Minoru is a popular Japanese given name for males, derived from the character combination '源' (minori) meaning "source" or "origin," and '之' (ru) meaning "of." This two-part name has been used extensively in Japan since ancient times, often appearing in historical records as well as modern-day usage. The name Minoru is composed of three kanji characters: '水' for 'mizu,' meaning water; '尊' for 'son,' denoting respect or honor; and '之' for 'ru.' Together, they convey the idea of "respectful source" or "venerated origin.
The name Minoru experienced a significant boom in popularity between 1915 and 1926, with the highest number of births recorded in 1926 at 50. However, there was a steady decline thereafter, reaching an all-time low of 5 births in 1938. Over the entire period from 1912 to 1939, a total of 675 babies were named Minoru.