Chobei

Chobei is a masculine Japanese given name that can be romanized as Chobei or Chōbei, depending on the transcription. In writing, it may be represented by various kanji combinations. A traditional form often uses the suffix 兵衛, read bei, which appears in other historical names and reflects a long-standing naming pattern in Japan. The first element of the name can vary, producing different full forms such as Chōbei or other readings with the same suffix.

Historically, names ending with the -bei suffix were common in Edo-period Japan among samurai households, merchants, and other male lineages. The -bei element was part of a naming convention that conveyed status, lineage, or a role within a family or guild, while the initial element of the name identified the bearer within that system.

In modern times, Chobei is uncommon as a given name for newborns and is primarily encountered in historical contexts, literature, or media set in earlier eras. It may appear as the name of fictional characters in novels, plays, or films that depict Edo-period settings, as well as in genealogical or archival records.

There are no widely recognized contemporary public figures specifically known as “Chobei.” For related naming patterns, forms such as Jōbei or Gorobei share the same historical suffix and illustrate how -bei was used across different first elements.