Hiroshi
Masculine Japanese name meaning "generous," "tolerant," or "prosperous".
Name Census estimates that about 529 living Americans carry the first name Hiroshi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hiroshi today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hiroshi births was 1924 (81 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hiroshi. 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.
People living today
529
~ 1 in 647,929 Americans
Peak year
1924
81 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,931
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Hiroshi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hiroshi from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 611 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hiroshi 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 Hiroshi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hiroshis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Hawaii, Washington recorded the most babies named Hiroshi, while Texas, Washington, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 245 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hiroshi
The name Hiroshi is of Japanese origin, derived from the words "hiro" meaning "generous" or "tolerant" and "shi" meaning "person" or "warrior." It is a masculine name that has been in use for centuries in Japan.
The earliest recorded use of the name Hiroshi dates back to the 8th century, during the Nara period of Japanese history. It was a popular name among the samurai warrior class, as it embodied the virtues of generosity and honor that were highly valued in their code of conduct.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Hiroshi was Hiroshi no Michinaga, a powerful nobleman and courtier who lived during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). He served as a regent and played a significant role in the governance of Japan during his time.
In the 12th century, Hiroshi Taka no Tsunemori was a renowned samurai and military leader who fought in the Gempei War, a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan. His bravery and leadership skills were celebrated in various historical accounts of the time.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), Hiroshi Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and powerful figures in Japanese history.
In more recent times, Hiroshi Yamauchi (1927-2013) was the third president of Nintendo, the renowned video game company. Under his leadership, Nintendo achieved global success with iconic franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon.
Another notable figure was Hiroshi Inagaki (1905-1980), a celebrated Japanese film director known for his samurai films, including the acclaimed "Samurai Trilogy" featuring Toshiro Mifune in the lead role.
Throughout its history, the name Hiroshi has been associated with qualities such as generosity, honor, courage, and leadership, reflecting the cultural values of Japan. It has been borne by prominent individuals across various fields, from politics and warfare to business and entertainment.
People
Hiroshi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hiroshi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hiroshi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hiroshi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 529 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hiroshi 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 647,929 US residents.
Is Hiroshi a common name?
We classify Hiroshi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,558 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hiroshi most popular?
The single biggest year for Hiroshi was 1924, when 81 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hiroshi is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hiroshi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hiroshi 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.
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.