American First Ladies: 1 first lady
Pat Nixon (a.k.a. Ryan)   1969-1974  
Fictional Characters from Books: 1 hero
Jack Ryan   1984   The Hunt for Red October  
Fictional Characters from Television: 5 characters
Sam Ryan   1996   Silent Witness  
Wyn Ryan   1996   Silent Witness  
Evelyn "Grams" Ryan   1998   Dawson's Creek  
Alex Ryan   2001   McLeod's Daughters  
Nick Ryan   2001   McLeod's Daughters  
Hall-of-Famers: 1 baseball
(baseball) Nolan Ryan   1999  
Most Valuable Players: 1 winner
Matt Ryan   2016   football  
Notable Actors and Entertainers: 6 actors
Kathleen Ryan   1922-1985  
Mitchell Ryan   1934-2022  
Meg Ryan   1961-  
Jeri Ryan   1968-  
Lucy Lawless (a.k.a. Ryan)   1968-  
Debby Ryan   1993-  
Notable Athletes: 1 baseball, 1 football, 1 soccer
(baseball) Nolan Ryan   1947-  
(football) Matt Ryan   1985-  
(soccer) Mathew Ryan   1992-  
Notable Musicians: 1 lyricist
Roma Ryan   1950-  
Notable Politicians and Statespeople: 1 politician
Paul Ryan   1970-  
Olympic Medalists: 3 bronze, 2 silver/gold, 1 bronze/silver, 1 silver/bronze
(silver/gold) Patrick Ryan   1920   56 lb weight throw; hammer throw  
(bronze/silver) Pam Kilborn (a.k.a. Ryan)   1964; 1968   80 m hurdles  
(bronze) John Ryan   1964   swimming - 4x100 m freestyle relay  
(bronze) Mike Ryan   1968   marathon  
(silver/bronze) Missy Schwen-Ryan   1996; 2000   rowing  
(silver/gold) Sarah Ryan   1996; 2000; 2004   swimming - 4x100 m medley relay; swimming - 4x100 m freestyle relay  
(bronze) Marc Ryan   2008; 2012   cycling - track  
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers: 1 musician
Gary Ryan   2015   Joan Jett & the Blackhearts