Kenji

Meaning: Varies with the kanji; often wise or healthy second son
Origin: Japanese

Boy's name · #944 in the US (2025) · 2020s wave

Popularity over time

Kenji reached its best rank, #750, in 1978 and ranked #944 in 2025. Roughly 5,600 boys have been named Kenji since 1913.

Across the states

In recent years, Kenji ran about 8× its national rate in Hawaii.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 25 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Kenji ranks in other countries and regions.

#520 in Netherlands (2025) · #543 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,500 in Canada (2025) · #2,144 in Sweden (2025) · #2,269 in England & Wales (2025) · #4,866 in France (2025) · #1,385 in Belgium (2024) · #1,499 in Austria (2023) · #418 in New Zealand (2022).

Famous Kenjis

Kenji Mizoguchi — Japanese filmmaker (1898–1956)
Kenji Honnami — Japanese footballer (born 1964)
Kenji Tochio — Japanese footballer (born 1941)
Kenji Miyazawa — Japanese poet and author of children's literature (1896–1933)
Kenji Fukuda — Japanese footballer (born 1977)

In stories & tradition

Kenji Harima^es — School Rumble (manga)
Kenji Sakuragi — Dragon Zakura (manga)
Kenji — Red Earth (video game)

What Kenjis become

Among 1,025 notable people named Kenji:

Business leaders appear 2.75× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kenji Haga, Japanese entertainer and businessman (born 1961).

Similar names: Aizen · Kenzo · Benji · Jiraiya · Kannon · Kylin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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