Misako
A feminine Japanese name meaning "beautiful blossom" or "blooming child".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Misako. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Misako today is around 85 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Misako births was 1923 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Misako. 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 Misako is about 85 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Misakos were born before 1951.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Misako. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1923
12 babies that year
Average age
85
years old
1932 SSA rank
#4,879
Tracked since 1880
Origin
Meaning and history of Misako
Misako is a Japanese given name for females. It is formed from the combination of the words "mi" meaning beautiful and "sako" meaning blossom or flower. The name can be interpreted as "beautiful blossom" or "beautiful flower."
The name has its origins in the Heian period of Japanese history, which spanned from 794 to 1185 CE. During this time, the aristocratic culture and literary traditions of Japan flourished, and names with poetic meanings inspired by nature became popular. The name Misako likely emerged as a reflection of this aesthetic sensibility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Misako can be found in the Genji Monogatari, a classic work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. The novel features a character named Misako no Kimi, a daughter of a high-ranking courtier.
In the 12th century, there is a record of a Japanese noblewoman named Misako Shōshi, who served as an attendant to the retired Emperor Toba. She was known for her calligraphy skills and contributed to the preservation of Japanese literary traditions.
Another notable figure with the name Misako was Misako Tamanoi (1839-1924), a Japanese educator and pioneer in women's education. She established one of the first private schools for girls in Japan and dedicated her life to promoting educational opportunities for women.
In the 20th century, Princess Misako Higashikuni (1903-1995) was a member of the Japanese imperial family. She was the wife of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who briefly served as the prime minister of Japan in 1945 at the end of World War II.
More recently, Misako Higashi (1971-) is a Japanese actress and singer who has appeared in numerous television dramas and films. She is known for her roles in popular series such as "Hana Yori Dango" and "Gokusen."
Throughout its history, the name Misako has maintained its association with beauty, grace, and the natural world, reflecting the cultural values and aesthetic traditions of Japan.
People
Misako + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Misako 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
Misako: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Misako?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Misako 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 Misako a common name?
We classify Misako 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, 85 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Misako most popular?
The single biggest year for Misako was 1923, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Misako is about 85 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Misako a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Misako 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.