Teppei
A masculine Japanese name meaning "a warrior walking the path in peace".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Teppei. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Teppei today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Teppei births was 1985 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Teppei. 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 Teppei. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1985
5 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
1985 SSA rank
#7,480
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Teppei: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Teppei 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 Teppei during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Teppei
Teppei is a masculine Japanese given name with a rich cultural heritage. Its origins can be traced back to the Edo period in Japan, spanning from the 17th to the 19th century. The name is derived from the Japanese words "te" meaning "hand" and "ppei" meaning "soldier" or "warrior," essentially translating to "soldier of the hand" or "warrior of the hand."
The name's roots are deeply embedded in the samurai culture of ancient Japan. During the Edo period, the samurai class played a pivotal role in the country's social and political structure. The name Teppei may have been bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional skill or prowess in hand-to-hand combat or swordsmanship.
Historical records reveal that the name Teppei was not commonly used until the late Edo period and the subsequent Meiji era (1868-1912). One of the earliest known individuals bearing this name was Teppei Nakamura (1820-1897), a renowned Edo-period woodblock print artist renowned for his intricate ukiyo-e woodblock prints depicting scenes from urban life and kabuki theater.
Another notable figure in Japanese history was Teppei Hayashi (1851-1934), a prominent educator and linguist who played a significant role in the modernization of the Japanese education system during the Meiji Restoration. Hayashi was instrumental in introducing Western teaching methods and curriculum to Japan.
In the realm of sports, Teppei Nishiyama (1915-1995) was a celebrated sumo wrestler who achieved the prestigious rank of ozeki, the second-highest rank in professional sumo. Nishiyama, known by his ring name Teppei, enjoyed a successful career spanning over two decades and was renowned for his exceptional strength and technique.
The name Teppei also found its way into the literary world with Teppei Isobe (1925-2003), a prominent Japanese author and poet. Isobe's works, which often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, garnered critical acclaim and earned him numerous literary awards.
Another notable figure with the name Teppei was Teppei Yamamoto (1924-2008), a highly respected Japanese diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the United States from 1981 to 1986. Yamamoto played a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic ties between Japan and the United States during a period of significant political and economic shifts.
While the name Teppei has its roots in ancient Japanese culture, it continues to be a popular choice for parents in modern times, serving as a reminder of the rich heritage and values associated with the samurai warrior spirit.
People
Teppei + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Teppei as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Teppei: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Teppei?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Teppei 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Teppei a common name?
We classify Teppei as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Teppei most popular?
The single biggest year for Teppei was 1985, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Teppei is about 39 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 Teppei in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Teppei a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Teppei 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 Teppei still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Teppei 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 Teppei 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 Teppei?
Want to know how many people have the name Teppei? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.