Find out how popular the first name Kentaro has been for the last 46 years (from 1974 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kentaro by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Kentaro is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kentaro.

The history of the first name Kentaro

Kentaro is a masculine Japanese given name with roots dating back to the 8th century. The name is derived from the Japanese words "ken" meaning "healthy" or "vigorous", and "taro" being a generic suffix used in Japanese masculine names. Originating in Japan, the name gained popularity during the early Heian period between the years 794-1185 AD.

One of the earliest known records of the name Kentaro appears in the Kojiki, an ancient chronicle of Japanese history dating back to 712 AD. The Kojiki mentions a prince named Kentaro who was the son of Emperor Ojin, making him part of the imperial family line during the 4th century.

In medieval Japanese literature, the name Kentaro is found in the epic tale of the Heike Monogatari from the late 12th century. This famous work details the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans, and includes a minor character bearing the name Kentaro.

Throughout Japanese history, there have been several notable individuals carrying the given name Kentaro. One of the earliest was Kentaro Hayashi (1786-1859), a prominent Confucian scholar and educator who helped establish the Shoheiko school in Edo (modern-day Tokyo).

Another famous Kentaro was Kentaro Kaneko (1853-1942), a pioneering Japanese chemist and one of the founders of the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He made significant contributions to the field of industrial chemistry and played a key role in developing Japan's modern chemical industry.

In the realm of Japanese politics, Kentaro Suzuki (1868-1948) was a prominent statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1944 to 1945, during the final months of World War II. He advocated for peace negotiations with the Allied Powers and ultimately authorized Japan's surrender following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The name Kentaro has also been associated with notable figures in Japanese arts and culture. Kentaro Miura (1966-2021) was a renowned manga artist best known for his dark fantasy series Berserk, which has gained a cult following worldwide.

Lastly, Kentaro Matsumoto (born 1986) is a contemporary Japanese professional wrestler currently signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He has won numerous championships and is regarded as one of the top talents in the promotion.

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 Kentaro was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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