Ryu
Boy name · #2348 in 2025 · Uniqueness 78/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Ryu scores 78 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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 sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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
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. It scores 78/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.