Jiro
Meaningsecond son · Japanese
Jiro is a Japanese boy name meaning “second son”. 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?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Jiro would score 11 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationJiro peaked in 1918, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Jiro would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 344,828 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryJiro first shows up in US birth records in 1913, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 112 years since.
US births per million boys, 1913–2025
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 Jiro
Jiro is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “second son”. 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 1910s, 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 Jiro
What does the name Jiro mean?
Jiro means “second son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Kenji (“often strong second son”), Advait (“without a second, unique”), Kato (“second-born twin”) and Koji (“often bright second son”).
What is the origin of the name Jiro?
Jiro is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Jiro a boy or girl name?
Jiro is a boy name. In 2025, 5 US boys were named Jiro.
How popular is the name Jiro?
Jiro ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1918, when it reached #1,596. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,403 places.
What names are similar to Jiro?
If you like Jiro, you might also like Kenji, Advait, Kato and Koji.
What should I know before naming my baby Jiro?
Jiro is a Japanese boy name meaning “second son”. 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.