Shinji
Meaningoften true second son · Japanese
Shinji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “true 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 simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shinji would score 16 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationShinji peaked in 1987, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Shinji you'd meet today is about 38 years old.
- HistoryShinji first shows up in US birth records in 1987, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 38 years since.
US births per million boys, 1987–2025
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 Shinji
Shinji is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often true second son”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1980s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. 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 Shinji
What does the name Shinji mean?
Shinji means “often true 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 Shinji?
Shinji is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Shinji a boy or girl name?
Shinji is a boy name.
How popular is the name Shinji?
Shinji is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2013. It peaked at #6,951 in 1987, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Shinji?
If you like Shinji, you might also like Kenji, Advait, Kato and Koji.
What should I know before naming my baby Shinji?
Shinji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “true 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 simple to spell and say, 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.