Hisao
Meaningoften long-lived man · Japanese
Hisao is a Japanese boy name often meaning “long-lived man”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Hisao has the name Isa hiding inside it.
- GenerationHisao peaked in 1909, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryHisao first shows up in US birth records in 1909, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 116 years since.
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 Hisao
Hisao is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often long-lived man”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1900s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. 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 Hisao
What does the name Hisao mean?
Hisao means “often long-lived man” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Omar (“flourishing, long-lived”), Omari (“long-lived”), Ammar (“long-lived”) and Aamir (“prosperous, long-lived”).
What is the origin of the name Hisao?
Hisao is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Hisao a boy or girl name?
Hisao is a boy name.
How popular is the name Hisao?
Hisao is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1932. It peaked at #1,440 in 1909, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Hisao?
If you like Hisao, you might also like Omar, Omari, Ammar and Aamir.
What should I know before naming my baby Hisao?
Hisao is a Japanese boy name often meaning “long-lived man”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.