Shota
Meaningoften soaring, great · Japanese
Shota is a Japanese boy name often meaning “soaring, great”. 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?
- GenerationShota peaked in 1993, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Shota you'd meet today is about 32 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Shota would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 344,828 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryShota first shows up in US birth records in 1988, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 37 years since.
US births per million boys, 1988–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shota
Shota is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often soaring, great”. 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 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 Shota
What does the name Shota mean?
Shota means “often soaring, great” 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 Sho (“often soaring”).
What is the origin of the name Shota?
Shota is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Shota a boy or girl name?
Shota is a boy name. In 2025, 5 US boys were named Shota.
How popular is the name Shota?
Shota ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1993, when it reached #4,020.
What names are similar to Shota?
If you like Shota, you might also like Kaito, Haruto, Shohei and Sho.
What should I know before naming my baby Shota?
Shota is a Japanese boy name often meaning “soaring, great”. 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.