Ryuji
Meaningoften dragon second son · Japanese
Ryuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “dragon second son”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Ryuji would score 15 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationRyuji is having its moment right now. Most Ryujis are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- HistoryRyuji first shows up in US birth records in 2008, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
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 Ryuji
Ryuji is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often dragon second son”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. 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 Ryuji
What does the name Ryuji mean?
Ryuji means “often dragon second son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Drake (“dragon”), Draco (“dragon”), Ryu (“often dragon”) and Ryoma (“often dragon horse”).
What is the origin of the name Ryuji?
Ryuji is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Ryuji a boy or girl name?
Ryuji is a boy name.
How popular is the name Ryuji?
Ryuji is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #7,257 in 2024, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Ryuji?
If you like Ryuji, you might also like Drake, Draco, Ryu and Ryoma.
What should I know before naming my baby Ryuji?
Ryuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “dragon second son”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.