutive suffix). It is also used as a surname, as the anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Riain. Originally only a masculine name, it has gained popularity as a unisex option in recent years, although it is still much more often used for boys. It reached its peak in the mid-1990s and has been declining ever since.