Hideo
A masculine Japanese name meaning "excellent or admirable man".
Name Census estimates that about 44 living Americans carry the first name Hideo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hideo today is around 94 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hideo births was 1925 (62 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hideo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Hideo is about 94 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hideos were born before 1942.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hideo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
44
~ 1 in 7,789,871 Americans
Peak year
1925
62 babies that year
Average age
94
years old
1944 SSA rank
#3,269
Tracked since 1910
Popularity
Hideo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hideo from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 426 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hideo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Hideo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hideos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Hawaii, California, Washington recorded the most babies named Hideo, while Washington, California, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 224 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hideo
The name Hideo is derived from the Japanese language and has its origins dating back to the 8th century. It is a combination of two distinct words – "hi" meaning "excellent" or "admirable," and "o" which can signify various meanings such as "man," "great," or "hero." Together, the name Hideo carries connotations of an admirable, great, or heroic individual.
During the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan, the name Hideo was often associated with members of the imperial court and samurai warriors. It was considered a powerful and respectable name, reflecting the virtues and ideals upheld by the ruling class of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hideo can be found in the historical text "Nihon Shoki" (The Chronicles of Japan), which dates back to the 8th century. This ancient text mentions a prince named Hideo, who was a member of the imperial family during the reign of Emperor Monmu (683-707 CE).
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Hideo. One of the most famous was Hideo Noguchi (1876-1928), a Japanese bacteriologist who made significant contributions to the study of syphilis and yellow fever. His groundbreaking research and discoveries earned him international acclaim and recognition.
Another prominent figure was Hideo Kodama (1911-1984), a Japanese politician and businessman who played a crucial role in the economic and political landscape of post-World War II Japan. He was instrumental in establishing the Liberal Democratic Party, which has been the dominant political force in Japan for decades.
In the realm of literature, Hideo Furukawa (1964-present) is a celebrated Japanese author known for his novels exploring themes of identity, memory, and the human condition. His works, such as "Belka, Why Don't You Bark?" and "Horses, Horses, in the End the Horses," have garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
The world of martial arts also boasts a notable figure named Hideo Ohno (1936-2022), a Japanese karate master and founder of the Kyokushin Karate style. His disciplined approach and dedication to the art of karate earned him respect and admiration both in Japan and internationally.
Lastly, Hideo Nakata (1961-present) is a renowned Japanese film director best known for his groundbreaking horror movies, including the iconic "Ring" series. His works have significantly influenced the genre of J-horror (Japanese horror) and have gained a cult following worldwide.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Hideo
People
Hideo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hideo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hideo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hideo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 44 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hideo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 7,789,871 US residents.
Is Hideo a common name?
We classify Hideo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 805 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hideo most popular?
The single biggest year for Hideo was 1925, when 62 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hideo is about 94 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hideo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hideo in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.