Miku
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 136 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
inflection of mik: definite nominative singular indefinite dative/ablative singular
Miku is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin, commonly written with kanji such as 美空 ('beautiful sky') or 美久 ('beautiful, long-lasting'). The meaning varies by character choice, but all combinations carry a sense of loveliness and aspiration.
Miku gained international recognition through Hatsune Miku, the virtual pop star and Vocaloid character launched in 2007, whose teal-haired image became a global phenomenon. For anime and Japanese pop culture fans, the name carries a futuristic, artistic energy while remaining genuinely traditional in Japan.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Miku is a girl's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (1996–2024). 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, Miku is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #10778), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Miku climbed 546 spots in the last 20 years — from #11324 to #10778.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 23 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 17 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 77 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 19 | — |
The Story of Miku
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2005, Miku is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Miku are most likely born between 1996 and 2015.
How rare is Miku?
Only about 1 in every 400,000 babies born in 2024 was named Miku — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1996, peaked in the 2000s with 77 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Miku by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(18 years, 1996–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | #10778 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13019 |
| 2022 | 7 | #13136 |
| 2014 | 5 | #18367 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18392 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14343 |
| 2009 | 9 | #12136 |
| 2008 | 13 | #9340 |
| 2007 | 6 | #16911 |
| 2005 | 13 | #8687 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11324 |
| 2003 | 6 | #15150 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10806 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14754 |
| 2000 | 6 | #14410 |
| 1999 | 5 | #16050 |
| 1998 | 8 | #10796 |
| 1996 | 6 | #12918 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1996–2024