Chihiro Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Chihiro – Meaning: often interpreted as 'thousand fathoms' (from kanji 千尋, 'thousand' + a depth/span unit), but no single meaning is fixed since the kanji vary by bearer – Origin: Japanese (given name typically written in hiragana ちひろ) – Gender: primarily used for girls – Pronunciation: chee-HEE-roh

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Chihiro is a Japanese given name that's typically written in hiragana, as ちひろ, rather than with fixed kanji. You may have heard it explained through Spirited Away as combining 'thousand' with a word for searching or fathoming, often glossed as 'a thousand questions' or 'thousand fathoms' — but that meaning comes from one specific kanji spelling chosen for the film. Since most people named Chihiro use hiragana, the name itself doesn't come with one set meaning attached.

Meaning & Origin of Chihiro

Meaning: Often interpreted as 'thousand fathoms' (from kanji 千尋, 'thousand' + a depth/span unit), but no single meaning is fixed since the kanji vary by bearer.

Origin: Japanese (given name typically written in hiragana ちひろ).

A common claim: Popularized by the film Spirited Away, where the name is explained as combining 'thousand' and a word for searching/fathoming, often glossed as 'a thousand questions' or 'thousand fathoms' Actually: That gloss reflects one specific kanji choice (千尋) used in the film; since Chihiro is usually written in hiragana, it doesn't have one single fixed meaning.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Chihiro

Phonetic: chee-HEE-roh   IPA: /ʧɪˈhiːroʊ/

Popularity of Chihiro

Social Security data from 1989 to 2022 shows Chihiro peaked at rank #8621 in 2007, when 14 babies were given the name, before falling to rank #13961 in 2022 with just 6.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1989–2022.

Make Chihiro Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Chihiro, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

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FAQ

What does the name Chihiro mean?

Often interpreted as ‘thousand fathoms’ (from kanji 千尋, ‘thousand’ + a depth/span unit), but no single meaning is fixed since the kanji vary by bearer. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Chihiro)

How do you pronounce Chihiro?

Chihiro is pronounced chee-HEE-roh (IPA: /ʧɪˈhiːroʊ/).

Is Chihiro a popular name right now?

Chihiro peaked at #8621 in 2007 and is ranked #13961 as of 2022. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1989–2022.)

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