Yuriko
Meaningoften lily child · Japanese
Yuriko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “lily child”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Word funYuriko doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Yuriko would score 13 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationYuriko peaked in 1923, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryYuriko first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
US births per million girls, 1914–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yuriko
Yuriko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often lily child”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Yuriko
What does the name Yuriko mean?
Yuriko means “often lily child” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “lily” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Lily (“lily flower”), Lillian (“lily”), Liliana (“lily”) and Lilly (“lily flower”).
What is the origin of the name Yuriko?
Yuriko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Yuriko a boy or girl name?
Yuriko is a girl name.
How popular is the name Yuriko?
Yuriko is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #1,197 in 1923, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yuriko?
If you like Yuriko, you might also like Lily, Lillian, Liliana and Lilly.
What should I know before naming my baby Yuriko?
Yuriko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “lily child”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.