Find out how popular the first name Kito has been for the last 44 years (from 1974 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kito by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Kito is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 94% of people named Kito being male.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Kito.

The history of the first name Kito

The name Kito originates from the Japanese language and culture. It is believed to have originated in the late 19th or early 20th century, during the Meiji period (1868-1912) when Western influences began to shape Japanese society and culture.

Kito is a shortened form of the Japanese name Kitora, which itself is derived from the Japanese word "kitoru," meaning "to obtain" or "to acquire." The name Kitora was likely chosen to express the wish for a child to acquire positive traits or achieve success in life.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kito can be found in the historical records of the Meiji era, where a samurai warrior named Kito Masahiro (1857-1923) was noted for his bravery and loyalty during the Boshin War (1868-1869), a conflict that marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the beginning of the Meiji Restoration.

In the early 20th century, Kito Motoji (1899-1983) was a prominent Japanese architect who designed numerous buildings in Tokyo, including the Tokyo Central Post Office and the Tokyo War Damage Insurance Building. His work helped shape the modern architectural landscape of the Japanese capital.

Another historical figure named Kito was Kito Sayuri (1915-2001), a Japanese geisha who became famous for her memoir "Memoirs of a Geisha," which provided a rare glimpse into the secretive world of geisha culture in the early 20th century.

In the world of Japanese literature, Kito Hiromi (1925-2008) was a renowned poet and author, best known for her collections of tanka poetry and her contributions to the feminist movement in Japan.

Lastly, Kito Akira (1942-2022) was a respected Japanese painter and calligrapher, who combined traditional Japanese art forms with modern techniques and themes, creating a unique and influential style.

While the name Kito has its roots in Japanese culture, it has since been adopted by people around the world, often as a middle name or surname. However, its historical significance and linguistic origins remain firmly rooted in the Japanese language and history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kito was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kito, please contact us.

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