Fun Facts About the Name Sekai
- 371 babies named Sekai: U.S. records list 371 babies given the name Sekai from 1880 through 2025. Even 88 girls received the name Sekai - about 1 girl for every 3 boys.
What Does the Name Sekai Mean?
Sekai has two unrelated origins. In Japanese, sekai (世界) is the ordinary word for "world," written with two Chinese-derived characters: 世 (se), which covers such senses as "generation," "age," and "society," and 界 (kai), "boundary," "realm," or "sphere." Taken together, the compound means "world" or "the world we live in." Its use as a personal given name in Japan is uncommon.
In Shona (chiShona), the Bantu language spoken mainly in Zimbabwe, Sekai is a given name meaning "be happy" or "laugh," formed from the verb -seka, "to laugh." The two names are look-alikes rather than relatives: the Japanese word and the Shona name come from different language families and have no shared history.
Sekai Name History & Origins
世界 was formed in Chinese, where the two characters together were used in Buddhist translation for the Sanskrit world-realm, loka-dhātu, and it appears in that sense in Chinese Buddhist texts. Japanese took over the written compound along with a large body of Chinese-derived vocabulary, and in modern Japanese it is the standard, everyday word for "world." It appears in common compounds and phrases, for example in the band name Sekai no Owari ("end of the world"), while its use as a child's personal name in Japan has remained rare.
In Zimbabwe, Sekai is a Shona personal name. Shona naming often draws on verbs and short phrases that express a wish or a state of mind, so a name built on -seka carries the sense of laughter and gladness. One well-known bearer is the Zimbabwean politician and rights advocate Sekai Holland.
How Popular is the Name Sekai?
Sekai has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #2,444 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #14,662 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #14,880 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #13,354 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #14,969 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #16,212 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #19,709 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #19,967 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #20,030 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #11,273 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #14,237 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #13,933 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #15,416 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #17,457 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #12,893 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,444 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 2024 | #3,311 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2023 | #3,050 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #3,757 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2021 | #7,025 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #8,605 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #8,109 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #8,038 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #8,693 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #13,710 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #12,027 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #12,011 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,562 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #7,161 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #12,303 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #13,665 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #7,553 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #10,655 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,066 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Sekai Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Sekai's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sekai's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.