Ronin Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Ronin is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Ronin?
Ronin is spelled R-O-N-I-N. The name has 5 letters.
Ronin at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The Japanese word “ronin” literally means “wave man” or “drifter.”
- Origin
- The term is used in feudal Japan to describe samurai warriors who were masterless due to the death or fall of their lord or loss of favor.
- Pronunciation
- ROH-nin · 2 syllables
Ronin Popularity in 2025
Rank#6,546
Recorded Births17
Rank#504
Recorded Births600
- Girls usage rose 1,421 places to #6,546 and recorded 4 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 9 places to #504 and recorded 24 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 Ronin Mean?
The Japanese word “ronin” literally means “wave man” or “drifter.”
Origin: The term is used in feudal Japan to describe samurai warriors who were masterless due to the death or fall of their lord or loss of favor.
How Do You Pronounce Ronin?
PronunciationROH-nin
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Ronin?
- History
- Ronin were samurai who became masterless during Japan's feudal period, particularly in the Edo period, often living without steady employment or social standing.
Ronin Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 17 | #6,546 |
| 2025 | Boys | 600 | #504 |
| 2024 | Girls | 13 | #7,967 |
| 2024 | Boys | 624 | #495 |
| 2023 | Girls | 7 | #12,197 |
| 2023 | Boys | 641 | #474 |
| 2022 | Girls | 17 | #6,707 |
| 2022 | Boys | 758 | #422 |
| 2021 | Girls | 22 | #5,573 |
| 2021 | Boys | 710 | #438 |
| 2020 | Girls | 23 | #5,314 |
| 2020 | Boys | 790 | #390 |
| 2019 | Girls | 19 | #6,176 |
| 2019 | Boys | 650 | #461 |
| 2018 | Girls | 17 | #6,792 |
| 2018 | Boys | 656 | #455 |
| 2017 | Girls | 15 | #7,442 |
| 2017 | Boys | 563 | #514 |
| 2016 | Girls | 11 | #9,411 |
| 2016 | Boys | 590 | #508 |
| 2015 | Girls | 8 | #11,835 |
| 2015 | Boys | 606 | #486 |
| 2014 | Girls | 9 | #10,955 |
| 2014 | Boys | 497 | #555 |
When Was Ronin 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.
2020 · Boys
790 recorded births
National rank #390
2022 · Boys
758 recorded births
National rank #422
2021 · Boys
710 recorded births
National rank #438
2018 · Boys
656 recorded births
National rank #455
Where Ronin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AK | #110 | 7 |
| HI | #214 | 5 |
| NE | #266 | 9 |
| ID | #282 | 9 |
| UT | #288 | 17 |
| CT | #296 | 10 |
| MO | #302 | 22 |
| OR | #312 | 13 |