Tadashi

Meaning & origin

Tadashi is a Japanese name that conveys moral integrity, with meanings like 'righteous' or 'loyal' depending on the kanji used. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1912, when Japanese immigration to the mainland was still relatively new. Its highest point of use was in 1917, the same year the U.S. entered World War I. Since then, Tadashi has mostly been uncommon in America, and since 2021 its usage has been declining. In 2025, it ranked 7194th, given to roughly 1 in every 155,280 newborn boys. The name saw a modest spike in recognition after the 2014 film Big Hero 6 introduced a beloved character named Tadashi Hamada, though this did not significantly alter its overall rarity. No U.S. states reported Tadashi among their top naming choices, reflecting its concentrated use among families with Japanese heritage. Its straightforward pronunciation and strong ethical meaning make it a culturally distinctive choice that remains deeply tied to Japanese naming traditions.

Tadashi is a Japanese masculine name derived from the adjective 正 (tadashi), meaning 'right, just, correct' and by extension 'righteous, virtuous.' It can also be written with other kanji, such as 忠 (tada) meaning 'loyalty' in combination with 士 (shi) 'samurai,' yielding a meaning of 'loyal samurai.' The name has been used consistently in Japan throughout the 20th century, and it gained some international familiarity through the character Tadashi Hamada in Disney's 2014 film Big Hero 6.