Meaning & History
Rokuro is a masculine Japanese given name, an alternate transcription of the kanji 六郎 (see Rokurō). It has notable symbolic and cultural roots, as its components and naming history reflect traditional Japanese family structure and order of birth.
Etymology
The name Rokuro is derived from the Japanese kanji elements 六 (roku) meaning “six” and 郎 (rō) meaning “son.” This combination traditionally designated the sixth son in a family. In historical practice, Japanese naming conventions for sons often employed numerical prefixes such as Ichi (one), Jirō (two), Saburō (three), down to Rokurō for the sixth son. Although modern naming freedom has expanded, the name retains a connection to birth-order traditions.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals have been named Rokuro, reflecting diverse professional fields. These include Rokuro Ishikawa (1925–2005), a prominent Japanese businessman; Rokurō Mochizuki (born 1957), a film director known for his work in Japanese cinema; Rokurō Naya (born 1932), a voice actor whose extensive career included anime and video games; Rokuro Takahashi (1909–?), an Olympic rower who competed for Japan; and Yashiro Rokurō (1860–1930), an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. In fiction, notable characters include Rokurou Rangetsu from the video game Tales of Berseria and Rokuroh from The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces.
Cultural Significance
The use of birth-order numbers in Japanese boy names declined after World War II, but older generations and certain traditionalist families still choose them. Today, Rokuro remains recognized not only as a historical relic but also as a distinctive given name chosen for its numeric and classical resonance. Transcriptions into the Latin alphabet may vary widely (Rokuro, Rokurō, Rokurou) due to romanization preference.
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Rokurō