Shozo
Meaningoften righteous third son · Japanese
Shozo is a Japanese boy name often meaning “righteous third 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 easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shozo would score 17 points, thanks largely to the Z (worth 10).
- GenerationShozo peaked in 1914, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryShozo first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shozo
Shozo is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often righteous third son”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1910s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. 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 Shozo
What does the name Shozo mean?
Shozo means “often righteous third son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Saleh (“righteous, virtuous”), Salih (“righteous, virtuous”), Tadashi (“often correct, righteous”) and Kapono (“the righteous one”).
What is the origin of the name Shozo?
Shozo is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Shozo a boy or girl name?
Shozo is a boy name.
How popular is the name Shozo?
Shozo is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1928. It peaked at #2,271 in 1914, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Shozo?
If you like Shozo, you might also like Saleh, Salih, Tadashi and Kapono.
What should I know before naming my baby Shozo?
Shozo is a Japanese boy name often meaning “righteous third 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 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.