How to say it
RO · nin
ˈroʊ.nɪn
Masculine
Ronin
Masterless samurai
What it means
Japanese, a 'wandering' or masterless samurai, literally 'wave man.'
Ronin is the Japanese term for a samurai with no master, literally a 'wave man,' someone adrift and self-directed. The famous tale of the 47 Ronin made it a symbol of loyalty and independence. It rides the popular -in sound and reads strong and a little lone-wolf. Said ROH-nin.
How to spell Ronin
The standard spelling is Ronin. Common variants include Ronnin, Rounin, Roninn, but Ronin is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #390 in 2020, currently #504 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
A masterless, wandering samurai; the tale of the 47 Ronin.
Spelling variants
- Ronnin
- Rounin
- Roninn
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Ronin mean?
- Japanese, a 'wandering' or masterless samurai, literally 'wave man.'
- What does Ronin mean in Japanese?
- In Japanese, Ronin means "Masterless samurai." Ronin is the Japanese term for a samurai with no master, literally a 'wave man,' someone adrift and self-directed. The famous tale of the 47 Ronin made it a symbol of loyalty and independence. It rides the popular -in sound and reads strong and a little lone-wolf. Said ROH-nin.
- How do you pronounce Ronin?
- Ronin is pronounced ˈroʊ.nɪn. Say it as RO-nin, with the stress on the "ro" syllable.
- How do you spell Ronin?
- The standard spelling is Ronin. Common spelling variants include Ronnin, Rounin, Roninn.
- Is Ronin a boy or girl name?
- Ronin is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ronin?
- Ronin ranked #504 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.