Basic Information

Gender: Boy

Sounds Like: KEE-tah-roh

Pronunciation Explanation: The 'Ki' is pronounced like 'key', 'ta' like 'tah', and 'ro' like 'roh'. The emphasis is generally even or slightly on the 'roh'.

Summary and Meaning

Meaning: Joyful great son, son of joy (Japanese). In popular culture, it is strongly associated with a one-eyed yokai boy from the 'GeGeGe no Kitarō' series.

Origin: Japanese

Usage: Kitarō is traditionally a masculine name, evidenced by the suffix '郎' (rō), which is common in Japanese male names.

Popularity (Global Rank)

Overall: 159842

Boys:

Most Popular in

Religious and Cultural Significance

Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism (cultural influence)

Background: While not directly religious, the name Kitarō is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. The 'GeGeGe no Kitarō' character draws heavily from Japanese folklore (yokai), which often has roots in Shinto beliefs and traditional spiritualism.

Cultural Significance: The name carries significant cultural weight due to its association with a beloved folk hero (Kitarō the yokai), a revered philosopher (Nishida Kitarō), and an internationally recognized musician (Kitarō). It represents elements of Japanese storytelling, intellectual tradition, and artistic expression.

Historical Significance: The most notable historical figure bearing this name is Nishida Kitarō (1870–1945), a prominent Japanese philosopher and the founder of the Kyoto School of philosophy. His work profoundly influenced modern Japanese thought and engaged with Western philosophy while drawing on Zen Buddhism.

Popular Culture

Literature and Mythology: The most famous use is 'GeGeGe no Kitarō', a highly influential manga series (1959–present) by Shigeru Mizuki, which has been adapted into numerous anime series, films, and video games. Kitarō is a yokai boy who acts as a mediator and protector between the human and supernatural worlds.

Movies and Television: The character Kitarō from 'GeGeGe no Kitarō' has appeared in countless anime television series and films, making him one of Japan's most iconic and enduring pop culture figures. Additionally, the new-age musician Kitarō (born Masanori Takahashi) is internationally renowned for his Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning compositions, particularly his soundtrack for 'Heaven & Earth'.

Feelings and Perceptions

Perception: Kitarō is generally perceived as a unique and culturally rich name. For those familiar with Japanese culture, it evokes a sense of tradition, folklore, and artistic depth. It can be seen as adventurous due to the yokai character, intellectual due to the philosopher, and serene due to the musician.

Positive Feelings: Unique, traditional, adventurous, artistic, intellectual, culturally rich, memorable.

Negative Feelings: Might be unfamiliar to non-Japanese speakers, potential for initial mispronunciation, strong association with a specific character might overshadow personal identity for some.

Practical Considerations

Ease of Writing and Calling: For Japanese speakers, Kitarō is straightforward to write and pronounce. For non-Japanese speakers, the 'ō' (long 'o' sound) might require a slight adjustment, but the name is generally easy to call once the pronunciation is known.

Common Typos and Misspellings: Kitaro,Keetaro,Kitairo,Kitarou

Common Nicknames: Kita,Taro