Yuji
Meaningoften heroic second son · Japanese
Yuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “heroic second 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, Yuji would score 14 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationYuji peaked in 1982, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Yuji you'd meet today is about 43 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Yujis too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Yuji would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 131,579 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryYuji first shows up in US birth records in 1972, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 53 years since.
US births per million boys, 1972–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yuji
Yuji is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often heroic second son”. 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 1980s, 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 Yuji
What does the name Yuji mean?
Yuji means “often heroic second son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Yudai (“often heroic and great”), Yuhei (“often heroic peace”), Yuichi (“often heroic first son”) and Yuichiro (“often heroic first son”).
What is the origin of the name Yuji?
Yuji is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Yuji a boy or girl name?
Yuji is a boy name. In 2025, 13 US boys were named Yuji.
How popular is the name Yuji?
Yuji ranked #6,446 for US boys in 2025, given to 13 babies. Its best year was 1982, when it reached #4,593.
What names are similar to Yuji?
If you like Yuji, you might also like Yudai, Yuhei, Yuichi and Yuichiro.
What should I know before naming my baby Yuji?
Yuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “heroic second 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.