Ryota
A Japanese masculine name meaning "field overseer" or "cultivated rice paddy".
Name Census estimates that about 182 living Americans carry the first name Ryota. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ryota today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ryota births was 1995 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ryota. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
182
~ 1 in 1,883,266 Americans
Peak year
1995
12 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2017 SSA rank
#13,871
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Ryota: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ryota from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 79 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Ryota remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ryota by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ryota during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ryota
The name Ryota originates from Japanese culture and language. It is a masculine given name that has been used in Japan for centuries. The name is composed of two kanji characters: "ryo" meaning "excellent" or "prosperous," and "ta" meaning "thick" or "great." Together, the name Ryota can be interpreted to mean "excellent prosperity" or "great abundance."
The earliest recorded use of the name Ryota dates back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. During this time, the name was often given to boys born into wealthy or noble families, as it conveyed a wish for a prosperous and abundant life.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Ryota was Ryota no Sukune, a legendary samurai warrior who lived during the late 8th century. He was known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield, and his exploits were recorded in several historical texts from the era.
In the 14th century, a Buddhist monk named Ryota Shingo gained fame for his teachings and writings on Zen philosophy. He founded a monastery in Kyoto and had many followers during his lifetime.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), a prominent artist and calligrapher named Ryota Hanabusa was renowned for his intricate brush work and elegant calligraphic styles. His works were highly sought after by feudal lords and nobles of the time.
In more recent history, Ryota Murata (1921-2013) was a celebrated Japanese author and poet. He is best known for his novel "Yakuza Moon," which depicted the struggles of Japanese immigrants in the United States during the early 20th century.
Another notable figure was Ryota Ozawa (1935-2018), a renowned Japanese conductor and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was widely acclaimed for his interpretations of Western classical music and his efforts to promote Japanese composers on the international stage.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Ryota, a name that has its roots in the rich cultural traditions of Japan and has been associated with excellence, prosperity, and abundance.
People
Ryota + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ryota as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ryota: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ryota?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 182 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ryota going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,883,266 US residents.
Is Ryota a common name?
We classify Ryota as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 185 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ryota most popular?
The single biggest year for Ryota was 1995, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ryota is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ryota a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ryota in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.