Home / First names / Kenji
Kenji 健二 – Japanese boy given name
Kenji (健二) is read けんじ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for boys. Written as 健二, the characters mean: healthy + two. This reading can be written with at least 117 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 3 to 24 strokes in total.
About the name Kenji
Kenji is a classic boys' name. 健二 means "healthy" plus "two", and the 二 traditionally marks a second son, while 賢治 means "wise" plus "govern".
How to write Kenji in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 健二 | けんじ | healthy + two | 13 |
| 賢治 | けんじ | intelligent + reign | 24 |
| 健司 | けんじ | healthy + director | 16 |
| 一二 | けんじ | one + two | 3 |
| 権二 | けんじ | authority + two | 17 |
| 権治 | けんじ | authority + reign | 23 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Kenji
Kenji in different scripts
| Romaji | Kenji |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | けんじ |
| Katakana | ケンジ |
| Kanji (most common) | 健二 |
Full name examples
- Kenji Yuki (Japanese order: 結城健二, ゆうき けんじ)
- Kenji Kono (Japanese order: 河野健二, こうの けんじ)
- Kenji Maki (Japanese order: 牧健二, まき けんじ)
How to pronounce Kenji
Break it into 2 parts: ken · ji. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 3 sound units are written けんじ.
Questions about Kenji
What does Kenji mean in Japanese?
Kenji has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 健二, combines these meanings: healthy + two. Other spellings include 賢治 (intelligent + reign), 健司 (healthy + director), 一二 (one + two).
How do you write Kenji in kanji?
The most common way is 健二 (けんじ). It can also be written 賢治, 健司, 一二, 権二, 権治.
How do you write Kenji in katakana?
Kenji is ケンジ in katakana and けんじ in hiragana.
Is Kenji a boy or girl name?
Kenji is mostly used for boys.
Share: XFacebookPinterestRedditWhatsApp
Other names that use 健
健: healthy, health, strength
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.