Masao

♂ Boy

Pronounced mah-SAH-oh /mɑˈsɑ.oʊ/Medium

Meaning: Masao is a Japanese boys' name, commonly written to mean 'righteous man' or 'correct man' (masa, 'righteous, proper,' plus o, 'man, male'), among other kanji combinations. It appears in American records with the early Japanese-American community.Medium

In 30 seconds: Masao is a Japanese boys' name meaning 'righteous man' (said 'mah-SAH-oh'). It appears with the early Japanese-American community and peaked around 1918.

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Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningMasao is a Japanese boys' name, commonly written to mean 'righteous man' or 'correct man' (masa, 'righteous, proper,' plus o, 'man, male'), among other kanji combinations. It appears in American records with the early Japanese-American community.

U.S. rank (2019)#13420 ↘ Falling

2019 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,018

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

Masao is a Japanese given name for boys, often read as 'righteous man' or 'correct man' from masa, 'righteous, proper,' and o, 'man.' Like many Japanese names, its precise sense depends on the kanji used. In the United States it belongs to the early Japanese-American community of the early twentieth century.

Masao appears in American records from the early nineteen-hundreds, most frequently around 1918, tracking the first Japanese-American generation, and grows rare in later decades. It remains a traditional heritage name; a boy named Masao at that early peak would be well over a century old today.

Did you know? Masao's meaning shifts with the kanji chosen to write it, but a common reading joins masa, 'righteous' or 'correct,' with o, 'man' — a name carried by early Japanese-American families.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Masao — Japanese 'righteous/correct man'; early Japanese-American cohort

Variations

Masuo

Nicknames

Masa

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Masao mean?

Masao is a Japanese name commonly read as 'righteous man' or 'correct man,' though the sense varies with the kanji used.

How do you pronounce Masao?

It's said mah-SAH-oh /mɑˈsɑ.oʊ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Masao a boy or girl name?

Masao is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Masao?

Masao is an uncommon name in the U.S., borne mainly within the early Japanese-American community and most frequent in the early twentieth century.