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Shigeru 茂生 – Japanese boy given name
Shigeru (茂生) is read しげる and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for boys. Written as 茂生, the characters mean: overgrown + life. This reading can be written with at least 24 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 3 to 18 strokes in total.
About the name Shigeru
Shigeru (茂 or 繁) means to flourish or thrive. The idea is abundance.
How to write Shigeru in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 茂生 | しげる | overgrown + life | 13 |
| 茂留 | しげる | overgrown + detain | 18 |
| 子 | しげる | child | 3 |
| 成 | しげる | turn into | 6 |
| 重 | しげる | heavy | 9 |
| 英 | しげる | England | 8 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Shigeru
Shigeru in different scripts
| Romaji | Shigeru |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | しげる |
| Katakana | シゲル |
| Kanji (most common) | 茂生 |
Full name examples
- Shigeru Yuki (Japanese order: 結城茂生, ゆうき しげる)
- Shigeru Kono (Japanese order: 河野茂生, こうの しげる)
- Shigeru Maki (Japanese order: 牧茂生, まき しげる)
How to pronounce Shigeru
Break it into 3 parts: shi · ge · ru. 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 しげる.
Questions about Shigeru
What does Shigeru mean in Japanese?
Shigeru has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 茂生, combines these meanings: overgrown + life. Other spellings include 茂留 (overgrown + detain), 子 (child), 成 (turn into).
How do you write Shigeru in kanji?
The most common way is 茂生 (しげる). It can also be written 茂留, 子, 成, 重, 英.
How do you write Shigeru in katakana?
Shigeru is シゲル in katakana and しげる in hiragana.
Is Shigeru a boy or girl name?
Shigeru is mostly used for boys.
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Other names that use 茂
茂: overgrown, grow thick, be luxuriant
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.