The name "Ryan Smith" has become a meme after a popular YouTuber pointed out just how basic it is.

Ever since posting a Quandale Dingle parody video at the end of February 2026, people named Ryan Smith have been catching heat all across TikTok as users accuse them of being NPCs.

So, what exactly inspired the Ryan Smith memes and how is the name being used online? Here's what we know.

@ca_llan1 Who is named Ryan Smith 😆🫱🫱 #ryansmith #fyp #viral #xyzbca #RyanSmith ♬ original sound – caļ

What Is The 'Ryan Smith' Meme?

Grant Wisler is a content creator known for his comedy skits. He has over 700,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 3.5 million followers on TikTok.

On the 22nd of February, Wisler posted a video titled, "When The Niche Internet Meme Goes Mainstream." The video parodies the origins and rise of the 2022 "Quandale Dingle" meme, which was about how funny the name "Quandale Dingle" sounds.

For those who don't know, the Quandale Dingle meme started when a photo of a PC login screen displaying the name "Quandale Dingle" went viral.

The comedy skit recreates this meme origin but with the name "Ryan Smith," showing a man named Ryan Smith become a laughing stock for having the most basic name possible after the PC login screen goes viral. It gained millions of views on TikTok and quickly inspired memes.

How Is 'Ryan Smith' Used In Memes?

Wisler's video went viral on TikTok and inadvertently made the Ryan Smith memes a reality. Only days after it was posted, Wisler's fans started posting memes that make fun of the name "Ryan Smith" for being basic.

The memes portray people with the name Ryan Smith as being completely devoid of unique features, showing them ordering plain donuts, being cloned or created in a factory, and generally acting like sheep.

@intromaster623g #ryansmith #meme #funny #niche #mainstream ♬ Knock Knock Let Em In – Trey Traylor

What Are Some More 'Ryan Smith' Memes?

@slide4228 Some ball required ll #funny #meme #viral #fyp #fypシ゚viral ♬ Everything Is Awesome – Beverley Biscayne

@usernameorsomething10 Image being named Ryan smith #ryansmith @Grant Wisler #funny #meme ♬ THE anitok audio – jakique

@munyun_00 Ifykyk #fyp #giftok #ryansmith #meme #funny ♬ original sound – nonsense

@jeviduboi Who names their kid ryan smith 😭✌️#ryan #gurt #giftok #slander #evil ♬ MUFFIN – BadBoyHalo & CG5 & Hyper Potions

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For the full history of the Ryan Smith memes, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.