Hayato

Meaning of Hayato

Hayato, pronounced hah-YAH-toh, is a Japanese masculine name formed from the kanji 隼 (hayabusa, “falcon”) and 人 (hito, “person”), a pairing that praises speed, precision and courage—qualities once celebrated by the ancient Hayato people of southern Kyūshū. The name’s modern résumé is equally dynamic: it’s worn by Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto and by anime favorites such as Hayato Gokudera (Reborn!) and Hayato Kawajiri (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure). In the United States it has charted quietly but persistently since the late 1980s, with annual tallies hovering in single digits; seven newborn boys received the name in 2024, keeping it near the 900 mark on the Social Security list. Four brisk syllables, a bright final vowel and a built-in metaphor of the falcon’s flight give Hayato an energetic cadence that travels well across languages. For families seeking a cross-cultural choice, it blends Nipponese heritage with a universal taste for velocidad y valor.