Kenjiro
Meaningoften strong second son · Japanese
Kenjiro is a Japanese boy name often meaning “strong 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Kenjiro has the name Kenji hiding inside it.
- Word funKenjiro doesn't repeat a single letter: 7 letters, all different.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Kenjiro would score 18 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationKenjiro peaked in 1991, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Kenjiro you'd meet today is about 34 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Kenjiros too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kenjiro would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 344,828 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKenjiro first shows up in US birth records in 1991, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 34 years since.
US births per million boys, 1991–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kenjiro
Kenjiro is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often strong second son”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. 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
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 Kenjiro
What does the name Kenjiro mean?
Kenjiro means “often strong second son” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “strong” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Griffin (“strong lord”), Bryan (“possibly noble, strong”), Brian (“possibly noble, strong”) and Valentino (“strong, healthy”).
What is the origin of the name Kenjiro?
Kenjiro is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Kenjiro a boy or girl name?
Kenjiro is a boy name. In 2025, 5 US boys were named Kenjiro.
How popular is the name Kenjiro?
Kenjiro ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it reached #8,236.
What names are similar to Kenjiro?
If you like Kenjiro, you might also like Griffin, Bryan, Brian and Valentino.
What should I know before naming my baby Kenjiro?
Kenjiro is a Japanese boy name often meaning “strong 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 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.