Mamoru
To protect or defend; a masculine Japanese name.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Mamoru. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mamoru today is around 100 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mamoru births was 1924 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mamoru. 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
- • The typical person named Mamoru is about 100 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mamorus were born before 1936.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mamoru. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1924
16 babies that year
Average age
100
years old
1937 SSA rank
#3,843
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Mamoru: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mamoru from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 116 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
Mamoru 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 Mamoru during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mamorus live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mamoru
The name Mamoru is a Japanese given name that originates from the verb "mamoru," which means "to protect" or "to guard" in the Japanese language. This name has been in use for centuries in Japan, reflecting the cultural values of loyalty, honor, and the duty to safeguard others.
The earliest known reference to the name Mamoru can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. During this era, the name was often given to samurai warriors who were expected to protect their lords and the people under their care. The name also appears in several ancient Japanese literary works, such as the Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), written in the early 11th century.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Mamoru was Mamoru Chiba, a renowned Japanese swordsman and samurai who lived during the Sengoku period (1467-1615 CE). He was known for his exceptional swordsmanship and unwavering loyalty to his lord, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Another prominent individual was Mamoru Fukushima (1835-1912), a Japanese military officer and statesman who played a crucial role in the modernization of Japan's armed forces during the Meiji Restoration.
In the realm of literature, Mamoru Kaoru (1658-1704) was a celebrated Japanese poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the development of the haiku form. His works are still widely read and studied today. Additionally, Mamoru Shigemitsu (1887-1957) was a Japanese diplomat who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs during the final years of World War II.
Moving into more recent history, Mamoru Mohri (1912-1992) was a highly respected Japanese ceramic artist and Living National Treasure of Japan, renowned for his innovative techniques and designs. Mamoru Hosoda (born 1967) is a contemporary Japanese film director and animator, best known for his critically acclaimed animated films such as "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" and "Wolf Children."
Throughout its long history, the name Mamoru has consistently embodied the ideals of protection, loyalty, and honor, making it a popular choice for parents seeking to imbue these qualities in their children. Its enduring presence in Japanese culture reflects the deep-rooted traditions and values that have shaped the nation over centuries.
People
Mamoru + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mamoru as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mamoru: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mamoru?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mamoru 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Mamoru a common name?
We classify Mamoru as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 182 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mamoru most popular?
The single biggest year for Mamoru was 1924, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mamoru is about 100 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mamoru a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mamoru 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.