Toivo
A boy's name of Finnish origin with 535 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a male given name borrowed from Finnish Toivo
Toivo is a boy's baby name of Finnish origin meaning 'hope,' from the Finnish toivo. Hope is one of the three theological virtues in Christian tradition alongside faith and charity, giving the name deep spiritual significance alongside its simple, beautiful meaning.
Toivo is a traditional Finnish masculine name that has traveled with Finnish American communities, particularly in the Great Lakes region where Finnish immigration was concentrated in the early twentieth century. Its meaning — hope — is among the most universal and beautiful aspirations any name can carry.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Toivo is rooted in the Finnish tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1906 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Toivo’s 535 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Toivo has 23+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1906.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | #4500 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 176 | #2159 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 321 | #1041 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 33 | #905 | — |
The Story of Toivo
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Toivo is a name steeped in history. Boys named Toivo are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Toivo?
With 535 total births on record, Toivo remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1906, peaked in the 1910s with 321 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Toivo by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Toivo per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(23 years, 1906–1930)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 5 | #4500 |
| 1929 | 6 | #3920 |
| 1928 | 12 | #2514 |
| 1926 | 16 | #2066 |
| 1925 | 11 | #2738 |
| 1924 | 13 | #2458 |
| 1923 | 23 | #1640 |
| 1922 | 22 | #1691 |
| 1921 | 39 | #1158 |
| 1920 | 34 | #1250 |
| 1919 | 33 | #1245 |
| 1918 | 57 | #886 |
| 1917 | 49 | #918 |
| 1916 | 39 | #1041 |
| 1915 | 24 | #1405 |
| 1914 | 40 | #866 |
| 1913 | 39 | #758 |
| 1912 | 13 | #1416 |
| 1911 | 15 | #892 |
| 1910 | 12 | #979 |
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, 1906–1930