BoyClassic

Shigeru

Shigeru (しげる) is a Japanese name for boys. Its best-known spelling is 茂, 茂 lush. It was most popular in the past, reaching No. 1 in 5 different years between 1929 and 1954.

し · げ · る · しげる · シゲル
Most used spelling茂しげるlush

Ways to write Shigeru

The same sound can be written with different kanji, and each choice changes the meaning. These are the spellings that have appeared in Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.

茂
茂lush, thriving
Boy, best No. 1 (1912–1959)
繁
繁thriving
Boy, 35 notable people on Wikidata

Rarer spellings

These spellings of Shigeru appear in Japanese name records but are uncommon. Each uses a standard reading of its kanji.

滋nourishingBoys and girls
重layerGirl

Popularity in Japan

Where the most popular spelling of Shigeru has ranked among baby names each year. It reached No. 1 in 5 different years, most recently 1954.

No. 1No. 5No. 101920193019401950Boys, 1912: No. 5Boys, 1913: No. 2Boys, 1914: No. 10Boys, 1915: No. 3Boys, 1916: No. 6Boys, 1917: No. 10Boys, 1918: No. 7Boys, 1919: No. 9Boys, 1920: No. 2Boys, 1921: No. 3Boys, 1922: No. 5Boys, 1923: No. 4Boys, 1924: No. 2Boys, 1925: No. 2Boys, 1926: No. 5Boys, 1927: No. 8Boys, 1928: No. 2Boys, 1929: No. 1Boys, 1930: No. 5Boys, 1931: No. 5Boys, 1932: No. 7Boys, 1933: No. 4Boys, 1934: No. 8Boys, 1935: No. 8Boys, 1936: No. 8Boys, 1937: No. 9Boys, 1940: No. 10Boys, 1947: No. 7Boys, 1948: No. 3Boys, 1949: No. 2Boys, 1950: No. 2Boys, 1951: No. 1Boys, 1952: No. 1Boys, 1953: No. 1Boys, 1954: No. 1Boys, 1955: No. 3Boys, 1956: No. 5Boys, 1957: No. 3Boys, 1958: No. 5Boys, 1959: No. 5
Show the numbers
YearBoys
1959No. 5
1958No. 5
1957No. 3
1956No. 5
1955No. 3
1954No. 1
1953No. 1
1952No. 1
1951No. 1
1950No. 2
1949No. 2
1948No. 3
1947No. 7
1940No. 10
1937No. 9
1936No. 8
1935No. 8
1934No. 8
1933No. 4
1932No. 7
1931No. 5
1930No. 5
1929No. 1
1928No. 2
1927No. 8
1926No. 5
1925No. 2
1924No. 2
1923No. 4
1922No. 5
1921No. 3
1920No. 2
1919No. 9
1918No. 7
1917No. 10
1916No. 6
1915No. 3
1914No. 10
1913No. 2
1912No. 5

Source: Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance yearly baby name survey. It covers the top 10 names each year from 1912 to 2003, and the top 100 names and top 50 readings from 2004.

Famous people named Shigeru

Shigeru Miyamoto 宮本 茂Japanese video game designer (born 1952)
Shigeru Ishiba 茂President of the Liberal Democratic Party from 2024 to 2025 and Prime Minister of Japan from 2024 to 2025
Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂Prime minister of Japan (1878–1967)
Shigeru Takahashi 高橋 茂Japanese association football player
Shigeru Morioka 森岡 茂Japanese association football player
Shigeru Ban 坂 茂Japanese architect (1957-)

From Wikidata: notable Japanese people with this given name.