Shiho
Meaningoften will and sail · Japanese
Shiho is a Japanese girl name often meaning “will and sail”. 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?
- GenerationShiho peaked in 1995, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Shiho you'd meet today is about 30 years old.
- HistoryShiho first shows up in US birth records in 1995, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 30 years since.
US births per million girls, 1995–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shiho
Shiho is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often will and sail”. 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
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Shiho
What does the name Shiho mean?
Shiho means “often will and sail” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Josephine (“he will add”), Josie (“he will add”), Jose (“he will add”) and Joey (“God will add”).
What is the origin of the name Shiho?
Shiho is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Shiho a boy or girl name?
Shiho is a girl name.
How popular is the name Shiho?
Shiho is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2014. It peaked at #13,386 in 1995, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Shiho?
If you like Shiho, you might also like Josephine, Josie, Jose and Joey.
What should I know before naming my baby Shiho?
Shiho is a Japanese girl name often meaning “will and sail”. 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.