Ichiro

Meaning of Ichiro

In Japanese anthroponymy, Ichirō (一郎) signifies “first son,” a morphologically transparent compound formed from ichi (一, “one”) and rō (郎, “son” or “male”), traditionally bestowed upon primogeniture within patrilineal lineages. Phonetically rendered in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /iˌtʃiˌroː/ under the Hepburn romanization system, its tri-syllabic CV–CV–CV structure exemplifies the language’s phonotactic conventions. Early twentieth-century Californian birth records attest to a modest yet sustained presence—ranging from five to ten occurrences annually between 1915 and 1924—underscoring its transmission within Japanese diaspora communities. In modern contexts, the name has achieved global recognition through the athletic achievements of Major League Baseball icon Ichiro Suzuki, thereby reinforcing its cross-cultural resonance. Across generations, Ichirō continues to evoke notions of seniority, familial duty and enduring tradition.