Genki
A Japanese name meaning energetic, lively, or vigorous in nature.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Genki. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Genki today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Genki births was 1994 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Genki. 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 Genki. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1994
5 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
1994 SSA rank
#9,302
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Genki: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Genki 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 Genki during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Genki
The name Genki is of Japanese origin and is commonly used as a given name. It is a relatively modern name, having gained popularity in the 20th century. The name is derived from the Japanese word "genki," which means "lively," "energetic," or "vigorous."
Genki is a gender-neutral name, though it is more commonly used for boys than girls. The name is believed to have been popularized in Japan during the post-World War II era, when the country was rebuilding and embracing a spirit of energy and vitality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Genki being used as a given name was in the late 19th century. Genki Nagai, a Japanese politician and educator, was born in 1870 and played a significant role in the modernization of Japan's education system.
In the 20th century, several notable individuals bore the name Genki. Genki Sudo, a Japanese mixed martial artist, and professional wrestler, was born in 1978 and gained fame for his flamboyant persona and innovative fighting style.
Genki Haraguchi, a Japanese footballer, was born in 1991 and has represented his country in international competitions, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Genki Kawamura, a Japanese voice actor and singer, was born in 1995 and is known for his work in anime series and video games, including the popular franchise "Persona."
Genki Omae, a Japanese professional wrestler, was born in 1977 and has performed for various promotions, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling.
While the name Genki is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its meaning and association with liveliness and energy have resonated with Japanese parents seeking to instill positive qualities in their children through their names.
People
Genki + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Genki 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
Genki: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Genki?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Genki 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Genki a common name?
We classify Genki as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Genki most popular?
The single biggest year for Genki was 1994, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Genki is about 31 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 Genki in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Genki a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Genki 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 Genki still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Genki 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 Genki 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 common is the name Genki?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.