Ryus
A Japanese given name with multiple meanings including "superior", "dragon", or "flowing".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ryus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ryus today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ryus births was 2018 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ryus. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ryus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2018
5 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2018 SSA rank
#13,719
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Ryus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ryus 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 Ryus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ryus
The name Ryus is of Japanese origin and is believed to have emerged during the early Heian period (794-1185 CE). It is thought to be derived from the Old Japanese word "ryu," which means "dragon." In Japanese culture, the dragon is a revered and symbolic creature, representing power, strength, and good fortune.
One of the earliest known references to the name Ryus can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient Japanese chronicle dating back to 712 CE. In this text, there is a mention of a figure named Ryujin, which translates to "Dragon God" or "Dragon King." This suggests that names associated with dragons held significant cultural and spiritual significance in ancient Japan.
The first recorded individual with the name Ryus was Ryus no Sukeyori, a samurai who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE). He was a renowned warrior and served under the influential Hojo clan. Another notable figure from this era was Ryus no Masamoto, a skilled swordsmith who crafted blades for the samurai class.
During the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the name gained further prominence. Ryus Ando (1733-1793) was a celebrated poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the literary arts of the time. His works explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition.
In the 19th century, Ryus Hiroshi (1828-1891) was a prominent political activist and reformist. He played a crucial role in the Meiji Restoration, a pivotal event that transformed Japan into a modern nation-state. His efforts helped shape the country's political and social landscape.
More recently, Ryus Takahashi (1901-1988) was a renowned architect and designer. He was known for his innovative and avant-garde approach to architecture, blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern sensibilities. His works, such as the Akino Fuku Sumiya building in Tokyo, have become iconic landmarks.
Throughout history, the name Ryus has carried connotations of strength, resilience, and cultural significance. Its association with the dragon, a symbol of power and good fortune, has imbued it with a sense of reverence and respect in Japanese culture.
People
Ryus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ryus 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
Ryus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ryus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ryus 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Ryus a common name?
We classify Ryus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ryus most popular?
The single biggest year for Ryus was 2018, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ryus is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ryus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ryus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ryus 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.
Is Ryus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ryus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ryus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Ryus as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Ryus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.