Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Ryu
Ryu
β Boy
Pronounced RYOO /rjuΛ/Low
Meaning: Dragon, the dragonLow
In 30 seconds: Ryu is a Japanese name meaning dragon, one of the most powerful and auspicious creatures in East Asian mythology. As a given name it is bold, short, and carries the majestic strength of the mythological dragon.
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Origin LowJapanese
MeaningDragon, the dragon
U.S. rank (2025)#2352 β Falling
2025 U.S. births59 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)β 1,683
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Ryu is a Japanese name meaning dragon from the kanji ryu. It has been used in Japan as a given name and gained international recognition through the video game character Ryu in Street Fighter.
Ryu is used in Japanese communities and has gained recognition through gaming culture.
Did you know? In Japanese and Chinese mythology, dragons are not fearsome monsters but divine creatures of wisdom and power. Ryu as a name carries the dragon's extraordinary energy β protective, wise, and spectacularly powerful.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
RyuuRyuji
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Ryu Murakami (1952-)Japanese novelist and filmmaker, author of Almost Transparent Blue
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Frequently Asked
What does Ryu mean?
Dragon, the dragon
How do you pronounce Ryu?
Ryu is pronounced RYOO.
What is the origin of Ryu?
Ryu comes from Japanese.
What names are similar to Ryu?
Similar names include ken, kai, jin.