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Home › Baby Names Directory › Kenji

Kenji

♂ Boy

Pronounced KEN-jee /ˈkɛn.dʒi/High

Meaning: Japanese name commonly written with kanji meaning strong and healthy or wise and second son, though the meaning varies depending on the kanji chosen by parentsHigh

In 30 seconds: Kenji is a popular Japanese name with classic masculine appeal. Often meaning strong and healthy or wise, it is widely used in Japan and has a clean, modern sound that travels well internationally.
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Origin HighJapanese
MeaningJapanese name commonly written with kanji meaning strong and healthy or wise and second son, though the meaning varies depending on the kanji chosen by parents
U.S. rank (2025)#944 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births249 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,622

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219132025

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

Kenji has been a common Japanese masculine given name for well over a century. The -ji suffix (meaning second son or to heal or to govern) is a classic ending for Japanese male names, alongside -ro and -suke.

In Japanese American communities, Kenji became a bridge name, recognizable and pronounceable in English while retaining Japanese identity. It has grown in broader American usage in the 21st century.

Did you know? The kanji for Kenji can be written in multiple ways, including with characters meaning healthy second son or wise ruler, and the choice of kanji is an important parental decision in Japanese naming tradition.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Kenji — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KenjiKenshi

Nicknames

KenKJ

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kenji Mizoguchi (1898-1956)
    Japanese film director of 'Ugetsu' and 'Sansho the Bailiff'
  • ★Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933)
    Japanese poet and author of children's literature
  • ★J. Kenji López-Alt (1979-)
    American chef and food writer behind 'The Food Lab'
  • ★Kenji Goto (1967-2015)
    Japanese journalist known for reporting from conflict zones

If you like Kenji…

Ryu— same crisp Japanese masculine name with wide cross-cultural appeal
Hiro— shares the approachable Japanese name quality used in multicultural settings
Kaisen— shares Kenji's Japanese roots
Kannon— lands in the same popularity range
Kaito— shares Kenji's Japanese roots

Explore names like Kenji

By themeclassictwo-syllablejapanesecross-cultural
By meaningStrengthWisdomHealing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kenji mean?

Kenji is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used, commonly meaning strong and healthy second son or wise ruler.

How do you pronounce Kenji?

It is said KEN-jee, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Kenji a popular name?

Kenji is very common in Japan and is growing in use in the United States and other Western countries among families with Japanese heritage and beyond.

What does the -ji ending in Kenji mean?

The -ji element in Japanese names can mean second son, to heal, or to govern, depending on the kanji chosen.

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