What does Riku mean?
Riku is written with the kanji for “land.”
What does Yuto mean?
Yuto commonly joins kanji for “distant, permanent” or “gentle” with “person” or “the Big Dipper.”
Riku vs Yuto
Which is more popular?
Riku is more popular than Yuto today: about 13 US babies were given the name Riku in 2025, compared with 6 named Yuto.
| Riku | Yuto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Land | Distant; person |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | REE-koo | YOO-toh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1996 | 1989 |
| Peak year | 2024 (24) | 2012 (22) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 6 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Riku
Yuto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Riku | Yuto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 121 | 64 |
| 2010s | 180 | 152 |
| 2000s | 145 | 128 |
| 1990s | 37 | 44 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Riku or Yuto more popular?
Riku is more popular than Yuto today: about 13 US babies were given the name Riku in 2025, compared with 6 named Yuto.
What is the difference between Riku and Yuto?
Riku means Land (Japanese origin), while Yuto means Distant; person (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Riku or Yuto?
In US records, Riku first appears in 1996 and Yuto in 1989, so Yuto has the longer recorded history.