Wataru as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Wataru

What is the meaning of the name Wataru ?

The baby name Wataru is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced わたる (ワタル), wa-TAH-roo; IPA: [wataɾɯ].

Wataru is Japanese in Origin.

Wataru is a Japanese masculine given name (わたる), derived from the native verb 渡る “to cross, to ford.” As a nanori, it admits many kanji: 渉 or 渡 evoke crossing; 亘/亙 suggest “to span, extend over time”; 航 hints at navigation; 充 conveys “to be full, pervade.” Parents also create compound spellings such as 渡瑠 or 亘流, where the second character colors the nuance (e.g., “lapis,” “flow”). The name can also be written in kana alone, emphasizing sound over meaning.

Usage rose in the postwar decades and remained familiar through the late 20th century, carried by athletes, actors, and artists; contemporary bearers like footballer Wataru Endo keep it visible. Variants in English transcription are stable as Wataru, with nicknames like Wata sometimes heard. Related forms include verbs and surnames from the same root (Watanabe, Watari), all centered on imagery of crossing, bridges, and journeys.