So for some reason, I love the name [name_u]Rian[/name_u], but really dislike the spelling [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. I’m normally strongly against “unique” name spellings, but this doesn’t feel weird to me. [name_m]Will[/name_m] people recognize [name_u]Rian[/name_u] as [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]? We’re going with [name_m]Denali[/name_m] for the middle name for our baby boy.
[name_u]Rian[/name_u] [name_m]Denali[/name_m]–Yes or No?
Honestly, it looks like a misspelling of rain. I much prefer [name_u]Ryan[/name_u].
I don’t think it is too far out there. It is the original spelling so you have that for backup if anyone comments on the spelling…
I wouldn’t read that as [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], because I’d figure that if you wanted the sound [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] you would have spelled it that way. Sorry.
I read it as [name_f]REE[/name_f]-uhn, or [name_f]REE[/name_f]-an, but if you don’t mind correcting spelling/pronunciation, I actually prefer the look of [name_u]Rian[/name_u] to [name_u]Ryan[/name_u].
Actually I love [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] ;)… It is the name of one of our ds.
As someone has already posted, it’s the original spelling, not a variant.
It either comes from the Irish surname O’Riain, which means ‘son of [name_u]Rian[/name_u]’ or ‘descendant of [name_u]Rian[/name_u]’, or is an extended form of the Irish ri (meaning king), and either origin clearly shows [name_u]Rian[/name_u] is the original.
Go for it!
I know a [name_u]Rian[/name_u] pronounced [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. They spelt it that way to honour a [name_m]Brian[/name_m]. Considering he has two other [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]'s in his class now, I’d say having a different spelling is a bonus! But I also know a [name_u]Rian[/name_u] pronounced [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-on (its Afrikaans I think), and so when I met [name_u]Rian[/name_u] ([name_u]Ryan[/name_u]) I initially assumed it was pronounced [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-on. So I think there will be some confusion over spelling/pronunciation over the course of his life, but I wouldn’t consider it too “out there” personally 
I agree with being turned off by unique spellings. I prefer [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and think [name_u]Rian[/name_u] definitely would be catorgized as such. But I love [name_m]Denali[/name_m] as a middle and think [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] [name_m]Denali[/name_m] is a very cool name.
My first thought was “oh a typo, they must have meant rain”. I also mentally pronounced it [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-ahn not like [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and I wouldn’t intuitively connect the two together pronunciation wise. I think if the constant comments you’ll get about “Oh did you mean [name_u]Rain[/name_u]?” And the pronunciation errors/spelling errors don’t bother you, go for it. That stuff really irritates some people and is water off a ducks back to others. Having it in the middle spot might free it up to be more usable as middle names are rarely given out.
Oh no. I wouldn’t and didn’t think that was [name_u]RYAN[/name_u] at all. I thought you were talking about [name_m]RYE[/name_m]-ann Ri-anne. I would go with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], it’s a pretty spelling for a girl I think!!
I thought it was a typo for [name_u]Rain[/name_u], and then I thought that maybe it was supposed to be [name_f]REE[/name_f]-ann or [name_m]RYE[/name_m]-ann. Historic legitimacy or no, you and he will face a lifetime of spelling and pronunciation errors.
I don’t think it’s too “out there” but I read it as [name_f]Ree[/name_f]-uhn too, sorry! As long as you don’t mind correcting people, it’s a nice name.
I totally read it as being pronounced like [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. Its funny but I also loathe alternative spellings and like the sound of “[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]” and “[name_u]Rian[/name_u]” was on my long list for boy names. I think it looks nice, sounds great, I’d go for it.