Shigemi
Of Japanese origin, meaning "keeping beauty" or "sustaining grace".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Shigemi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shigemi today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shigemi births was 1921 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shigemi. 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 Shigemi. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1921
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1921 SSA rank
#4,261
Tracked since 1921
Popularity
Shigemi: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shigemi 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 Shigemi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shigemi
The name Shigemi originated from Japan and is considered a masculine given name. It is derived from the Japanese words "shige," meaning "flourishing," and "mi," meaning "beautiful." The name can be interpreted as "flourishing beauty" or "prosperous elegance."
Historically, the name Shigemi was most prevalent during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan, particularly among the samurai class and aristocracy. It was a popular choice for naming sons, as it conveyed a sense of cultural refinement and prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shigemi can be found in the historical records of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan during the Edo period. Shigemi Naozane, a samurai and daimyo (feudal lord) who lived from 1586 to 1659, was a notable figure who bore this name.
In the realm of Japanese literature, the name Shigemi is associated with Shigemi Hirotaka, a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived during the late 18th century. His works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the transience of life, are considered masterpieces of the Edo period literary tradition.
Moving forward in time, Shigemi Katsuo (1907-1977) was a respected Japanese architect who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan's urban landscapes after World War II. His designs, which blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary architectural principles, have left a lasting impact on the country's architectural heritage.
Another notable figure with the name Shigemi was Shigemi Inagaki (1924-2005), a renowned Japanese film director and screenwriter. He was best known for his adaptations of classic Japanese literature, including his critically acclaimed film "The Rickshaw Man" (1958), which earned him international recognition.
Shigemi Kono (1938-2010) was a prominent Japanese painter and sculptor whose works explored themes of spirituality, nature, and the human condition. His unique style, which combined abstract and figurative elements, earned him numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Shigemi throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Japan.
People
Shigemi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shigemi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shigemi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shigemi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shigemi 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 - US residents.
Is Shigemi a common name?
We classify Shigemi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shigemi most popular?
The single biggest year for Shigemi was 1921, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shigemi is about 0 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 Shigemi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shigemi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shigemi 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 Shigemi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shigemi 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 Shigemi 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 many people share the name Shigemi?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.