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Why parents love Kenji- Kenji IS one of Japan's most popular names.
- The meaning strong/wise second IS uniquely Japanese.
- Turning Red's Kenji IS Pixar's most charming.
- Two syllables with a sharp, Japanese sound: KEN-jee.
- Ken (strong) is directly embedded.
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The vibe of Kenji
strong second sonwise secondJapanesekenjipopularTurning RedPixarcharmingsharp
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Origin & history of Kenji
Japanese ken (strong/wise) + ji (second son)
→ Kenji
1
Japanese roots
Kenji means strong second son — one of Japan's most popular. Turning Red's Kenji IS Pixar's most charming.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Japanese tradition; Turning Red (2022).
3
Today
Kenji remains a beloved choice, ranking #1085 in the US. 5,406 babies have been named Kenji since 1913.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Kenji?
2022
peak year
Today, Kenji is rarely chosen — ranked well outside the top 1,000 (around #1085), with only about 212 babies given the name per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 2022, 336 babies were given the name (ranked #755 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 2020s. Kenji has been trending upward in recent years. In all, around 5,406 babies have been registered as Kenji since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
336
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #755)
(ranked #755)
212
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
2,120
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
5,406
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Kenji4
Life path number
The Builder
Discipline, reliability and masterful building.
Kenji's Life Path 5 is the adventurer's number — strong-second adventure. People named Kenji tend to be sharp, charming, and gifted at being Japan's most popular strong-second.
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Japan's most popular strong-second✦
Ken-wise◈
Turning-Red◎
Pixar-charming♡
Sharp JapaneseK2
E5
N5
J1
I9
Sum: 22 → Life path 4
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Personality of Kenji🏛️
Steady & reliable
When they make a promise, they keep it.
📐
Methodical
Thorough, careful, precise.
💪
Quietly powerful
Their strength is always there when it matters.
🌿
Grounded
No matter what swirls around them, they stay centred.
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Famous people named KenjiClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Kenji, you may also love◎
Names that sound like KenjiIf you love Kenji, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with KenjiSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Kenji.
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Middle names for KenjiThe right middle name turns Kenji into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Kenji? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Kenji →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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