Kenji
How to say it: KEN-jee · /ˈkɛndʒi/
Japanese name meaning 'healthy second son' or 'wise governor' depending on kanji; a widely used traditional name.
Kenji was the 860th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 249 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 2.0-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #647 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #860 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 249 |
| Share of births | 1 in 13,314 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.0 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #647 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
This decade marks Kenji's best showing yet after a steady climb. At its peak in the 2020s, further growth looks likely.
What goes with it
Neat and crisp with sharp consonants across a pair of syllables, it travels well. Ken offers a familiar short form, and Hiro shares its style.
Nicknames
- Ken
Other spellings
Honouring a Kenji in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kenji is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Japanese.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Kenji
- Kenji Honnami (born 1964)Japanese association football player
- Kenji Tochio (born 1941)Japanese association football player
- Kenji Mizoguchi (1898–1956)Japanese film director and screenwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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