Namesakes
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:
12 actors
Irene Ryan 1902-1973
Robert Ryan 1909-1973
Jack Lord (a.k.a. Ryan) 1920-1998
Kathleen Ryan 1922-1985
Eileen Ryan 1927-2022
Mitchell Ryan 1934-2022
Meg Ryan 1961-
Jeri Ryan 1968-
Lucy Lawless (a.k.a. Ryan) 1968-
Amy Ryan 1968-
Michelle Ryan 1984-
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, 2 silver/gold, 1 bronze/silver, 1 silver/bronze
(silver/gold) Patrick Ryan 1920 56 lb weight throw; hammer throw
(bronze) John Ryan 1964 swimming - 4x100 m freestyle relay
(bronze/silver) Pam Kilborn (a.k.a. Ryan) 1964; 1968 80 m hurdles
(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
(silver) Ryder Ryan 2020 baseball
(silver) Joe Ryan 2020 baseball
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers:
1 musician
Gary Ryan 2015 Joan Jett & the Blackhearts