Shizu
A Japanese feminine name meaning "quiet" or "calm".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Shizu. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shizu today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shizu births was 1920 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shizu. 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 Shizu. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
9 babies that year
Average age
-
1922 SSA rank
#5,681
Tracked since 1880
Origin
Meaning and history of Shizu
Shizu is a Japanese given name with origins dating back several centuries. The name is derived from the Japanese words "shizuka" meaning "quiet" or "calm," and "ko" which is a common suffix added to Japanese names.
In ancient Japan, the name Shizu was often given to baby girls born during peaceful times or in tranquil environments. It was meant to symbolize a serene and composed nature, qualities that were highly valued in traditional Japanese culture.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Shizu can be found in the Heian period (794-1185 AD) literary work, "The Tale of Genji." In this classic novel, a minor character named Shizu is described as a gentle and graceful woman, embodying the qualities associated with her name.
Throughout Japanese history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shizu. One such figure was Shizu Narahara (1939-2018), a renowned Japanese photographer celebrated for her intimate portrayal of everyday life in post-war Japan. Her work captured the essence of Japan's transition into modernity and continues to influence contemporary photographers.
Another prominent individual was Shizu Nomura (1909-1996), a pioneering Japanese businesswoman who founded the cosmetics company Shiseido in 1915. She played a significant role in introducing modern beauty concepts to Japan and helped shape the country's cosmetics industry.
In the realm of literature, Shizu Yabu (1907-1988) was a celebrated Japanese writer and poet. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. She was recognized with several prestigious literary awards, including the Yomiuri Prize for Literature in 1949.
The name Shizu also holds historical significance in the world of Japanese martial arts. Shizu Kudo (1909-1998) was a renowned master of Judo and Aikido, renowned for her exceptional skills and contributions to the popularization of these disciplines among women.
Another notable figure bearing the name Shizu was Shizu Higashi (1921-2007), a Japanese classical dancer and choreographer. She dedicated her life to preserving and promoting traditional Japanese dance forms, earning numerous accolades for her artistry and cultural preservation efforts.
While these are just a few examples, the name Shizu has been carried by many remarkable individuals throughout Japanese history, each leaving their mark in various fields and embodying the serene and composed qualities associated with this name.
People
Shizu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shizu 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
Shizu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shizu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shizu 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 Shizu a common name?
We classify Shizu 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, 28 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shizu most popular?
The single biggest year for Shizu was 1920, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shizu is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shizu a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shizu in the SSA data are female. 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.