Sho
Meaningoften soaring · Japanese
Sho is a Japanese boy name often meaning “soaring”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationSho peaked in 1990, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Sho you'd meet today is about 35 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Shos too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Sho would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 212,766 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistorySho 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
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Sho
Sho is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often soaring”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 1990s, 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 Sho
What does the name Sho mean?
Sho means “often soaring” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Kaito (“often sea, soaring”), Haruto (“often sun, soaring”), Shohei (“often soaring peace”) and Shota (“often soaring, great”).
What is the origin of the name Sho?
Sho is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Sho a boy or girl name?
Sho is a boy name. In 2025, 8 US boys were named Sho.
How popular is the name Sho?
Sho ranked #8,910 for US boys in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1990, when it reached #3,058.
What names are similar to Sho?
If you like Sho, you might also like Kaito, Haruto, Shohei and Shota.
What should I know before naming my baby Sho?
Sho is a Japanese boy name often meaning “soaring”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.