Tokyo
Primarily a girl's name of Japanese origin with 82 recorded births. Also given to 22 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A prefecture and capital city of Japan.
Tokyo is a girl's and boy's baby name, a place name of Japanese origin meaning 'eastern capital' — from the Japanese tō (east) and kyō (capital). Japan's capital city, one of the world's greatest metropolises, lends the name its associations with modernity, precision, tradition, and extraordinary cultural richness.
Tokyo as a given name is a bold place-name choice, sitting alongside Brooklyn, Paris, and London in the category of city names worn as personal identities. With 82 recorded births, it is genuinely rare — a name that announces its bearer's connection to Japanese culture or simply celebrates one of the world's most extraordinary cities. The character Tokyo in the Spanish series Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) also brought this naming concept wider attention.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Tokyo is a girl's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (2019–2024). 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, Tokyo is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #8360), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tokyo has 6+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2019.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 75 | #7843 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 7 | #13689 | — |
The Story of Tokyo
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Tokyo is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Tokyo are most likely born between 2019 and 2024.
How rare is Tokyo?
Only about 1 in every 276,923 babies born in 2024 was named Tokyo — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2019, peaked in the 2020s with 75 births that decade.
Tokyo by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(6 years, 2019–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | #8360 |
| 2023 | 17 | #6897 |
| 2022 | 20 | #6190 |
| 2021 | 10 | #10233 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7537 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13689 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tokyo as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Tokyo has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 22 births since 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tokyo a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tokyo most popular?
How popular is the name Tokyo?
Can Tokyo be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2019–2024