Kimiko
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 1,826 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Kimiko tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 1,826 recorded births and a peak of 80 in 1981, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The open, approachable ending gives Kimiko a flowing quality that carries well in both casual and formal settings.
In the most recent SSA release, Kimiko ranks #4598 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Kimiko is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin, typically written with kanji combining elements meaning 'noble,' 'beautiful,' and 'child' — creating a name meaning 'noble, beautiful child.' The -ko suffix is one of the most traditional endings for Japanese feminine names.
Kimiko carries the elegant formality of traditional Japanese naming, a name that sounds as graceful as it looks when written in kanji characters.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Kimiko is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1909–2024). Its Japanese roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Kimiko is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #4598), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kimiko climbed 1511 spots in the last 20 years — from #6109 to #4598.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 135 | #5056 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 175 | #7311 | — |
| 2000s | 191 | #6704 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 237 | #4712 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 336 | #3256 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 147 | #4456 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 102 | #4633 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 10 | #6559 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 13 | #4026 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 66 | #3587 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 249 | #1791 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 157 | #1896 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 8 | #1676 | — |
The Story of Kimiko
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1981, Kimiko is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Kimiko are most likely born between 1971 and 1991.
How rare is Kimiko?
Only about 1 in every 120,000 babies born in 2024 was named Kimiko — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1909, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1980s with 336 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Kimiko by the numbers
- Would fill 38 school buses
- Meeting one Kimiko per day would take 5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(97 years, 1909–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | #4598 |
| 2023 | 35 | #4152 |
| 2022 | 19 | #6350 |
| 2021 | 28 | #4779 |
| 2020 | 23 | #5401 |
| 2019 | 12 | #8852 |
| 2018 | 14 | #7973 |
| 2017 | 14 | #8092 |
| 2016 | 21 | #6082 |
| 2015 | 15 | #7821 |
| 2014 | 28 | #4961 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8369 |
| 2012 | 18 | #7016 |
| 2011 | 14 | #8427 |
| 2010 | 25 | #5516 |
| 2009 | 24 | #5807 |
| 2008 | 23 | #6043 |
| 2007 | 19 | #6963 |
| 2006 | 19 | #6725 |
| 2005 | 24 | #5361 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kimiko a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kimiko most popular?
How popular is the name Kimiko?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1909–2024