Kenji

Kenji - A very unique male name

Kenji appeared on the charts for the first time in 1914 on position #1408. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kenji and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kenji? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kenji. The baby boy name Kenji was given to 199 baby boys in 2025, ranking #950 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,368 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kenji peaked in popularity 48 years ago in 1978 on position 756.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kenji, 1-5?

Kenji is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kenji is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #135 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,836.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kenji is where you live.

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Kenji origin and meaning

Japanese

A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used — a common reading combines 'healthy, strong' with 'second (son)'

Kenji is a classic Japanese boy's name, traditionally given to a second son, with the exact meaning set by the characters chosen to write it. It has appeared in the US data since 1914, reflecting Japanese-American families, and in recent decades also wider interest in Japanese culture. Its numbers have been fairly steady, peaking most recently in 2022.

Attested etymology

Kenji is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kenji, pop culture references for the name Kenji and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kenji

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kenji, sorted by popularity.

King / Knox / Kenzo / Kyng / Kong / Khang / Kinnick / Kamazi / Keng / Kenichi /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kenji

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kenji a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kenji?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KEN-jee · /ˈkɛndʒi/

Around the world

• Kenji (Japanese) — The original form, written with kanji chosen by the family

Spellings and nicknames

• Kenzi — A rare phonetic respelling in English

Nicknames: Ken

Famous bearers

• Kenji Miyazawa — Japanese poet and author of Night on the Galactic Railroad (1896–1933) Historical

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Kenji for its clean, friendly sound and its straightforward Japanese identity. It travels well — two syllables, no difficult sounds for English speakers.

Worth knowing

• Outside Japanese families, people may assume a Japanese heritage connection
• Can be confused with Kenzie or Benji at a glance