Toki
Primarily a girl's name of Japanese origin with 12 recorded births. Also given to 10 boys.
Meaning & Origin
When Toki hit its peak of 7 births in 1961, post-war optimism and the baby boom were producing the largest generation of Americans in history, and naming trends reflected that era’s values of stability and tradition.
Today, Toki reads as a name tied to a specific era — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Toki is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Toki is a boy's and girl's baby name of Japanese origin, written with characters meaning 'time' (時) or 'opportunity,' or alternatively from Old Norse Tóki, a diminutive of names containing the element Þórr (Thor). In Japanese, it may also refer to the Japanese crested ibis, a bird of cultural significance.
Toki bridges East and West — equally at home in a Japanese family as in one drawn to Norse heritage. Its two-syllable simplicity and bright vowel sound give it a cheerful, light quality across both traditions.
EtymologyShow more
Toki is built from 4 letters and two syllables — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Japanese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Toki creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Toki has 2+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1922.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 | #5797 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 5 | #5716 | — |
The Story of Toki
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1961, Toki is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Toki are most likely born between 1951 and 1961.
How rare is Toki?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Toki is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1922, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 7 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(2 years, 1922–1961)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 7 | #5797 |
| 1922 | 5 | #5716 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Toki as a Boy's Name
Toki is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 10 recorded births since 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toki a boy's or girl's name?
When was Toki most popular?
How popular is the name Toki?
Can Toki be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1922–1961