Hideki

Hideki is a masculine given name of Japanese origin. The meaning varies depending on the kanji used, with common elements including 秀 (excellent), 輝 (shine), 樹 (tree), 喜 (joy), and 紀 (chronicle). Because many kanji combinations exist, the name does not have a single fixed meaning. It is primarily used in Japan and among Japanese communities abroad, and is typically written in kanji, though it may also be rendered in kana as ひでき.

Notable individuals with the name include: Hideki Yukawa (湯川秀樹), theoretical physicist and the first Japanese Nobel Prize laureate in Physics (1959); Hideki Tojo (東條英機), general and Prime Minister of Japan during much of World War II. In sports, Hideki Matsui (松井秀喜) is a former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played for the Yomiuri Giants and the New York Yankees, earning the 2009 World Series MVP. In entertainment, Hideki Kamiya (神谷英樹) is a video game designer and director known for work on Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.

The name Hideki reflects a broad tradition in Japanese naming in which parents select kanji to convey personal attributes or aspirations, resulting in diverse readings and meanings even among individuals who share the same given name.