NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Tatsuya

A Japanese masculine name meaning "dragon person" or "great person".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2000. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Tatsuya is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tatsuya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2000 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3036, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2000. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Tatsuya. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2001 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tatsuya ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales in 2000, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 boys were registered as Tatsuya.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tatsuya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3036

2000

Births in 2000

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Tatsuya mean?

The name Tatsuya is of Japanese origin and has been in use for centuries. It is a masculine name composed of two kanji characters: "tatsu" meaning "dragon" and "ya" meaning "night" or "arrow." The name can be interpreted to mean "dragon night" or "dragon arrow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tatsuya dates back to the 8th century CE, during the Nara period in Japan. It was mentioned in an ancient text called the Shoku Nihongi, which chronicled the lives of Japanese emperors and nobility. However, the name likely predates written records and may have been used in oral traditions even earlier.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), the name Tatsuya gained popularity among the samurai class and was often given to sons of noble families. It was seen as a strong and auspicious name, with the dragon symbolizing power and strength.

One notable historical figure with the name Tatsuya was Tatsuya Inouye (1836-1915), a Japanese naval officer and politician who played a significant role in the modernization of Japan's navy during the Meiji era. He served as the Minister of the Navy and was instrumental in the country's victory in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895).

Another famous Tatsuya was Tatsuya Murayama (1901-1984), a Japanese novelist and poet who wrote extensively about the experiences of the working class and the struggles of the common people during the early 20th century. His works were renowned for their social commentary and vivid portrayal of everyday life in Japan.

In the realm of sports, Tatsuya Furuhashi (1899-1965) was a celebrated Japanese baseball player and manager. He played for the Yomiuri Giants and is considered one of the pioneers of professional baseball in Japan. His contributions to the sport earned him induction into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1959.

Tatsuya Nagai (1876-1957) was a prominent Japanese chemist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of colloid chemistry. He served as the president of Kyoto Imperial University (now Kyoto University) and was awarded the Order of Culture by the Japanese government for his scientific achievements.

Tatsuya Nakadai (born 1932) is a renowned Japanese actor who has appeared in numerous films, including classics like Harakiri (1962), Kwaidan (1964), and The Sword of Doom (1966). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Japanese cinema and has received numerous awards and accolades for his performances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tatsuya over time

The chart below shows babies named Tatsuya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2000. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tatsuya, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2000, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tatsuya
01223199719982000

Decades

Tatsuya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tatsuya was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #3036 3 1
1990s #2859 3 1

Related

Names similar to Tatsuya

FAQ

Tatsuya: questions and answers

How popular is the name Tatsuya in the UK right now?

In 2000, Tatsuya was ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Tatsuya most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Tatsuya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tatsuya?

A Japanese masculine name meaning "dragon person" or "great person".

How many people are called Tatsuya in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Tatsuya across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.