Setsuo
A Japanese name meaning "ardent man" or "noble harvest".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Setsuo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Setsuo today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Setsuo births was 1918 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Setsuo. 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 Setsuo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1918
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1918 SSA rank
#4,713
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Setsuo: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Setsuo 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 Setsuo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Setsuo
The name Setsuo finds its origins in Japanese culture, dating back to the ancient Edo period (1603-1868). The name is derived from the combination of the Japanese words "setsu," meaning "explanation" or "narration," and "o," which is an honorific suffix.
In Japanese tradition, the name Setsuo was often given to children with the hope that they would grow to become skilled storytellers or orators, capable of captivating audiences with their words. The name's roots can be traced back to the rich literary tradition of Japan, where the art of storytelling was highly revered.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Setsuo appears in the 17th century, when a renowned Noh theater performer and playwright bore this name. Setsuo Zeami (1363-1443) is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of Noh theater, having authored numerous plays and treatises that shaped the art form for generations to come.
Throughout Japanese history, several notable individuals have carried the name Setsuo. Setsuo Ito (1880-1945) was a prominent architect who played a significant role in the modernization of Japanese architecture, blending traditional elements with Western influences. His works, including the Tokyo Imperial Palace and the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, are considered architectural masterpieces.
In the realm of literature, Setsuo Yazaki (1923-2004) was a celebrated novelist and poet, known for his profound exploration of human emotions and the complexities of modern society. His novel "The True Cruel Sea" is regarded as one of the masterpieces of contemporary Japanese literature.
Setsuo Sugihara (1899-1983) was a highly respected Japanese diplomat who served as the Vice-Consul for the Japanese Empire in Lithuania during World War II. He is remembered for his courageous actions in issuing transit visas to thousands of Jewish refugees, risking his career and personal safety to save countless lives from the Holocaust.
Another prominent figure with the name Setsuo was Setsuo Arai (1901-1996), a pioneering Japanese chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organic synthesis. His research laid the foundation for the development of numerous pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals, earning him international recognition and numerous accolades.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Setsuo, highlighting its deep cultural significance and the diverse array of fields in which it has been represented.
People
Setsuo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Setsuo 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
Setsuo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Setsuo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Setsuo 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 Setsuo a common name?
We classify Setsuo 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 Setsuo most popular?
The single biggest year for Setsuo was 1918, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Setsuo 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 Setsuo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Setsuo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Setsuo 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 Setsuo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Setsuo 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 Setsuo 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 share the name Setsuo?
Want to know how many people have the name Setsuo? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.