Riko

♂ Boy

Pronounced REE-koh /ˈriː.koʊ/Medium

Meaning: A Japanese name whose meaning varies by kanji (often 'reason; logic' or 'village child'); separately a short form of Ricardo/Rico ('brave ruler; rich'). Warm and cross-cultural.Low

In 30 seconds: A warm cross-cultural name: Riko is Japanese (meanings vary by kanji) and a short form of Ricardo (said 'REE-koh'). Crisp and bright.

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Origin LowJapanese, Spanish

MeaningA Japanese name whose meaning varies by kanji (often 'reason; logic' or 'village child'); separately a short form of Ricardo/Rico ('brave ruler; rich'). Warm and cross-cultural.

U.S. rank (2024)#12003 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 88

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Riko is a Japanese name (meaning varies by kanji, often 'reason' or 'village child') and a short form of Ricardo. Warm and cross-cultural, which we note - rare in the U.S. (said 'REE-koh').

In the U.S. it appears rarely, across Japanese- and Latino-heritage families. Rare, bright, and cross-cultural.

Did you know? Riko is a Japanese name whose meaning shifts with the kanji chosen (often 'reason' or 'village child'), and it also shortens Ricardo/Rico - a warm, cross-cultural pick, which we note (said 'REE-koh').

Overall data confidence 44%

References - Riko — Japanese (kanji-dependent) / short for Ricardo

Variations

RicoRiccoReeko

Nicknames

RiKo

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Riko…

Rico— a spelling twin / Ricardo short form

Kenji— a like Japanese name

Hiro— a like short Japanese name

Marco— a like warm -o name

Explore names like Riko

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Riko mean?

Riko is Japanese, with meanings that vary by kanji (often 'reason' or 'village child'); it's also a short form of Ricardo, which we note.

How do you pronounce Riko?

It's said REE-koh /ˈriː.koʊ/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Riko a boy or girl name?

Riko is used for both; here it's a boy's name.

How popular is Riko?

Riko is a rare name in the U.S.