Kiyoto
A Japanese masculine name meaning "endurance", "permanence", or "eternal".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Kiyoto. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kiyoto today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kiyoto births was 1918 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kiyoto. 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 Kiyoto is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Kiyotos were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kiyoto. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1918
12 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1928 SSA rank
#2,960
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Kiyoto: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kiyoto from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 48 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
Kiyoto 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 Kiyoto during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kiyotos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Kiyoto
The given name Kiyoto is of Japanese origin, deriving from the words "kiyo" meaning "pure" or "blessed," and "to" meaning "soaring" or "flying." This combination of elements suggests a name associated with purity, grace, and loftiness.
In ancient Japan, names held profound cultural and spiritual significance, often reflecting the aspirations and values of the family bestowing the name. Kiyoto's roots can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE), a golden age of Japanese art, literature, and cultural refinement.
While no definitive historical records pinpoint the earliest use of Kiyoto, the name's linguistic components resonate with the poetic sensibilities of the era, where appreciation for nature's beauty and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment were highly valued.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Kiyoto was a renowned Noh actor and playwright from the 15th century. Kiyoto Kanze (1435-1516) was a celebrated master of the traditional Japanese theater form, renowned for his elegant performances and contributions to the art's development.
Another notable figure was Kiyoto Okubo (1830-1878), a prominent samurai and statesman during the tumultuous Bakumatsu period. He played a pivotal role in the Meiji Restoration, which ushered in the modernization of Japan and the transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the imperial rule of the Emperor Meiji.
In the realm of literature, Kiyoto Matsumoto (1899-1988) was a respected poet and essayist, known for his evocative works that captured the essence of the Japanese spirit and the transience of life's moments.
Moving into the 20th century, Kiyoto Ishikawa (1923-2018) was a distinguished diplomat and political figure. He served as Japan's ambassador to the United States and played a crucial role in fostering strong diplomatic ties between the two nations in the post-World War II era.
Another noteworthy individual was Kiyoto Atsumi (1928-2008), a renowned architect and urban planner. His innovative designs and visionary projects aimed to harmonize modern urban living with traditional Japanese aesthetics and environmental sustainability.
While these are just a few examples, the name Kiyoto has carried a legacy of cultural significance, artistic expression, and societal contributions throughout Japan's rich history.
People
Kiyoto + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kiyoto 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
Kiyoto: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kiyoto?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kiyoto 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Kiyoto a common name?
We classify Kiyoto as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 70 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kiyoto most popular?
The single biggest year for Kiyoto was 1918, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kiyoto is about 86 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 Kiyoto in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kiyoto a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kiyoto 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 Kiyoto still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kiyoto 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 Kiyoto 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 named Kiyoto?
Want to know how many people have the name Kiyoto? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.