Iro
A name of Japanese origin, meaning "color" or "colored thread".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Iro. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Iro today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Iro births was 2024 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Iro. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Iro. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2024
7 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,258
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Iro: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Iro 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 Iro during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Iro
The name Iro has its origins in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in southwestern Nigeria, as well as parts of Benin and Togo. It is believed to have derived from the Yoruba word "iro," meaning "blessing" or "good fortune."
In Yoruba culture, names often carry significant meaning and are chosen to reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the hopes and aspirations of the parents. The name Iro is no exception, as it expresses the desire for the child to be blessed and to enjoy a prosperous life.
While the name Iro has ancient roots in the Yoruba tradition, its earliest recorded use is not well-documented. However, it has been a popular name among the Yoruba people for centuries and has been carried by various individuals throughout history.
One notable historical figure named Iro was a Yoruba chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his wisdom and leadership skills and played a significant role in the political affairs of his community.
Another individual named Iro was a renowned Yoruba artist who lived in the 19th century. He was celebrated for his intricate woodcarvings and his ability to capture the essence of Yoruba culture through his art.
In more recent times, Iro Murata was a Japanese writer and poet who lived from 1888 to 1966. She was known for her lyrical and introspective works, which explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition.
Iro Sikivu was a Tanzanian politician and activist who lived from 1932 to 2003. She played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence in Tanzania and was a vocal advocate for women's rights and social justice.
Iro Haarla is a Finnish jazz pianist and composer who has been active in the music scene since the 1970s. She is renowned for her innovative and improvisational style and has collaborated with numerous acclaimed musicians.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Iro throughout history, each making their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Iro + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Iro as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Iro: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Iro?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Iro 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 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Iro a common name?
We classify Iro as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Iro most popular?
The single biggest year for Iro was 2024, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Iro is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Iro in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Iro a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Iro 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.
Is Iro still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Iro in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Iro can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Iro?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.