Hideki
Meaningoften excellent tree · Japanese
Hideki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “excellent tree”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Hideki would score 14 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationHideki peaked in 1974, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Hideki you'd meet today is about 51 years old.
- HistoryHideki first shows up in US birth records in 1974, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 51 years since.
US births per million boys, 1974–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Hideki
Hideki is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often excellent tree”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Hideki
What does the name Hideki mean?
Hideki means “often excellent tree” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Sterling (“genuine, excellent”), Aristeo (“the best, excellent”), Yu (“often gentle, excellent”) and Hideaki (“often excellent brightness”).
What is the origin of the name Hideki?
Hideki is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Hideki a boy or girl name?
Hideki is a boy name.
How popular is the name Hideki?
Hideki is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1982. It peaked at #3,558 in 1974, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Hideki?
If you like Hideki, you might also like Sterling, Aristeo, Yu and Hideaki.
What should I know before naming my baby Hideki?
Hideki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “excellent tree”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.