Is Shigeru a boy's or girl's name?

Shigeru is primarily a boy's name.

When was Shigeru most popular?

Shigeru reached its peak popularity in 1921 with 42 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Shigeru?

Shigeru is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 591 babies in the U.S. since 1910. Its peak was in 1921.

Shigeru

An uncommon Japanese pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameJapaneseNot ranked recently

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Japanese.

Shigeru is a boy's baby name of Japanese origin, from shigeru (茂る), meaning 'to grow luxuriantly' or 'to flourish' — evoking rich vegetation, abundant growth, and thriving vitality. The name conveys a wish for the child to flourish in all things.

Shigeru is most famously borne by legendary video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda — whose imagination shaped interactive entertainment for generations and gave the name an enduring cultural legacy worldwide.

Compare Shigeru with another name

Popularity Over Time

Shigeru has 29+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1910.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Shigeru
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1930s	84	#2920	▼
1920s	317	#1346	▲
1910s	190	#1707	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(29 years, 1910–1938)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Shigeru
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1938	5	#3965	0
1937	5	#3942	-3 (-37.5%)
1936	8	#2825	+1 (14.3%)
1935	7	#3219	+1 (16.7%)
1934	6	#3624	-6 (-50.0%)
1933	12	#2197	-1 (-7.7%)
1932	13	#2180	+2 (18.2%)
1931	11	#2445	-6 (-35.3%)
1930	17	#1881	-2 (-10.5%)
1929	19	#1785	-8 (-29.6%)
1928	27	#1442	-4 (-12.9%)
1927	31	#1347	-7 (-18.4%)
1926	38	#1172	+13 (52.0%)
1925	25	#1530	-6 (-19.4%)
1924	31	#1352	-1 (-3.1%)
1923	32	#1295	0
1922	32	#1305	-10 (-23.8%)
1921	42	#1100	+2 (5.0%)
1920	40	#1135	+13 (48.1%)
1919	27	#1405	-13 (-32.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1910–1938) · Methodology