Ryu
Meaningoften dragon · Japanese
Ryu is a Japanese boy name often meaning “dragon”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationRyu peaked in 2012, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Ryu you'd meet today is about 13 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Ryu would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 28,986 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryRyu first shows up in US birth records in 1985, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 40 years since.
US births per million boys, 1985–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Ryu
Ryu is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often dragon”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 2010s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Ryu
What does the name Ryu mean?
Ryu means “often dragon” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Drake (“dragon”), Draco (“dragon”), Ryoma (“often dragon horse”) and Tatsuki (“often dragon tree”).
What is the origin of the name Ryu?
Ryu is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Ryu a boy or girl name?
Ryu is a boy name. In 2025, 59 US boys were named Ryu.
How popular is the name Ryu?
Ryu ranked #2,332 for US boys in 2025, given to 59 babies. Its best year was 2012, when it reached #1,314. Over the last five years it has slipped 355 places.
What names are similar to Ryu?
If you like Ryu, you might also like Drake, Draco, Ryoma and Tatsuki.
What should I know before naming my baby Ryu?
Ryu is a Japanese boy name often meaning “dragon”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.