Kenji Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kenji is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kenji?
Kenji is spelled K-E-N-J-I. The name has 5 letters.
Kenji at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Kenji is a Japanese name often composed of kanji characters that may mean “wise” or “health” for Ken and “second” or “rule” for Ji, depending…
- Origin
- Kenji is commonly associated with Japanese naming traditions where multiple kanji combinations produce different meanings.
- Pronunciation
- KEN-jee · 2 syllables
Kenji Popularity in 2025
Rank#943
Recorded Births249
- Boys usage fell 89 places to #943 and recorded 35 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Kenji Mean?
Kenji is a Japanese name often composed of kanji characters that may mean “wise” or “health” for Ken and “second” or “rule” for Ji, depending on the characters used.
Origin: Kenji is commonly associated with Japanese naming traditions where multiple kanji combinations produce different meanings.
How Do You Pronounce Kenji?
PronunciationKEN-jee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Kenji?
- History
- Kenji has been used as a given name in Japan and appears in various Japanese historical and literary contexts.
Kenji Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 249 | #943 |
| 2024 | Boys | 284 | #854 |
| 2023 | Boys | 296 | #827 |
| 2022 | Boys | 337 | #754 |
| 2021 | Boys | 281 | #845 |
| 2020 | Boys | 245 | #910 |
| 2019 | Boys | 156 | #1,218 |
| 2018 | Boys | 141 | #1,294 |
| 2017 | Boys | 137 | #1,314 |
| 2016 | Boys | 125 | #1,399 |
| 2015 | Boys | 122 | #1,406 |
| 2014 | Boys | 96 | #1,619 |
| 2013 | Boys | 125 | #1,352 |
| 2012 | Boys | 124 | #1,359 |
| 2011 | Boys | 147 | #1,198 |
| 2010 | Boys | 119 | #1,399 |
| 2009 | Girls | 7 | #13,704 |
| 2009 | Boys | 159 | #1,148 |
| 2008 | Boys | 145 | #1,211 |
| 2007 | Boys | 108 | #1,477 |
| 2006 | Boys | 99 | #1,519 |
| 2005 | Boys | 75 | #1,752 |
| 2004 | Boys | 60 | #1,989 |
| 2003 | Boys | 60 | #1,936 |
When Was Kenji Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2022 · Boys
337 recorded births
National rank #754
2023 · Boys
296 recorded births
National rank #827
2024 · Boys
284 recorded births
National rank #854
2021 · Boys
281 recorded births
National rank #845
Where Kenji Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| HI | #126 | 8 |
| NV | #443 | 6 |
| WI | #484 | 10 |
| WA | #576 | 12 |
| CA | #582 | 51 |
| MA | #620 | 7 |
| SC | #668 | 6 |
| MO | #709 | 7 |