Shinobu
Shinobu (しのぶ) is a Japanese verb meaning "recall" (偲ぶ) or "stealth/endure" (忍ぶ). It is a Japanese given name used by either gender. Shinobu is also the dictionary form of shinobi, which can be combined with mono (者) to make shinobi no mono (忍びの者), an alternative name of ninja.
Meaning & Origin of Shinobu
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Shinobu (しのぶ) is a Japanese verb meaning "recall" (偲ぶ) or "stealth/endure" (忍ぶ). It is a Japanese given name used by either gender. Shinobu is also the dictionary form of shinobi, which can be combined with mono (者) to make shinobi no mono (忍びの者), an alternative name of ninja.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Shinobu
As a girl name
Shinobu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1919, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 5 Shinobus were born — ranking #4,814 that year. As of 2026, Shinobu ranks #4,814 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Shinobus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Shinobu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1923, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1923, when 5 Shinobus were born — ranking #4,239 that year. As of 2026, Shinobu ranks #4,239 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Shinobus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Shinobu
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Shinobu Adachi (忍, born 1958), Japanese voice actress and actress
- Shinobu Asagoe (しのぶ, born 1976), Japanese professional tennis player
- Shinobu Fukuhara (忍, born 1976), Japanese baseball pitcher
- Shinobu Hashimoto (忍, 1918-2018), Japanese screenwriter, director, and producer
- Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue (清信, born 1970), Japanese rock musician
- Shinobu Ishihara (忍, 1879–1963), Japanese ophthalmologist
- Shinobu Iwane , professional shogi player
- Shinobu Ito (footballer) (born 1983), former Japanese football player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Shinobu
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shinobu is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shinobu
What does the name Shinobu mean?
How popular is Shinobu in 2026?
When was Shinobu most popular?
Is Shinobu a unisex name?
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About the name Shinobu
Shinobu is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1919 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Shinobu's peak popularity came in 1919 when it ranked #4,814. Use the chart and map above to compare Shinobu's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1919 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.