Nobuko
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 371 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Japanese.
Nobuko is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin, combining the kanji for nobu (trust, belief, extend) and ko (child), meaning 'child of trust' or 'faithful child.'
The -ko ending was the traditional marker of Japanese feminine names throughout the 20th century, used in names like Yoko, Hiroko, and Keiko. Nobuko carries the graceful formality of classical Japanese naming, connecting a girl to that elegant tradition of character-meaning names.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Nobuko'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. Nobuko follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Nobuko'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
Nobuko has 25+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1915.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 12 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 63 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 234 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 62 | — |
The Story of Nobuko
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Nobuko is a name steeped in history. Girls named Nobuko are most likely born between 1915 and 1934.
How rare is Nobuko?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Nobuko is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1915, peaked in the 1920s with 234 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Nobuko by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Nobuko per day would take 1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(25 years, 1915–1941)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | 6 | #4297 |
| 1940 | 6 | #4219 |
| 1938 | 6 | #4210 |
| 1937 | 5 | #4752 |
| 1935 | 9 | #3094 |
| 1934 | 6 | #4164 |
| 1933 | 12 | #2507 |
| 1932 | 9 | #3214 |
| 1931 | 7 | #3757 |
| 1930 | 9 | #3261 |
| 1929 | 21 | #1806 |
| 1928 | 17 | #2166 |
| 1927 | 20 | #2002 |
| 1926 | 27 | #1612 |
| 1925 | 28 | #1596 |
| 1924 | 33 | #1466 |
| 1923 | 16 | #2343 |
| 1922 | 23 | #1826 |
| 1921 | 27 | #1657 |
| 1920 | 22 | #1871 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nobuko a boy's or girl's name?
When was Nobuko most popular?
How popular is the name Nobuko?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–1941