Meko
A masculine Japanese name meaning "child of protection".
Name Census estimates that about 267 living Americans carry the first name Meko. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 65.4% of registrations being male. The average person named Meko today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Meko births was 1972 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Meko. 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.
People living today
267
~ 1 in 1,283,724 Americans
Peak year
1972
16 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2023 SSA rank
#8,686
Tracked since 1969
Gender
Gender distribution for Meko
Meko is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 280 total registrations, 183 (65.4%) were male and 97 (34.6%) were female.
Meko as a male name
- Ranked #8,686 in 2023
- 9 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2013 (13 births)
Meko as a female name
- Ranked #12,784 in 1995
- 6 female births in 1995
- Peak: 1973 (14 births)
Popularity
Meko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Meko from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 88 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Meko remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meko 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 Meko 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 Meko
The name Meko is believed to have its origins in the Yoruba language of West Africa, specifically from the region of present-day Nigeria. The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back several centuries, and their language has contributed numerous names to the broader cultural landscape.
In the Yoruba language, the name Meko is derived from the word "eko," which means "war" or "battle." It is thought to have been a name bestowed upon children, particularly boys, with the intention of instilling in them a strong and courageous spirit, one that would equip them to face the challenges of life with resilience and determination.
While the precise origin of the name Meko is difficult to pinpoint, there are historical references that suggest its usage dates back several centuries. Some scholars have found mentions of the name in ancient Yoruba folktales and oral traditions, though the specific contexts and details have been lost to time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meko can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a renowned Yoruba scholar and linguist who lived in the 19th century (1809-1891). Crowther's works shed light on the richness of Yoruba culture and language, including the use of names like Meko.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Meko. One such figure was Meko Nweze (1885-1964), a prominent Nigerian politician and activist who played a significant role in the early 20th century independence movement in his country.
Another individual of note was Meko Bamidele (1920-1986), a Nigerian writer and playwright whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and social justice. His plays, including "The Sacrifice" and "The Strugglers," are considered seminal works in the Nigerian literary canon.
In the realm of sports, Meko Malherbe (born 1989) is a South African rugby union player who has represented his country at the international level. His impressive career has spanned over a decade, and he is widely regarded as one of the top players in his position.
Additionally, Meko Ibekwe (born 1974) is a Nigerian-American artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and beyond. His unique style and exploration of cultural themes have garnered him recognition within the contemporary art world.
While these are just a few examples, the name Meko has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Meko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Meko as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Meko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Meko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 267 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Meko 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 1,283,724 US residents.
Is Meko a common name?
We classify Meko as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 280 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Meko most popular?
The single biggest year for Meko was 1972, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Meko is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Meko a male name?
Yes, 65.4% of people registered as Meko 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.