Taiyo
Meaningsun · Japanese
Taiyo is a Japanese boy name meaning “sun”. 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?
- GenerationTaiyo peaked in 2008, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Taiyo you'd meet today is about 17 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Taiyo would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 113,636 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryTaiyo first shows up in US birth records in 1997, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 28 years since.
US births per million boys, 1997–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Taiyo
Taiyo is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “sun”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Taiyo
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 Taiyo
What does the name Taiyo mean?
Taiyo means “sun” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “sun” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Elian (“possibly of the sun”), Cyrus (“possibly sun”), Elio (“sun”) and Samson (“of the sun”).
What is the origin of the name Taiyo?
Taiyo is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Taiyo a boy or girl name?
Taiyo is a boy name. In 2025, 15 US boys were named Taiyo.
How popular is the name Taiyo?
Taiyo ranked #5,861 for US boys in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 2008, when it reached #5,487. Over the last five years it has climbed 2,878 places.
What names are similar to Taiyo?
If you like Taiyo, you might also like Taio, Elian, Cyrus, Elio and Samson. Taio is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Taiyo?
Taiyo is a Japanese boy name meaning “sun”. 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.