Muneo
A Japanese masculine name meaning "to obey or yield to".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Muneo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Muneo today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Muneo births was 1925 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Muneo. 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 Muneo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1925
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1925 SSA rank
#4,689
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Muneo: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Muneo 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 Muneo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Muneo
The given name Muneo has its origins in the Japanese language, originating from the word "mune," which means "virtue" or "honor." This name's roots can be traced back to ancient Japan, where it was initially used as a masculine name with strong cultural significance.
During the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan, the name Muneo gained prominence among the nobility and samurai class. It was often bestowed upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional courage, integrity, and adherence to the bushido code of honor. The name was seen as a symbol of one's commitment to upholding virtuous principles and living an honorable life.
In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the name Muneo was frequently associated with renowned warriors and samurai leaders. One notable figure bearing this name was Muneo Yoshitaka (1163-1238), a skilled samurai and military commander who served under the Minamoto clan during the Genpei War.
As Japan entered the Edo period (1603-1868), the name Muneo continued to hold significance, particularly among the samurai class and those aspiring to uphold traditional Japanese values. During this time, Muneo Naganuma (1786-1846) was a prominent scholar and poet who contributed to the preservation of Japanese literature and culture.
In more recent history, Muneo Suzuki (1919-2006) was a renowned Japanese economist and politician who served as the Minister of International Trade and Industry and played a crucial role in shaping Japan's post-World War II economic policies.
Another notable individual with the name Muneo is Muneo Tanaka (born 1940), a former Japanese politician who held various positions in the government, including the Minister of Science and Technology. However, his career was marred by a political scandal known as the Muneo Tanaka affair, which ultimately led to his resignation.
Throughout history, the name Muneo has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, and scholars. One such example is Muneo Nakazawa (1939-2019), a renowned manga artist and author whose work, particularly "Barefoot Gen," provided a poignant depiction of the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
While the name Muneo has its roots in Japanese culture, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world, particularly among those with an appreciation for Japanese traditions and values. The name continues to carry the connotations of honor, virtue, and a commitment to upholding moral principles.
People
Muneo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Muneo 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
Muneo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Muneo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Muneo 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 - US residents.
Is Muneo a common name?
We classify Muneo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% 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 Muneo most popular?
The single biggest year for Muneo was 1925, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Muneo is about 0 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 Muneo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Muneo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Muneo 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 Muneo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Muneo 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 Muneo 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 common is the name Muneo?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.