Ryu
Boy name · #2348 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ryu? In official American birth records, Ryu has been tracked continuously since 1985, giving it 40 years of documented American history.
Ryu is currently the #2348 boy name in the United States — 59 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2328, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,508 boys born in 2025 was named Ryu.
Babies named Ryu per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 40-year story
Ryu first appears in the Social Security records in 1985, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 130 boys were named Ryu — good for #1314 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ryu against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ryu in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ryu is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ryu will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ryu is most common
State-level data for Ryu is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ryu
Statistically, parents drawn to Ryu tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Atreyu, Ryler, Rye, Reef, and Rylin.
AtreyuRylerRyeReefRylinRamAnshRylen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ryu | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2332 |
| 2024 | 127 | #1432 |
| 2023 | 75 | #2014 |
| 2022 | 73 | #2060 |
| 2021 | 77 | #1943 |
| 2020 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2110 |
| 2018 | 54 | #2417 |
| 2017 | 76 | #1897 |
| 2016 | 72 | #1991 |
| 2015 | 56 | #2328 |
| 2014 | 73 | #1959 |
| 2013 | 76 | #1866 |
| 2012 | 130 | #1314 |
| 2011 | 73 | #1905 |
| 2010 | 63 | #2118 |
| 2009 | 61 | #2183 |
| 2008 | 53 | #2405 |
| 2007 | 53 | #2416 |
| 2006 | 43 | #2698 |
| 2005 | 32 | #3172 |
| 2004 | 26 | #3534 |
| 2003 | 27 | #3366 |
| 2002 | 23 | #3670 |
| 2001 | 19 | #4121 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ryu?
In official American birth records, the name Ryu first appeared in 1985 (over 40 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 40 years.
Is Ryu a popular boy name?
Ryu ranked #2348 among boys in 2025 with 59 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2328.
When was the name Ryu most popular?
Ryu peaked in 2012, when 130 American boys received the name (ranked #1314 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ryu?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,508 newborn American boys was named Ryu. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.