Shinji is a masculine Japanese given name that has been used throughout history in Japan. The name originates from the old Japanese word "shinjin" which means "faithful person". It is composed of two kanji characters: "shin" which means "heart, mind, or sincere", and "ji" which means "person". Therefore, the meaning of Shinji can be interpreted as "sincere person".
The name Shinji has been used by several notable individuals in Japanese history. One of the most famous was Shinji Saga (1852-1903), a prominent figure in Japan's Meiji Restoration period who served as a statesman and diplomat. Another notable bearer of the name was Shinji Nakano, a Japanese-American physicist who contributed significantly to the development of quantum mechanics.
The use of the name Shinji has not been limited to Japan. It has also gained popularity in other countries such as Korea and France, although it is still more commonly used in Japan. Today, Shinji remains a popular choice among Japanese parents for their baby boys.
The name Shinji has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States, as reflected in the birth statistics from 1987 to 2013.
In 1987, there were 5 babies named Shinji, indicating that it was a relatively uncommon choice for parents during this year. However, by 1992, the number of newborns named Shinji had increased slightly to 6, suggesting a mild uptick in popularity.
There was a notable surge in the use of the name Shinji in 2009, with 10 babies receiving this name at birth. This figure is more than double the previous peak and shows that there was significant interest in this name during this year.
Despite the high point in 2009, the popularity of the name Shinji has since declined. In 2013, only 7 newborns were named Shinji, which is still greater than the numbers from 1987 and 1992 but lower than the peak seen in 2009.
Overall, from 1987 to 2013, there have been a total of 28 babies named Shinji in the United States. While this number is not exceptionally high, it demonstrates that the name has had periods of relative popularity and continued use over these years.