Maru

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAH-roo /ˈmɑ.ru/Medium

Meaning: From the Japanese maru, 'round; a circle; completeness' (a traditional suffix for boys and ships); also a short form in other cultures; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Round; a circle; completeness: Maru is Japanese. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'MAH-roo').

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Origin LowJapanese

MeaningFrom the Japanese maru, 'round; a circle; completeness' (a traditional suffix for boys and ships); also a short form in other cultures; routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#9523 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 26

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

Maru comes from the Japanese maru, 'round; a circle; completeness' (a traditional suffix for boys and ships); also a short form in other cultures (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, classic name (said 'MAH-roo').

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese and Hispanic families. Rare, round-and-completeness at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Maru means 'round; a circle; completeness' in Japanese (a traditional suffix for boys and ships) — a crisp, classic name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'MAH-roo').

Overall data confidence 30%

References — Maru — Japanese; routes layered

Variations

MaruuMarou

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Maru…

Haru— a sound-neighbor Japanese boys' name

Miko— another Japanese name

Mako— shares Maru's Japanese roots

Mori— lands in the same popularity range

Mugen— a fellow Japanese choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maru mean?

Maru is Japanese for 'round; a circle; completeness'; also a short form in other cultures. The routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Maru?

It's said MAH-roo /ˈmɑ.ru/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Maru a boy or girl name?

Maru is a boy's name here (it is also used for girls).

How popular is Maru?

Maru is a very rare name in the U.S.