Saku
A Japanese name meaning "blossom" or "cherry blossom".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Saku. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Saku today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saku births was 2011 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saku. 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 Saku. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2011
5 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2011 SSA rank
#13,965
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Saku: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Saku 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 Saku 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 Saku
The name Saku has its origins in the Japanese language, tracing back to the early modern period of Japanese history. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "sakura," which refers to the beautiful cherry blossom flowers that bloom in spring and hold significant cultural significance in Japan.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Saku can be found in the literary works of the Edo period (1603-1868), where it was often used as a poetic reference to the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossoms. In traditional Japanese literature, the name Saku was associated with themes of impermanence, renewal, and the ephemeral nature of life.
The name Saku gained further prominence during the Meiji era (1868-1912), a period of rapid modernization and Westernization in Japan. During this time, the name was embraced as a symbol of Japan's rich cultural heritage and appreciation for the natural world.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Saku. One such figure was Saku Sōmoku (1584-1635), a renowned Japanese painter and calligrapher of the early Edo period, known for his intricate depictions of flora and fauna.
Another prominent individual was Saku Rihachirō (1833-1904), a influential educator and philosopher who played a pivotal role in shaping Japan's modern education system during the Meiji Restoration.
In the realm of literature, Saku Koihi (1828-1905) was a celebrated poet and writer, renowned for his haiku and tanka poetry that celebrated the beauty of nature and the changing seasons.
Saku Yoshida (1910-1995) was a renowned Japanese artist and printmaker, recognized for his innovative woodblock prints that captured the essence of traditional Japanese art while incorporating modern techniques.
More recently, Saku Miyamoto (born 1951) is a respected Japanese architect and urban planner, known for his environmentally conscious designs that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
The name Saku continues to resonate with Japanese culture and tradition, evoking images of the delicate cherry blossoms and the appreciation for the transient beauty found in nature.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Saku
People
Saku + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saku as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Saku: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saku?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saku 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 Saku a common name?
We classify Saku 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 Saku most popular?
The single biggest year for Saku was 2011, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saku is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Saku a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Saku 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.