Japanese · boy
Jiraiya
A familiar name with a nostalgic, vintage feel.
Meaning
A heroic name from Japanese folklore
Jiraiya is a rare boy name with Japanese roots. In 2024, 252 newborns in the U.S. were given the name — ranking it #919 nationally, and it has been gently easing in recent years. Its style leans vintage — tags you can match against your partner's picks in the combiner.
About Japanese names
Japanese names are usually written in kanji, so a single sound can hold many possible meanings — parents choose the characters as carefully as the pronunciation. Nature imagery runs deep: cherry blossoms, snow, sky, rivers. The sounds are clean and even, with soft consonants and open vowels, which is why names like Hana, Kenji, and Yuki carry so easily into English.
Meaning and origin are editorial; U.S. popularity comes from Social Security Administration public files.
Similar names
If you like Jiraiya, look at these
Japanese · Strong and healthy second son
#856 in 2024
Japanese · Strong and healthy, wise
#587 in 2024
Japanese · Masterless wandering samurai
#493 in 2024
Japanese · Thunder and lightning god
#448 in 2024
Japanese · Meditative state, from the Buddhist tradition
#959 in 2024
Japanese · Continuous improvement
#506 in 2024