I'm interest in the name Ryan, which I understand is derived from Rían - or "little king".

However I get work out in what sense the diminution refers... Does it mean:

* Young boy king
* Short statured adult king
* Local chieftain

Any ideas?

Apologies, that should read "I can't work out"

In his Surnames of Ireland, MacLysaght quotes several scholars to the effect that the derivation of the name Ryan from the word "rí" ("king") is unlikely, although that is the usual folk etymology for the name. They point out that, to be an old diminutive of rí, the ending would have to have been -án, and there's apparently no evidence that that was ever the case.

He also mentions the theory that it is etymologically related to an old Irish word for water, rian (cognate with the original Celtic name for the Rhine, Rhenos), and could thus be one of several names which had their origins in nature-worshiping cults (the original Irish form of the surname is Ó Maoilriain), but he goes on to say that the scholars do not believe that to be its origin (though they can't be sure).

The ultimate conclusion is that it's just one of those very old names, like Niall, whose exact origins are lost in time.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Ah I see, thanks!

The diminutive suffix doesn't typically mean someone who is small or young. Generally it simply denotes affection, or is used to distinguish one person with a certain given name from another. It's similar to someone named "John" being called "Johnny" or someone named "Tom" or "Thomas" being called "Tommy."

Redwolf

Cheers Redwolf.