Find out how popular the first name Jiraiya has been for the last 17 years (from 2007 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jiraiya by gender

Based on the last 17 years of data, Jiraiya is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 95% of people named Jiraiya being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 357 male babies and 16 female babies born with the name Jiraiya.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 16 baby girls were named Jiraiya in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Jiraiya

The name Jiraiya is of Japanese origin, originating from the Japanese language. It is a compound word derived from the words "jiraya" and "ya". The word "jiraya" is believed to be derived from the Japanese term "gama" meaning "toad", while "ya" is a common suffix used in Japanese names.

The earliest known reference to the name Jiraiya can be found in the classic Japanese novel "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya" written in the early 19th century. In this novel, Jiraiya is the name of a ninja skilled in magic and toad-related techniques. This literary character was likely inspired by the legendary Mount Myobu folklore, where tales of a ninja named Jiraiya were passed down orally for generations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jiraiya was Jiraiya Gozen, a 14th-century Japanese samurai and poet. He was known for his skill in battle and his appreciation for the arts, particularly his contributions to the development of the renga (linked verse) poetic form.

In the 16th century, Jiraiya Masayuki was a notable figure in the Sengoku period of Japan. He was a skilled strategist and military commander who served under the renowned warlord Oda Nobunaga.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), Jiraiya Anko was a famous Kabuki actor and playwright. His works were instrumental in popularizing the art form and introducing new themes and styles to the Kabuki stage.

In more recent history, Jiraiya Tsuneo (1904-1962) was a prominent Japanese businessman and industrialist. He founded the Jiraiya Group, a conglomerate with interests in various sectors, including manufacturing and real estate.

Another notable figure with the name Jiraiya was Jiraiya Goke (1920-2005), a renowned Japanese calligrapher and artist. His works were widely acclaimed for their unique style and mastery of the art form.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jiraiya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jiraiya, please contact us.

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