Hiroko
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 328 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Japanese.
Hiroko is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin, from the Japanese elements hiro (generous, broad, vast) and ko (child), meaning 'generous child' or 'expansive child' — a name that wishes a child a spirit as vast and giving as the open sky.
Hiroko follows the traditional Japanese -ko (child) feminine naming pattern, expressing the wish for a daughter whose generosity knows no limits. The hiro element also suggests breadth of mind and spaciousness of spirit — a name for someone who moves through the world with room for everyone and everything.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Hiroko's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Hiroko follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Hiroko's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Hiroko has 38+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1914.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | #14057 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 50 | #9063 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 21 | #9321 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 20 | #4069 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 85 | #3067 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 109 | #3051 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 38 | #3436 | — |
The Story of Hiroko
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1919, Hiroko is a name steeped in history. Girls named Hiroko are most likely born between 1914 and 1929.
How rare is Hiroko?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Hiroko is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1914, peaked in the 1920s with 109 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Hiroko by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(38 years, 1914–1992)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5 | #14057 |
| 1989 | 9 | #8282 |
| 1988 | 8 | #8682 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11263 |
| 1984 | 6 | #9535 |
| 1982 | 9 | #7085 |
| 1981 | 8 | #7646 |
| 1980 | 5 | #10949 |
| 1977 | 5 | #10170 |
| 1976 | 5 | #9817 |
| 1975 | 5 | #9577 |
| 1971 | 6 | #7719 |
| 1945 | 6 | #4232 |
| 1942 | 5 | #4910 |
| 1940 | 9 | #3065 |
| 1939 | 9 | #3004 |
| 1937 | 5 | #4522 |
| 1936 | 7 | #3519 |
| 1935 | 12 | #2483 |
| 1934 | 11 | #2637 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hiroko a boy's or girl's name?
When was Hiroko most popular?
How popular is the name Hiroko?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1914–1992