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Jiraiya

♀ Girl

Pronounced jih-RY-ah /dʒɪˈraɪ.ɑ/Medium

Meaning: From the Japanese folk hero Jiraiya — a toad-riding ninja of legend and of the anime Naruto; predominantly a boys'/character name; here for girlsLow

In 30 seconds: A legendary ninja hero: Jiraiya is a Japanese folk-tale and anime name. Bold, striking, and modern; predominantly a boys'/character name, here for girls.

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Origin LowJapanese

MeaningFrom the Japanese folk hero Jiraiya — a toad-riding ninja of legend and of the anime Naruto; predominantly a boys'/character name; here for girls

U.S. rank (2025)#6212 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births19 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 129

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jiraiya comes from Japanese folklore — Jiraiya, the gallant toad-riding ninja hero of the 19th-century tale The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya — and from the much-loved character Jiraiya, Naruto's wise, irreverent mentor. A bold, striking pop-culture name; predominantly a boys'/character name, here covered for girls honestly (slug distinguished; said 'jih-RY-ah'; the name is borrowed from fiction, which we note).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, a-folk-hero-name at the root, and striking.

Did you know? Jiraiya is a hero of Japanese folklore — a noble, toad-riding ninja — and a beloved character (Naruto's mentor) — overwhelmingly a boys'/character name, given here to girls (which we flag honestly).

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Jiraiya — folklore/anime name

Variations

Jaraiya

Nicknames

Jira

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jiraiya…

Sakura— a fellow anime-linked Japanese girls' name

Hinata— a companion anime-linked Japanese name

Mei— another Japanese girls' name

Amaiya— echoes that soft -ya sound

Amaya— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Jiraiya

By themeuncertain unisex japanese pop-culture

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jiraiya mean?

Jiraiya is the name of a Japanese folk-hero ninja and a Naruto character; it's a borrowed character name, which we flag.

How do you pronounce Jiraiya?

It's said jih-RY-ah /dʒɪˈraɪ.ɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Jiraiya a boy or girl name?

Jiraiya is predominantly a boys'/character name; this page covers its use for girls.

How popular is Jiraiya?

Jiraiya is a rare, recent name in the U.S.