Eiji

Eiji is a masculine given name of Japanese origin. The meaning varies with the kanji used to write it; common forms include 英二 (often read as “outstanding, second”), 栄二 (prosperous, second), 永次 (eternal, next), and 英治 or 栄治, among others. The name can also be written in kana as えいじ.

In Japan, Eiji has been used since the 19th and early 20th centuries and remains in use today. It is considered a traditional but still common given name for boys, appearing across various regions and generations.

Notable individuals named Eiji include Eiji Aonuma (born 1963), a senior Nintendo game designer and director known for the Legend of Zelda series; Eiji Toyoda (1913–2014), longtime president and chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation and a pivotal figure in postwar Japanese manufacturing; and Eiji Yoshikawa (1892–1962), a prolific novelist renowned for historical epics such as Musashi. In sports, Eiji Kawashima (born 1983) is a Japanese international football goalkeeper who has played for top clubs and the national team.

The name Eiji also appears in fiction, where it is used for characters in manga, anime, and other works. As a flexible Japanese given name, its specific nuance depends on the kanji chosen and the cultural context in which it is used.