Keiji
Meaningoften respectful second son · Japanese
Keiji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “respectful 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, Keiji would score 16 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationKeiji peaked in 1923, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Keijis too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Keiji would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 285,714 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKeiji first shows up in US birth records in 1923, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 102 years since.
US births per million boys, 1923–2025
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 Keiji
Keiji is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often respectful 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 1920s, 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 Keiji
What does the name Keiji mean?
Keiji means “often respectful second son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Keigo (“often respectful”), Keiichi (“often respectful first son”), Keiichiro (“often respectful first son”) and Keisuke (“often respectful helper”).
What is the origin of the name Keiji?
Keiji is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Keiji a boy or girl name?
Keiji is a boy name. In 2025, 6 US boys were named Keiji.
How popular is the name Keiji?
Keiji ranked #10,695 for US boys in 2025, given to 6 babies. Its best year was 1923, when it reached #3,175. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,141 places.
What names are similar to Keiji?
If you like Keiji, you might also like Keigo, Keiichi, Keiichiro and Keisuke.
What should I know before naming my baby Keiji?
Keiji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “respectful 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.