Mitsuo
A masculine Japanese name meaning "shining man" or "shining hero".
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Mitsuo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mitsuo today is around 96 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mitsuo births was 1925 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mitsuo. 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 Mitsuo is about 96 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mitsuos were born before 1940.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mitsuo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1925
40 babies that year
Average age
96
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,789
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Mitsuo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mitsuo from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 321 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mitsuo 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 Mitsuo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mitsuos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mitsuo
Mitsuo is a masculine Japanese given name with a rich cultural heritage dating back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE). The name is composed of two kanji characters: "mitsu" meaning "light" or "bright," and "o" meaning "male" or "man." Historically, the name was associated with nobility and distinguished families in Japan.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mitsuo is found in the ancient Japanese text, "The Tale of Genji," written in the early 11th century by the prominent author Murasaki Shikibu. In this literary masterpiece, a minor character bears the name Mitsuo, suggesting its usage among the aristocracy during the Heian period.
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the name Mitsuo gained popularity among samurai warriors and feudal lords. One notable figure was Mitsuo Tokugawa (1569-1592), a member of the powerful Tokugawa clan and a distinguished military leader who fought alongside Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Sengoku period.
In the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), Mitsuo Hashimoto (1737-1786) was a renowned scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the development of Japanese literature and philosophy. His works, including haiku and waka poetry, are still studied and appreciated today.
Moving into the modern era, Mitsuo Fuchida (1902-1976) was a Japanese naval aviator and captain who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. Despite his role in the infamous attack, he later converted to Christianity and became an advocate for peace and reconciliation between Japan and the United States.
Another notable bearer of the name was Mitsuo Aida (1924-1991), a Japanese sculptor and ceramist known for his avant-garde and abstract works. His sculptures and ceramic pieces are displayed in museums and galleries around the world, showcasing his unique artistic vision and innovative techniques.
These are just a few examples of the rich history and cultural significance associated with the Japanese given name Mitsuo. From ancient literary works to modern artistic and military figures, the name has left an indelible mark on Japanese society and culture over the centuries.
People
Mitsuo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mitsuo 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
Mitsuo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mitsuo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mitsuo 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 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Mitsuo a common name?
We classify Mitsuo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 521 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mitsuo most popular?
The single biggest year for Mitsuo was 1925, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mitsuo is about 96 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mitsuo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mitsuo 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.