What is more important to you in a name: the way it sounds or what it means?
In my specific case, I can’t decide between [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and [name_m]Ian[/name_m].
With [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] I prefer the meaning and with [name_m]Ian[/name_m] I prefer the sound (compared to the other name). So which should I choose?
I guess it all depends. For some people, the meaning really affects the name as a whole. Take [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f] for instance. It means ‘blind’. To me, it’s not a big deal because I don’t think of it as dooming my child to a life of blindness or anything like that, but for other people, they might not want to give their child a name with such a dark connotation, and I understand that. Names like [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], [name_f]Desdemona[/name_f], and [name_f]Portia[/name_f] all sound attractive enough, but their background and ties can really be a damper for some people. Take it from me, I was named after a character in a book that had some less than dignified things happen to her. So moral of the story, I prefer sound over meaning.
As for your situation, I can’t tell you what to choose, but my advice would be to pick whichever you think your child would be more proud to wear. Both [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and [name_m]Ian[/name_m] are very nice names, so you can’t go wrong with either choice 
I prefer to go for sound as you will hear it much more frequently. As your child grows their name will change meaning to you anyway and you will thunk of them, not their original meaning!
I say meaning. For me, it’s how I want to carry across a theme. I’d like to include something meaning beloved, blessed, gift, or precious in each of my kids names. I’m also really drawn to names with a connection light or stars like [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] and [name_f]Esther[/name_f].
I’m more inclined towards the sound. If the full name already has a strong R, I would lean towards [name_m]Ian[/name_m]. But if there is a long E sound already, I may chose [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], which might be irrelevant if you pronounce [name_m]Ian[/name_m] rhyming with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u].
Basically, general or overall name sound decides my vote.
Sound all the way! To be honest I’ve just never really quite understood why the ‘meaning’ of a name holds any real significance. The majority of people won’t know if a name has a ‘bad’ meaning, what they do notice is how it sounds and flows. And even if a name has ‘bad’ meaning like ‘blind’ or ‘bald’ or whatever, I just don’t get why that matters if you love the name, it’s not like the name is synonymous with the meaning.
Sound. Not many people know the meaning of names and the meaning of a name doesn’t automatically become a child’s personality. My own name is [name_f]Ebony[/name_f], the meaning isn’t the nicest and doesn’t fit me at all and has a similar meaning to my last name. I haven’t felt the need for a name with a nicer meaning and with most of my favourites the meanings aren’t that great (most of my boys favourites are surnames). It’s the sound that you will hear more often.
Sound is the most important. You are going to be calling the name all the time as the child is growing up so you want it to be pleasant. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if a name is spelt differently it’s not going to matter most of the time - only when you are filling out something official. I’d go with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] ( a great name )
Sound matters most to me also, but if the name comes with a decent or cool meaning that’s an extra bonus.
Best wishes*
Both, but sound is the tie-breaker. I think meaning is important, but I also recognize that most people aren’t going to say, “[name_m]Hi[/name_m] [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], nice to meet you. Your name has a great meaning! Cool!” But the overall sound of the name, first and last together, how that name comes across…those are the things that are going to accompany a first impression.
I much prefer to choose a name that has a great sound rather than meaning. Becuase essentially that’s what a name is. A very special kind of sound.
To me both sound and meaning are important.
I first look for pleasant sounds, and then consider meanings.
I won’t choose a name based on meaning alone, but a bad meaning does cause me to reconsider some picks.
(ie: DH and I love [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], but won’t use it after we found out it means a monster - too bad. It is still the only girls name we remotely agree on).
Sound. I wouldn’t use an ugly name just because it has a great meaning.
Sound, definitely. People are never going to know about the meaning of your child unless they look it up.
By the way though, [name_m]Ian[/name_m] doesnt rhyme with [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], just in case thats how you were saying it. It’s pronuced Eee-uhn.
This 100%. Assuming it’s for a child of mine, I have to like the way it sounds since it’s a name I will, hopefully, be saying for the rest of my life.
While they are both important, I always look at meaning first–not just dictionary definition, but it’s history, namesakes, etc. Then, I’ll choose a name that I like the sound of from the list of names that are meaningful to me. HTH
For me, sound is more important.
[name_f]Susan[/name_f]
Usually when I’m in the search for names, I look for ones that have similar meanings (one that I’m looking for), and choose a name out of that list I like best. Unless of course I like none of them, then I go for a different meaning that’s still close to the last.
However, I only use that way of name picking when choosing unusual names. With more known names with [name_m]Ian[/name_m] and [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], I’d simply go with the one with the better sound. And, really, who else is even going to know the meaning of that name? Probably only people who really love that name.
On the other hand, I never necessarily liked or disliked my name, but I’ve always loved its meaning (which has overall made me like my name a lot more recently). I think sound vs meaning really depends on the names you’re choosing, and if you’re going to use them as a name for a character or child or pet or something. A pet wouldn’t ever know the meaning of their name, but a child may one day grow curious and look it up (and if I were that child, I’d prefer the cooler meaning rather than the better sound personally. More mysterious haha).
I would go with the sound I liked best unless one has a terrible meaning. Most people don’t even know the meaning of others’ names but the sound is what we hear every time our name is used.
Sound, without a doubt. Sound is something you say and hear every day, while people rarely know the meaning of names.