If you’re looking for a name inspired by the mighty dragon, this extensive list features over 250 Japanese names with meanings and origins.
Japanese culture is rich with symbolism, and dragons are prominent in folklore and mythology. These majestic creatures are often associated with strength, wisdom, and protection.
Origins of Dragon Names in Japanese Culture
In Japanese tradition, dragons (ドラゴン, dragon) are considered benevolent beings that bring rain and fertility to the land. They are often depicted as water deities and are integral to many myths and legends. Names inspired by dragons reflect these attributes, drawing from elements of nature, mythology, and cultural significance.
Dragon Names for Boys
- Ryū
Meaning: Dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsuya
Meaning: A person who is like a dragon
Origin: Japanese - Kiryū
Meaning: Mist dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūnosuke
Meaning: Son of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūji
Meaning: Dragon child
Origin: Japanese - Tatsuo
Meaning: Man who is like a dragon
Origin: Japanese - Seiryū
Meaning: Blue dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūmaru
Meaning: Dragon circle
Origin: Japanese - Ryūsei
Meaning: Dragon star
Origin: Japanese - Kōryū
Meaning: High dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumi
Meaning: Dragon’s beauty
Origin: Japanese - Ryūken
Meaning: Dragon fist
Origin: Japanese - Ryuuto
Meaning: Dragon person
Origin: Japanese - Shinryū
Meaning: True dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryuuma
Meaning: Dragon horse
Origin: Japanese - Daikiryū
Meaning: Great dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūzan
Meaning: Dragon mountain
Origin: Japanese - Kiryū
Meaning: Misty dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsugoro
Meaning: Dragon boy
Origin: Japanese
Dragon Names for Girls
- Ryūna
Meaning: Dragon and elegance
Origin: Japanese - Tatsuki
Meaning: Dragon blossom
Origin: Japanese - Seiryu
Meaning: Blue dragon (female version)
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ryūka
Meaning: Dragon flower
Origin: Japanese - Kiryūka
Meaning: Misty dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumi
Meaning: Beautiful dragon
Origin: Japanese - Aoi Ryū
Meaning: Blue dragon
Origin: Japanese - Shiryu
Meaning: White dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hoshiryū
Meaning: Star dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūri
Meaning: Dragon pear
Origin: Japanese - Tatsu
Meaning: Dragon
Origin: Japanese - Mizuryū
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsuko
Meaning: Child of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Fuyuryu
Meaning: Winter dragon
Origin: Japanese - Suiryu
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Katsuryū
Meaning: Victorious dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūri
Meaning: Dragon princess
Origin: Japanese - Ryūko
Meaning: Dragon child
Origin: Japanese - Tamaryū
Meaning: Precious dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryuusei
Meaning: Dragon star
Origin: Japanese
Names with Dragon Elements
- Ryūma
Meaning: Dragon horse
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumaki
Meaning: Dragon tornado
Origin: Japanese - Ryūshin
Meaning: Heart of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukage
Meaning: Dragon shadow
Origin: Japanese - Ryūsei
Meaning: Dragon star
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukawa
Meaning: Dragon River
Origin: Japanese - Ryūgaki
Meaning: Dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Kiryūsei
Meaning: Misty dragon star
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumori
Meaning: Dragon forest
Origin: Japanese - Ryūhan
Meaning: Dragon Guard
Origin: Japanese - Ryūzō
Meaning: Dragon creation
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumori
Meaning: Dragon protector
Origin: Japanese - Ryūkyū
Meaning: Dragon islands
Origin: Japanese - Tatsutsuki
Meaning: Dragon moon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūgou
Meaning: Dragon palace
Origin: Japanese - Tatsunari
Meaning: Dragon sound
Origin: Japanese - Ryūten
Meaning: Dragon sky
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumaki
Meaning: Dragon whirlwind
Origin: Japanese - Ryūzai
Meaning: Dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Ryūbō
Meaning: Dragon warrior
Origin: Japanese
Nature-Inspired Dragon Names
- Kaminari
Meaning: Thunder, associated with dragons
Origin: Japanese - Mizukage
Meaning: Water shadow
Origin: Japanese - Hinode
Meaning: Sunrise, represents new beginnings
Origin: Japanese - Yamato
Meaning: Great harmony, often linked with dragons
Origin: Japanese - Fuji
Meaning: Wisteria, symbolizes beauty and strength
Origin: Japanese - Hayate
Meaning: Swift wind
Origin: Japanese - Kuroi
Meaning: Black, symbolizing power
Origin: Japanese - Shiranui
Meaning: Mysterious fire
Origin: Japanese mythology - Amano
Meaning: Heavenly, representing divine strength
Origin: Japanese - Kaze
Meaning: Wind, often associated with dragons
Origin: Japanese - Tsubame
Meaning: Swallow (bird), symbolizing freedom
Origin: Japanese - Mizuki
Meaning: Water moon
Origin: Japanese - Taka
Meaning: Falcon, symbolizing strength
Origin: Japanese - Yuki
Meaning: Snow, represents purity
Origin: Japanese - Sora
Meaning: Sky
Origin: Japanese - Hikari
Meaning: Light
Origin: Japanese - Ame
Meaning: Rain
Origin: Japanese - Taki
Meaning: Waterfall
Origin: Japanese - Kikyou
Meaning: Bellflower, a symbol of beauty
Origin: Japanese - Hana
Meaning: Flower
Origin: Japanese
Mythical Dragon Names
- Ryujin
Meaning: Dragon god of the sea
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsunoshin
Meaning: Dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Seiryu
Meaning: Azure dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yamiryū
Meaning: Night dragon
Origin: Japanese - Fujin
Meaning: Wind god, often depicted with dragons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ryuujin
Meaning: Dragonlord
Origin: Japanese - Chiryū
Meaning: Earth dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kitsune
Meaning: Fox, often paired with dragons in folklore
Origin: Japanese mythology - Aoi Kōryū
Meaning: Blue ancient dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tatsunoko
Meaning: Dragon child
Origin: Japanese - Shiranui
Meaning: Mysterious fire
Origin: Japanese mythology - Hiryu
Meaning: Flying dragon
Origin: Japanese - Goryū
Meaning: Five dragons
Origin: Japanese - Seiryu
Meaning: Blue dragon of the east
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kairyu
Meaning: Sea dragon
Origin: Japanese - Shirogane
Meaning: Silver dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tenryū
Meaning: Heavenly dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yoruyū
Meaning: Night dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūou
Meaning: Dragon king
Origin: Japanese mythology
Celestial Dragon Names
- Tengoku
Meaning: Heaven
Origin: Japanese - Kōten
Meaning: Bright heaven
Origin: Japanese - Hoshiryu
Meaning: Star dragon
Origin: Japanese - SeiRyū
Meaning: Star dragon
Origin: Japanese - Amanokawa
Meaning: River of Heaven
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kuchinawa
Meaning: Mouth of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tenraku
Meaning: Heavenly dragon
Origin: Japanese - Hikari no Ryū
Meaning: Dragon of light
Origin: Japanese - Yozora
Meaning: Night sky
Origin: Japanese - Mizukami
Meaning: Water god
Origin: Japanese mythology - Taiyō
Meaning: Sun
Origin: Japanese - Aozora
Meaning: Blue sky
Origin: Japanese - Sakuraryū
Meaning: Cherry blossom dragon
Origin: Japanese - Hoshikuzu
Meaning: Stardust
Origin: Japanese - Kibō
Meaning: Hope
Origin: Japanese - Yume
Meaning: Dream
Origin: Japanese - Kamen no Ryū
Meaning: Dragon of masks
Origin: Japanese - Kōsokudai
Meaning: Great cosmic
Origin: Japanese - Kagutsuchi
Meaning: God of fire, associated with dragons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ame no Suki
Meaning: Rain of elegance
Origin: Japanese mythology
Elemental Dragon Names
- Kazanryū
Meaning: Volcano dragon
Origin: Japanese - Furinkazan
Meaning: Wind, forest, fire, and mountain
Origin: Japanese - Suiryu
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Kaminari no Ryū
Meaning: Thunder dragon
Origin: Japanese - Hoshizaki
Meaning: Star peak
Origin: Japanese - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukaze
Meaning: Dragon wind
Origin: Japanese - Tatsu no Kaze
Meaning: Wind of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Kōsetsu
Meaning: Ice and snow
Origin: Japanese - Gensui
Meaning: Source of water
Origin: Japanese - Kasai
Meaning: Fire
Origin: Japanese - Suirin
Meaning: Water ring
Origin: Japanese - Hizashi
Meaning: Sunlight
Origin: Japanese - Yukikaze
Meaning: Snow wind
Origin: Japanese - Hinatatsuhime
Meaning: Sun dragon princess
Origin: Japanese - Kazemaru
Meaning: Wind circle
Origin: Japanese - Fūrin
Meaning: Wind bell
Origin: Japanese - Kiryū no Kaze
Meaning: Wind of the Mist dragon
Origin: Japanese - Inazuma
Meaning: Lightning
Origin: Japanese - Kaminari no Ko
Meaning: Child of thunder
Origin: Japanese
Guardian Dragon Names
- Ryūgoku
Meaning: Dragon of the country
Origin: Japanese - Seiryu
Meaning: Azure dragon, guardian of the east
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tatsuyuki
Meaning: Dragon snow
Origin: Japanese - KageRyū
Meaning: Shadow dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsunoko
Meaning: Dragon child
Origin: Japanese - Yoruyū
Meaning: Night dragon, protector
Origin: Japanese - Daikiryū
Meaning: Great dragon
Origin: Japanese - Shōryū
Meaning: Ascending dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukage
Meaning: Shadow of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Chiryū
Meaning: Earth dragon, guardian of the land
Origin: Japanese - Tatsuzaka
Meaning: Dragon slope
Origin: Japanese - Kamiyū
Meaning: Divine dragon
Origin: Japanese - Mizudoragon
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Hikari no Ryū
Meaning: Light dragon, guardian of hope
Origin: Japanese - Ryūken
Meaning: Dragon fist, protector
Origin: Japanese - Goryū
Meaning: Five dragons, representing guardianship
Origin: Japanese - Kōganshi
Meaning: Guardian dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Fūryū
Meaning: Wind dragon, a protector of the skies
Origin: Japanese - Tatsurō
Meaning: Dragon boy, a guardian
Origin: Japanese - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon, symbol of protection
Origin: Japanese
Legendary Dragon Names
- Fudō
Meaning: Unmovable, often associated with fire dragons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Jinriki
Meaning: Dragon’s strength
Origin: Japanese - Tatsunoko
Meaning: Child of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūjin
Meaning: Dragon god of the sea
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon
Origin: Japanese - Seiryū
Meaning: Azure dragon, guardian of the east
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tatsumi
Meaning: Dragon’s beauty
Origin: Japanese - Ryūryū
Meaning: Dragon of the flowing river
Origin: Japanese - Ryūō
Meaning: Dragon king
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tenryū
Meaning: Heavenly dragon
Origin: Japanese - Chiryū
Meaning: Earth dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yamiryū
Meaning: Night dragon
Origin: Japanese - Goryū
Meaning: Five dragons
Origin: Japanese - Hōryū
Meaning: Phoenix dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kiryū
Meaning: Misty dragon
Origin: Japanese - Shinryū
Meaning: True dragon
Origin: Japanese - Kiryū no Kami
Meaning: God of the misty dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Fujin
Meaning: Wind god, often depicted with dragons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Aoi Ryū
Meaning: Blue dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsumaki
Meaning: Dragon tornado
Origin: Japanese
Water Dragon Names
- Suiryu
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Mizutatsu
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūgoku
Meaning: Dragon of the river
Origin: Japanese - Hidaka
Meaning: Dragon of the flowing water
Origin: Japanese - Kiryū
Meaning: Misty water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukawa
Meaning: Dragon River
Origin: Japanese - Uminari
Meaning: Sound of the sea dragon
Origin: Japanese - Naminori
Meaning: Wave dragon
Origin: Japanese - Mizuryū
Meaning: Water dragon
Origin: Japanese - Amanogawa
Meaning: River of heaven, often associated with dragons
Origin: Japanese mythology - Yamato
Meaning: Great harmony, linked with water dragons
Origin: Japanese - Shinmizu
Meaning: Pure water
Origin: Japanese - Fūryū
Meaning: Wind dragon, linked with water
Origin: Japanese - Kumoryū
Meaning: Dragon of the clouds and water
Origin: Japanese - Seiryu
Meaning: Blue dragon of water
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kuroi
Meaning: Black, symbolizing the depths of water
Origin: Japanese - Mizuki
Meaning: Water moon, associated with tranquility
Origin: Japanese - Suirin
Meaning: Water ring
Origin: Japanese - Oumizu
Meaning: Great water
Origin: Japanese - Ame no Ryū
Meaning: Dragon of the rain
Origin: Japanese mythology
Dragon Guardian Names
- Tatsuyuki
Meaning: Dragon snow
Origin: Japanese - Shōryū
Meaning: Ascending dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūgokushi
Meaning: Dragon protector
Origin: Japanese - Chiryū
Meaning: Earth dragon, guardian of the land
Origin: Japanese - Seiryū
Meaning: Azure dragon, protector of the east
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ryūgami
Meaning: Dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Kamiyū
Meaning: Divine dragon
Origin: Japanese - Ryūsei
Meaning: Star dragon
Origin: Japanese - Daikiryū
Meaning: Great dragon
Origin: Japanese - Yoruyū
Meaning: Night dragon, protector
Origin: Japanese - KageRyū
Meaning: Shadow dragon
Origin: Japanese - Fūryū
Meaning: Wind dragon, protector of the skies
Origin: Japanese - Ryūjinsama
Meaning: Honorable dragon god
Origin: Japanese mythology - Tenryū
Meaning: Heavenly dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Kōganshi
Meaning: Guardian dragon spirit
Origin: Japanese - Tatsukage
Meaning: Shadow of the dragon
Origin: Japanese - Seiryū no Kami
Meaning: God of the azure dragon
Origin: Japanese mythology - Ryūken
Meaning: Dragon fist, protector
Origin: Japanese - Kōryū
Meaning: Ancient dragon, symbol of protection
Origin: Japanese - Kamiryū
Meaning: Godly dragon
Origin: Japanese
Conclusion
With over 250 names inspired by the mighty dragon, you now have a wealth of options to choose from. These names encompass strength, beauty, and the mystical qualities associated with dragons in Japanese culture. Whether you’re seeking a name for a character, a pet, or even a project, this list offers a diverse array of choices that honor the spirit of the dragon. Happy naming!
David Price is a name aficionado and creative writer at NamezVibe. He delves into the fascinating world of names, exploring their meanings and histories. Outside of writing, David loves engaging with readers and discovering unique names that tell powerful stories.