Ryo

Ryo is a Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the characters chosen to write it. Ryō is a common Roman-letter rendering that marks a long vowel, while Ryo often appears when that mark is omitted. Possible characters include 涼, associated with coolness or refreshment, and 遼, associated with distance; other spellings carry different meanings.

The name is used for both boys and girls in Japan. Recognizable bearers include actor Ryo Yoshizawa and musician Ryo Nishikido, while Ryo Hazuki is the protagonist of the Shenmue games. These examples show the name in public life and fiction, but they do not establish a single translation for every Ryo. For a family choosing a Japanese name, the written characters are part of the choice itself.