Kenji
Kenji was the 944th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 249 babies. Its best year was 1978, when it ranked 750th; the most babies were born in 2022 (337). Over the last ten years it has moved up 466 places. More babies were named Kenji in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning depends on the kanji (e.g. 'healthy second son') · Japanese
Say it KEN-jee /ˈkɛndʒi/
- Rank in 2025
- #944 boys, down 31 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 249boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2022337 babies
- Total since 1880
- 5,657babies recorded
What does the name Kenji mean?
Kenji is a Japanese boys' name, as Wiktionary notes. Like most Japanese names its meaning depends on the characters (kanji) chosen to write it. Common spellings include 健二 'healthy' + 'two, second (son)', 賢治 'wise' + 'govern' and 健次 'healthy' + 'next'. The -ji ending was traditionally used for second sons. A well-known bearer is the poet Kenji Miyazawa.
健 (ken) (Japanese, “healthy, strong”)二 / 次 (ji) (Japanese, “second / next”)賢 (ken) (Japanese, “wise”)
How sure is this? Well established. There is no single meaning; it depends on the kanji.
Related names: Kenta, Ken.
See also: Japanese names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kenji', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry '健二', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Kenji popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 33 since 1975.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #944 | 249 |
| 2020 | #913 | 245 |
| 2010 | #1,403 | 119 |
| 2000 | #1,983 | 52 |
| 1990 | #2,284 | 31 |
| 1980 | #1,083 | 70 |
| 1970 | #2,354 | 16 |
| 1960 | #3,214 | 8 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | #2,766 | 8 |
| 1930 | #2,531 | 11 |
| 1920 | #1,444 | 27 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kenji, counting every spelling?
Kenji has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #909 for boys in 2025, against #944 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Kenji?
249 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kenji (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Kenji born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 34 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kenji.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kenji?
About 5,100 people born in the US named Kenji are alive today, with a median age of 13; half are between 5 and 26. That makes Kenji mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kenji by state
How common Kenji was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (11.5×), Nevada (2.5×), Washington (1.9×), Minnesota (1.9×), Wisconsin (1.8×). In 22 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kenji: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kenji, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Kenji · Sibling names for Kenji
Questions about the name Kenji
What does Kenji mean?
Kenji means “depends on the kanji (e.g. 'healthy second son')” (Japanese origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Kenji?
Kenji was the 944th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 249 babies. Its best year was 1978, when it ranked 750th; the most babies were born in 2022 (337). Over the last ten years it has moved up 466 places. More babies were named Kenji in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Kenji a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Kenji in the US.
Where is Kenji most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kenji was most common in Hawaii (1.93 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and Washington.