Issei
Meaningoften one sincerity · Japanese
Issei is a Japanese boy name often meaning “one sincerity”. 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?
- Word funIssei starts and ends with the same letter, I. A neat little bookend.
- GenerationIssei peaked in 2019, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Issei you'd meet today is about 6 years old.
- HistoryIssei first shows up in US birth records in 2013, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
US births per million boys, 2013–2025
Similar names
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 Issei
Issei is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often one sincerity”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Issei
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 Issei
What does the name Issei mean?
Issei means “often one sincerity” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Makoto (“sincerity, truth”).
What is the origin of the name Issei?
Issei is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Issei a boy or girl name?
Issei is a boy name.
How popular is the name Issei?
Issei is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #8,215 in 2019, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Issei?
If you like Issei, you might also like Issey and Makoto. Issey is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Issei?
Issei is a Japanese boy name often meaning “one sincerity”. 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.