Shoji
A Japanese masculine name meaning "hereditary samurai warden" or "doorkeeper".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Shoji. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shoji today is around 90 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shoji births was 1927 (81 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shoji. 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 Shoji is about 90 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Shojis were born before 1946.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shoji. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1927
81 babies that year
Average age
90
years old
1945 SSA rank
#3,716
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Shoji: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shoji from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 108 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
Shoji 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 Shoji during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shojis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Hawaii, California, Washington recorded the most babies named Shoji, while Washington, California, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 29 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shoji
The name Shoji is of Japanese origin, derived from the combination of two kanji characters: 'sho' meaning 'to prolong' or 'long-lasting', and 'ji' meaning 'son' or 'samurai'. The name's origins can be traced back to the 7th century, during the Nara period in Japan.
Historically, Shoji was a popular name among the samurai class, as it symbolized the desire for their lineage to endure and prosper. In some ancient Japanese texts, the name is mentioned in connection with legendary warriors and their heroic deeds, further solidifying its association with bravery and honor.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Shoji was Shoji Naozane, a renowned 12th-century samurai and military commander who played a pivotal role in the Genpei War between the Minamoto and Taira clans. His loyalty and strategic brilliance were celebrated in numerous medieval chronicles.
In the 16th century, Shoji Kakei, a skilled swordsmith, gained renown for crafting exquisite katanas for the samurai elite. His blades were renowned for their exceptional quality and artistic beauty, and many of his works are now preserved in museums as national treasures.
During the Edo period (1603-1867), Shoji Jingo, a prominent Confucian scholar and philosopher, made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time. His writings on ethics, governance, and social harmony influenced generations of scholars and leaders.
In more recent history, Shoji Natsuko (1886-1973) was a pioneering Japanese feminist and activist who fought tirelessly for women's rights and gender equality. Her advocacy efforts and writings played a crucial role in the women's liberation movement in Japan.
Shoji Masayuki (1915-1982) was a celebrated Japanese artist renowned for his intricate wood block prints depicting traditional Japanese landscapes and scenes from daily life. His works are celebrated for their technical mastery and ability to capture the essence of Japanese culture and aesthetics.
The name Shoji has a rich historical legacy, deeply rooted in the cultural and societal fabric of Japan. Its enduring popularity over the centuries serves as a testament to the name's symbolic significance and the profound impact of its bearers on various aspects of Japanese history and culture.
People
Shoji + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shoji 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
Shoji: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shoji?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shoji 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 Shoji a common name?
We classify Shoji 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, 134 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shoji most popular?
The single biggest year for Shoji was 1927, when 81 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shoji is about 90 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shoji a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shoji 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.