Ryu

Ryu is a Japanese name commonly associated with the reading ryū for dragon. The long vowel is sometimes shown with a macron as Ryū, although that mark is often omitted in English-language records. Japanese names can use different written characters, so the dragon meaning belongs to the relevant character choice rather than automatically to every name written Ryu in Roman letters.

Dragons have a substantial place in Japanese art and storytelling, frequently connected with water and powerful natural forces. That imagery gives this compact name a much larger cultural setting. For a family choosing a Japanese name, the intended characters and their reading are an important part of the choice, alongside the short spelling seen in English.