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Kotaro as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kotaro

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The baby name Kotaro is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ko.ta.ɾoː/ (koh-TAH-roh).

Kotaro is Japanese in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: /ko.ta.ɾoː/ (koh-TAH-roh)

What is the meaning of the name Kotaro ?

The baby name Kotaro is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ko.ta.ɾoː/ (koh-TAH-roh).

Kotaro is Japanese in Origin.

Kotaro (commonly written as Kōtarō or Kotarou) is a Japanese masculine name built on the element Tarō (太郎 “eldest son”) combined with a first kanji usually read Kō or Ko. Meanings depend on the chosen characters: 光太郎 “light,” 幸太郎 “good fortune,” 孝太郎 “filial piety,” 航太郎 “navigation,” or 小太郎 “little Tarō.” Pronounced koh-TAH-roh; long vowels often marked with a macron (Kōtarō) or spelled -ou.

As one of Japan’s classic -tarō names, Kotaro has appeared since medieval times; the famed ninja leader Fūma Kotarō anchors its early visibility. The name stayed common through Meiji and Shōwa and today feels traditional yet lively. Common romanizations include Kotaro and Kōtarō; short forms are Kō or Taro. Notable bearers include novelist Isaka Kōtarō, actor Koizumi Kōtarō, and guitarist Oshio Kotaro. Overall sense: “(virtue/light/fortune) of the eldest son,” though modern use is not limited by birth order.

Kotaro has the following similar or variant Names

Kotaro – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
JP 0 #61 17 4,057
JP Boys 0 #107 236 7,909
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
TW Boys 0 #253 4 7,111
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
RU Boys 0 #525 2 12,621
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
BH 0 #586 2 17,937
BO Boys 0 #621 2 9,244
IL Boys 0 #624 2 10,983
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
SG Boys 0 #686 12 17,960
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
United States Boys 2023 #892 7 7,053
PE Boys 0 #919 8 14,506
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
MX Boys 0 #1,032 2 16,355
MY Boys 0 #1,091 21 25,439
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
MA 0 #1,199 1 20,986
IT Boys 0 #1,462 10 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Kotaro is popular in 26 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
BH
BN
BO
CL

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People also ask about Kotaro

Kotaro is predominantly a boy's name.
Kotaro is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ko.ta.ɾoː/ (koh-TAH-roh).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kōtarō, Kotarou, Koutarou, Kotarō, 小太郎 and 幸太郎.
Across languages, Kotaro has these equivalents: Tarō (Taro), Kotarou (alternate romanization), Kōtarō (with macrons), English approximate: 'Junior' / 'Sonny' (conveys 'young son').
Somewhat — Kotaro ranked #892 in United States in 2023, placing it just outside the most common names.
Kotaro's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #865 in 2013 to #892 in 2023 in United States.