Tadashi
Meaningoften correct, righteous · Japanese
Tadashi is a Japanese boy name often meaning “correct, righteous”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Tadashi has the name Ada hiding inside it.
- GenerationTadashi peaked in 1917, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Tadashi would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 156,250 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryTadashi first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
US births per million boys, 1912–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Tadashi
Tadashi is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often correct, righteous”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. 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 Tadashi
What does the name Tadashi mean?
Tadashi means “often correct, righteous” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Saleh (“righteous, virtuous”), Salih (“righteous, virtuous”), Kapono (“the righteous one”) and Masato (“often righteous person”).
What is the origin of the name Tadashi?
Tadashi is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Tadashi a boy or girl name?
Tadashi is a boy name. In 2025, 11 US boys were named Tadashi.
How popular is the name Tadashi?
Tadashi ranked #7,194 for US boys in 2025, given to 11 babies. Its best year was 1917, when it reached #1,152. Over the last five years it has slipped 2,339 places.
What names are similar to Tadashi?
If you like Tadashi, you might also like Saleh, Salih, Kapono and Masato.
What should I know before naming my baby Tadashi?
Tadashi is a Japanese boy name often meaning “correct, righteous”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.