Ryu
2 syllables
♂ Male ◎ Japanese ◈ 2 syllables
"Dragon"

From Japanese

Ryu means dragon — from the Japanese. Street Fighter's Ryu IS gaming's most iconic fighter — the Hadouken. In Japanese mythology, dragons ARE the most revered divine creatures. Three letters of gaming's-most-iconic-fighter, Hadouken, and Japanese divine-dragon.

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Ryu at a glance
MeaningDragon
OriginJapanese
GenderMale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 1
US Rank (today)#2032
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Why parents love Ryu
  • Street Fighter's Ryu IS gaming's most iconic fighter.
  • The Hadouken IS gaming's most famous move.
  • Three letters with a powerful, Japanese sound: REE-oo.
  • The meaning dragon IS maximally fierce.
  • The most directly Japanese warrior-dragon.
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The vibe of Ryu
dragonJapaneseRyuStreet Fightericonic fighterHadoukenmythologyrevereddivinefierce
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Origin & history of Ryu
Japanese ryu (dragon) → Street Fighter's Ryu
1
Japanese roots
Ryu means dragon. Street Fighter's IS gaming's most iconic. Dragons ARE Japan's most revered creatures.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Japanese; Street Fighter (1987).
3
Today
Ryu remains a beloved choice, ranking #2032 in the US. 1,629 babies have been named Ryu since 1985.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Ryu?
2012 peak year
Today, Ryu is rarely chosen — ranked well outside the top 1,000 (around #2032), with only about 75 babies given the name per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2012, 130 babies were given the name (ranked #1320 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2010s. Ryu has been trending upward in recent years. In all, around 1,629 babies have been registered as Ryu since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
130 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #1,320)
75 Avg. per year
(last decade)
750 Total registrations
last 10 years
1,629 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #2,032) Moderate
↑ Trending upward in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
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Numerology of Ryu
1
Life path number
The Leader
Leadership, independence and pioneering spirit.

Ryu's Life Path 5 is the adventurer's number — dragon adventure. People named Ryu tend to be powerful, fierce, and gifted at being gaming's most iconic dragon-fighter.

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Gaming's most iconic dragon-fighter
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Street-Fighter
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Hadouken
◎
Japanese-dragon
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Three-letter fierce
R9
Y7
U3
Sum: 19 → Life path 1
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Personality of Ryu
🌟
Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
⚡
Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
💡
Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
🔑
Natural authority
Without trying, they earn respect.
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Famous people named Ryu

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Names that combine with Ryu

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Ryu.

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Middle names for Ryu

The right middle name turns Ryu into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

Want a personalised middle name for Ryu? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Ryu is a beautiful choice.
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