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Samurai

sah-MY-ry /sɑˈmaɪː/ Japanese

At a glance

In short
Samurai, of Japanese origin, embodies bravery, strength, and duty. Linked to noble warriors, it signifies honor and loyalty. Rare but powerful as a baby name.
U.S. rank 2025
Not in the 2025 data · last seen 2024 (#10,938)
Babies in 2024
6 (<0.01% of boys)
Peak
#8,166 in 2021
First recorded
2004

Meaning of Samurai

The name Samurai, pronounced sah-MY-ry (/sɑˈmaɪː/), is of Japanese origin and is traditionally associated with the noble warriors of ancient Japan. The term "samurai" refers to a member of a powerful military caste in feudal Japan, known for their adherence to the code of Bushido, which emphasizes honor, discipline, and loyalty. This name carries connotations of bravery, strength, and a deep sense of duty. Although rare in the United States, its unique and powerful association has led to occasional use as a baby name, with occurrences recorded sporadically over recent years. The variation "Samuray" offers an alternative spelling while retaining the same evocative meaning.

How to pronounce Samurai

Japanese

Popularity of Samurai in the U.S.

Samurai was last recorded in the U.S. in 2024, ranked #10,938 with 6 babies. It peaked at #8,166 in 2021. It first appears in the records in 2004.

Bar and line chart: Samurai in the U.S., 2004–2024. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 9 in 2021 and 6 in 2024. Line: rank among boy names, peak #8,166 in 2021, #10,938 in 2024.
  • Boys named Samurai (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 2004–2024. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 2004⁠–⁠2024 5 rows
Samurai: babies and rank among boy names in the U.S. by year
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2024610,938back (not recorded in 2023)
2022610,863▼ 2,697
202198,166back (not recorded in 2010–2020)
2009512,491back (not recorded in 2005–2008)
2004511,356new

Notable people named Samurai

  • Samurai Maruf — Maruf Hossain Ibn Saeed is a Bangladeshi art director who won two National Film Awards for Taarkata and Zero Degree.