Motoki
A masculine Japanese name meaning "truth" and "samurai virtue".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Motoki. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Motoki today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Motoki births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Motoki. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Motoki. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,431
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Motoki: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Motoki 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 Motoki during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Motoki
The given name Motoki has its origins in Japan and is believed to have been derived from the Japanese words "moto" (meaning "origin" or "source") and "ki" (meaning "tree" or "wood"). The name itself carries a sense of connection to nature and one's roots.
In Japan, the name Motoki has been in use for several centuries, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE). During this time, Japan witnessed a flourishing of art, literature, and cultural traditions, and it is possible that the name was associated with the appreciation of nature prevalent in that era.
While there are no clear historical references to the name Motoki in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have been initially used among the samurai class and possibly had connections to the practice of martial arts or the appreciation of the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Motoki was Motoki Masahiro, a Japanese samurai who lived during the late 16th century and served under the renowned warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Motoki Masahiro played a crucial role in several military campaigns and is remembered for his bravery and loyalty.
Another notable figure in history who bore the name Motoki was Motoki Norinaga, a Japanese scholar and philosopher who lived from 1730 to 1801. Motoki Norinaga is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Edo period, known for his contributions to the development of the Kokugaku ("National Learning") movement, which emphasized the study and preservation of Japanese culture and traditions.
In the realm of literature, Motoki Shōkō (1902-1994) was a prominent Japanese author and playwright. His works often explored themes of existentialism, human nature, and the complexities of modern society. Motoki Shōkō's plays, such as "The Razor" and "The Water Station," have left a lasting impact on Japanese theater and continue to be studied and performed today.
Motoki Tatsunari (1915-2003) was a Japanese businessman and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the post-World War II economic recovery of Japan. He founded the company that would later become known as Kyocera Corporation, a multinational electronics and ceramics manufacturer. Motoki Tatsunari's vision and leadership were instrumental in the company's growth and success.
In the field of sports, Motoki Masahiro (born 1976) is a former professional baseball player from Japan. He played as an outfielder and first baseman for the Yomiuri Giants and the Orix BlueWave in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Motoki Masahiro was known for his power hitting and defensive skills, earning him recognition as one of the top players in NPB during his career.
People
Motoki + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Motoki 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
Motoki: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Motoki?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Motoki 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Motoki a common name?
We classify Motoki as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Motoki most popular?
The single biggest year for Motoki was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Motoki is about 13 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 Motoki in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Motoki a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Motoki 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 Motoki still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Motoki 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 Motoki 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 Motoki?
Want to know how many people have the name Motoki? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.