Kenji

At a Glance: Name: Kenji – Meaning: commonly 'healthy/wise second son' (varies by kanji chosen) – Origin: Japanese – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: KEN-jee

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Kenji is a Japanese boy's name, pronounced KEN-jee. It's commonly said to mean 'healthy' or 'wise second son,' though the precise meaning shifts depending on which kanji characters are used to write it. SSA records for the name go back to 1913, giving it over a century of documented use in the U.S.

Meaning & Origin of Kenji

Meaning: Commonly 'healthy/wise second son' (varies by kanji chosen).

Origin: Japanese.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kenji

Phonetic: KEN-jee   IPA: /ˈkɛndʒi/

Popularity of Kenji

Kenji hit its highest point in 1978, ranking #751 with 128 boys given the name that year. By 2024 the count had grown to 283, even as the rank slipped to #855, based on Social Security data spanning 1913 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1913–2024.

Make Kenji Name Art

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

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Akio
• Daiki
• Kazuki
• Kenzo
• Ryu
• Shun

FAQ

What does the name Kenji mean?

Commonly ‘healthy/wise second son’ (varies by kanji chosen). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kenji)

How do you pronounce Kenji?

Kenji is pronounced KEN-jee (IPA: /ˈkɛndʒi/).

Is Kenji a popular name right now?

Kenji is near its all-time peak (#751 in 1978), ranked #855 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1913–2024.)

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