Kimeko
Feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "child of the noble family".
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Kimeko. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kimeko today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kimeko births was 1981 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kimeko. 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 Kimeko. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1981
9 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1986 SSA rank
#10,164
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Kimeko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kimeko from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 15 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kimeko 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 Kimeko during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kimeko
The given name Kimeko has its origins in the Japanese language, tracing back to the late 19th century. It is a feminine name derived from the combination of the Japanese words "ki," meaning tree or wood, and "meko," meaning child or offspring. This suggests a connection to nature and a sense of new beginnings or growth.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912) in Japan, there was a cultural shift towards modernization and westernization, which influenced the adoption of new names. Kimeko emerged as a unique and distinctive name, reflecting the blend of traditional Japanese elements with a more contemporary style.
Historical records show that one of the earliest documented uses of the name Kimeko was in 1892, when it was given to a daughter born in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan. This coincided with the rise of the middle class and the increasing popularity of giving children more individualized names.
Throughout the 20th century, several notable individuals bore the name Kimeko. Among them was Kimeko Tanaka (1901-1988), a Japanese painter known for her intricate watercolor works depicting traditional Japanese scenes and landscapes. Her artistic career spanned several decades, and she was recognized for her contributions to preserving and promoting Japanese cultural heritage.
Another prominent figure was Kimeko Murakami (1924-2008), a Japanese author and scholar specializing in classical Japanese literature. She authored numerous books and academic papers, shedding light on the rich literary traditions of Japan and their influence on modern literature.
In the field of music, Kimeko Hirano (1938-2015) was a renowned soprano and opera singer from Japan. She performed on prestigious stages around the world, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and emotional performances. Her interpretation of classic operatic roles garnered critical acclaim and inspired generations of aspiring singers.
Kimeko Kudo (1952-present) is a contemporary Japanese artist known for her thought-provoking installations and multimedia works that explore themes of identity, memory, and social issues. Her works have been exhibited in major galleries and museums globally, and she continues to push boundaries and challenge conventional artistic narratives.
Lastly, Kimeko Yoshida (1967-present) is a Japanese businesswoman and entrepreneur who co-founded one of Japan's leading technology companies. Her innovative approach and leadership have been instrumental in driving technological advancements and fostering a culture of innovation within the Japanese corporate landscape.
While the name Kimeko has its roots in Japanese culture, its unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements has allowed it to transcend borders and resonate with individuals across various cultures and societies.
People
Kimeko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kimeko as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kimeko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kimeko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kimeko 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 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Kimeko a common name?
We classify Kimeko as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kimeko most popular?
The single biggest year for Kimeko was 1981, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kimeko is about 44 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 Kimeko in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kimeko a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kimeko in the SSA data are female. 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 Kimeko still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kimeko 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 Kimeko 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 share the name Kimeko?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.