Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1921

Minoru

Meaning Minoru is a masculine Japanese given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Minoru is a masculine Japanese given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Minoru
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1921
50 babies
All-time total
675
#6,593 all-time among boys
First recorded
1912
in Social Security records

Minoru popularity over time

675 babies have been named Minoru since 1912, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1917Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 206 21 – #1,000
1920s 370 37 +80% #974
1930s 99 10 -73% #1,679
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Minoru

Minoru is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1912, 675 American babies have been named Minoru. Its peak came in 1921, when 50 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Minoru stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Minoru year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 8 #2,868
1930 20 #1,679
1925 38 #1,161
1920 49 #986
1915 30 #1,205
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Minoru

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Minoru Yamasaki Minoru Yamasaki American architect (1912–1986) Contemporary
  2. 2 Minoru Genda Minoru Genda Japanese aviator (1904–1989) Contemporary
  3. 3 Minoru Suganuma Japanese footballer b. 1985 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Minoru Kobayashi Japanese footballer and manager b. 1976 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Minoru Kobata Japanese footballer b. 1946 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Minoru Hata Japanese footballer b. 1989 · Contemporary
  7. 7 Minoru Kushibiki Japanese footballer b. 1967 · Contemporary
  8. 8 Minoru Takenaka Soccer player, Japan b. 1976 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Minoru, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

What does the name Minoru mean?

Minoru is a masculine Japanese given name.

How popular is the name Minoru in 2025?

Minoru did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Minoru?

675 babies have been named Minoru in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Minoru most popular?

Minoru peaked in 1921, when 50 newborns received the name.

Is Minoru a boy or girl name?

Minoru is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Minoru rising or falling?

Minoru has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Minoru?

Well-known people named Minoru include Minoru Yamasaki (architect), Minoru Genda (politician), Minoru Suganuma (soccer player).

Names like Minoru

Names that sound and feel close to Minoru: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Minoru with similar names → More names starting with M →