Genji
A masculine Japanese name meaning "source, origin, or beginning".
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Genji. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Genji today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genji births was 2018 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genji. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Genji. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2018
5 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,984
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Genji: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Genji from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Genji by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Genji during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Genji
The name Genji originates from Japanese culture and has its roots in the classical Japanese period, spanning the Nara (710-794 AD) and Heian (794-1185 AD) eras. It is believed to be derived from the Old Japanese word "gen," meaning "source" or "origin," and "ji," which can mean "second son" or "child."
One of the earliest and most renowned references to the name Genji comes from the 11th century classic Japanese novel "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu. This iconic work of literature follows the life and romantic exploits of the fictional Prince Genji, the son of an emperor and a low-ranking concubine.
In the 12th century, a prominent historical figure named Minamoto no Genji lived during the late Heian period. He was a powerful military commander and a member of the illustrious Minamoto clan, playing a significant role in the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans.
Another noteworthy figure with the name Genji was Genji Monogatari, a 15th-century Japanese waka poet and nobleman. He was a member of the prestigious Fujiwara clan and is known for his contributions to the development of Japanese poetry.
In the realm of Japanese theatre, Genji Monogatari also lent his name to a popular Noh play from the 15th century, which dramatized scenes from the classic novel "The Tale of Genji."
Moving into more recent history, Genji Hashimoto was a Japanese politician and statesman who served as the 37th Prime Minister of Japan from 1936 to 1937. He was born in 1881 and played a crucial role in Japan's military and political affairs during the turbulent years leading up to World War II.
These examples illustrate the rich historical significance and cultural resonance of the name Genji within Japanese tradition, spanning literature, theatre, politics, and warfare over several centuries.
People
Genji + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genji as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Genji: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genji?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genji going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Genji a common name?
We classify Genji as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genji most popular?
The single biggest year for Genji was 2018, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genji is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Genji in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Genji a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genji in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Genji still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Genji in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Genji can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Genji as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Genji on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.