Yoshigei
A masculine Japanese name meaning "fortunate, prosperous, celebrated dignity".
Name Census estimates that about 21 living Americans carry the first name Yoshigei. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yoshigei today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yoshigei births was 2006 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yoshigei. 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 Yoshigei. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
21
~ 1 in 16,321,635 Americans
Peak year
2006
21 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2006 SSA rank
#6,344
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Yoshigei: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yoshigei 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 Yoshigei during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0 | 21 | 21 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yoshigei
The given name Yoshigei has its origins in Japan, with the name deriving from a combination of two Japanese words: "yoshi" meaning "good" or "virtuous," and "gei" meaning "art" or "accomplishment." This name emerged during the Heian period of Japanese history, which spanned from 794 to 1185 AD, a time when the country experienced a rich cultural and artistic renaissance.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Yoshigei can be traced back to the 11th century, when it was mentioned in various literary works and historical records from that era. One of the most notable early references to this name can be found in the Genji Monogatari, a classic work of Japanese literature written during the early years of the 11th century by the noblewoman and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu.
Throughout the centuries, several prominent figures have borne the name Yoshigei. One such individual was Yoshigei no Naganori, a renowned poet and calligrapher who lived from 1141 to 1207 AD during the late Heian period. His literary works and artistic contributions have left a lasting impact on Japanese culture and aesthetics.
Another notable figure was Yoshigei Yamashiro, a prominent samurai warrior and military strategist who lived from 1512 to 1561. He played a pivotal role in the conflicts that shaped the Sengoku period, a tumultuous era characterized by frequent battles and power struggles among feudal lords.
In the realm of Japanese ceramics, Yoshigei Aoki (1887-1964) was a highly respected potter and artist who helped revive and preserve traditional Japanese pottery techniques. His works are celebrated for their intricate designs and mastery of glazing techniques.
Moving into the modern era, Yoshigei Tanaka (1901-1992) was a renowned Japanese architect known for his innovative designs that seamlessly blended traditional Japanese elements with contemporary architectural styles. His most notable works include the Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
It is worth noting that while the name Yoshigei holds deep historical and cultural significance in Japan, it has become increasingly less common in recent times, with many families opting for more contemporary or westernized names. However, the rich legacy and meaning behind this name remain an integral part of Japan's cultural heritage.
People
Yoshigei + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yoshigei as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yoshigei: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yoshigei?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 21 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yoshigei 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 16,321,635 US residents.
Is Yoshigei a common name?
We classify Yoshigei as "Very Rare". It ranks above 40.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 21 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yoshigei most popular?
The single biggest year for Yoshigei was 2006, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yoshigei is about 20 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 Yoshigei in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yoshigei a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yoshigei in the SSA data are female. 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 Yoshigei still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yoshigei 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 Yoshigei 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 have Yoshigei as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Yoshigei on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.