Maybe Japanese surnames dont have that much of a meaning anymore but names surely have:

Like もも、いちご、けんじ、ゆめ、きょうへい、。。。they all have a meaning in their name that the parents wanted to transfer into the kids.

Why else would Japanese say: [名前に負けた] It means that if somebody would have a really strong/impressive name but he would look really fable, weak and unimpressive, well, he will surely [lose to his name] then, right?

So names definitely have a meaning, but translating them wouldnt make too much sense, since the 'sound' of the name also is important.

Just my 2 cents ;)

/discuss

v.v This has gone some weird discussion^^ I never imagined it to end like this xD but well I like it :vsign:
@RobinMask: I think you're right, ryuuma means dragon, I heared something like that but I'm not that good at japanese and my book tells me tatsu means dragon :/

I've not come across the word 'tatsu' as my Japanese is quite basic, but it's possible that they both mean dragon :) Like in any language some meanings can have more than one word, and some words more than one meaning.

The problem is, Shanis, you can't get ANY accurate (or even partially accurate) idea of the meaning from Romaji (romanized japanese). 'Tatsu' for example ~can~ mean 'dragon' but only if written with specific kanji. Otherwise it could equally mean 'to lapse', 'to sever', 'to be built', 'to stand' or any one of a dozen or more homophones. It could even be slang for 'erection'.

Kantango gave me 4 different ways to write 'Ryuuma' with kanji (thought there are probably more), and not one of them is translated as 'Dragon'. All of them are 'translated' as "Ryuuma" and sure, all of those use a character for 'dragon', but that's not the same as meaning. Saying "Ryuuma means dragon" is like saying "Arthur means art" or "Cathy means cat".

Most names mean something, including judeo-christian names. Might as well call people that, too. Like if somebody's name is John Smith, you should call them "Merciful one who works with metal"? Silly, ain't it?

Yeah xD My sister's name is Lea and in some language it means "the lions strong" (I don't know how to call it in english so forgive me ;)) And I also heared that "hime" means princess but also lion so that must be some example for it :)

Ok, I've got a name some1 has to translate for me it's:
赤髪のシャンクス
In romanji it's "Akagami no Shankusu" and in english it's "Red-haired Shanks" so I don't want to know what akagami no means, but what shanks means :D

For the record, this is neither a Japanese language question OR a translation question. You're asking English speakers to translate an English word into... English. Couldn't you have tried looking it up in a dictionary FIRST instead of bringing the same question here again?

Here's what 2 seconds googling got me:

Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com

shank   [shangk] Show IPA
–noun
1.
Anatomy. the part of the lower limb in humans between the knee and the ankle; leg.
2.
a corresponding or analogous part in certain animals.
3.
the lower limb in humans, including both the leg and the thigh.
4.
a cut of meat from the top part of the front (foreshank) or back (hind shank) leg of an animal.
5.
a narrow part of various devices, as a tool or bolt, connecting the end by which the object is held or moved with the end that acts upon another object.
6.
a straight, usually narrow, shaftlike part of various objects connecting two more important or complex parts, as the stem of a pipe.
7.
a knob, small projection, or end of a device for attaching to another object, as a small knob on the back of a solid button, or the end of a drill for gripping in a shaft.
8.
the long, straight part of an anchor connecting the crown and the ring.
9.
the straight part of a fishhook away from the bent part or prong.
10.
Music. crook1 (def. 8).
11.
Informal.
a.
the early part of a period of time: It was just the shank of the evening when the party began.
b.
the latter part of a period of time: They didn't get started until the shank of the morning.
12.
the narrow part of the sole of a shoe, lying beneath the instep.
13.
shankpiece.
14.
Printing. the body of a type, between the shoulder and the foot.
15.
Golf. a shot veering sharply to the right after being hit with the base of a club shaft.
16.
the part of a phonograph stylus or needle on which the diamond or sapphire tip is mounted.
17.
Jewelry. the part of a ring that surrounds the finger; hoop.
–verb (used with object)
18.
Golf. to hit (a golf ball) with the base of the shaft of a club just above the club head, causing the ball to go off sharply to the right.
–verb (used without object)
19.
Chiefly Scot. to travel on foot.Compare shanks' mare.
—Idiom
20.
shank of the evening, the main or best part of the evening: Don't leave yet—it's just the shank of the evening.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME (n.); OE sc(e)anca; c. LG schanke leg, thigh; akin to G Schenkel thigh, Schinken ham

—Related forms
un·shanked, adjective

Slang:
Shank (n.) a home-made knife
Shank (verb) to stab someone.

As to which (IF ANY) the name is supposed to be, well that's down to guessing. Considering this is an anime name, it's probably just been chosen for the sound rather than the meaning.

Yeah thanks..

I've always wondered what Kenshiro means. I thought it meant "Soul of the Fist," but I could be wrong.