What does Miyu mean?
Miyu commonly joins the kanji for “beauty” with “gentleness” or “superiority.”
What does Riko mean?
Riko often pairs the kanji for “jasmine” with “child” (子), a classic feminine ending.
Miyu vs Riko
Which is more popular?
Miyu is more popular than Riko today: about 7 US babies were given the name Miyu in 2025, compared with 0 named Riko.
| Miyu | Riko | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Beautiful; gentle | Jasmine child |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEE-yoo | REE-koh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1995 | 2002 |
| Peak year | 2000 (16) | 2017 (12) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Miyu
Riko
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Miyu | Riko |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 35 | 18 |
| 2010s | 97 | 50 |
| 2000s | 96 | 40 |
| 1990s | 12 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Miyu or Riko more popular?
Miyu is more popular than Riko today: about 7 US babies were given the name Miyu in 2025, compared with 0 named Riko.
What is the difference between Miyu and Riko?
Miyu means Beautiful; gentle (Japanese origin), while Riko means Jasmine child (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Miyu or Riko?
In US records, Miyu first appears in 1995 and Riko in 2002, so Miyu has the longer recorded history.