Midori
A Japanese feminine name derived from midori meaning "green" or "greenery".
Name Census estimates that about 931 living Americans carry the first name Midori. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Midori today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Midori births was 1988 (33 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Midori. 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
931
~ 1 in 368,157 Americans
Peak year
1988
33 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,242
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Midori: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Midori from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 255 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Midori 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 Midori during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Midoris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Hawaii, Texas recorded the most babies named Midori, while Washington, New York, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 77 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Midori
The given name Midori has its origins in the Japanese language. It is a feminine name that translates to "green" or "verdure" in English, reflecting the vibrant color found in nature.
In Japanese culture, the name Midori has been associated with the appreciation of natural beauty and harmony with the environment. It carries connotations of freshness, vitality, and growth, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a name that evokes a sense of serenity and renewal.
The earliest documented use of the name Midori can be traced back to ancient Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and literary works that celebrated the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. In these works, references to the color green and the lush greenery were often personified through the name Midori.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Midori was Midori Umeki (1915-2007), a Japanese-American actress who became the first Asian performer to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1957 for her role in the film "Sayonara."
Another prominent individual with the name Midori is the renowned Japanese-American violinist Midori Goto (born in 1971). She is widely recognized for her exceptional musical talents and has performed with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras since her childhood.
In the realm of sports, Midori Ito (born in 1969) is a former Japanese figure skater who achieved immense success in the 1980s and 1990s. She was the first woman to land a triple Axel jump in competition and won numerous titles, including the 1989 World Figure Skating Championships.
Midori Naka (born in 1971) is a Japanese actress and singer who has appeared in numerous television dramas, films, and theatrical productions. She is known for her versatility and has garnered critical acclaim for her performances throughout her career.
Midori Hirama (born in 1984) is a Japanese professional golfer who has won multiple tournaments on the LPGA Tour. Her achievements include winning the 2007 Mizuno Classic, marking her first LPGA victory.
While the name Midori has roots in Japanese culture, its meaning and association with nature's beauty have resonated across various cultures and regions, making it a popular choice for parents worldwide who seek a name that represents harmony and growth.
People
Midori + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Midori 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
Midori: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Midori?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 931 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Midori 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 368,157 US residents.
Is Midori a common name?
We classify Midori as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,224 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Midori most popular?
The single biggest year for Midori was 1988, when 33 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Midori is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Midori a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Midori 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.
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.