Sho first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Sho has been for the last 43 years (from 1982 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Sho

A Japanese name meaning "soaring" or "flying higher".

Popularity of Sho by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Sho is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 9 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sho.

YearMale CountFemale Count
202490
2023100
202290
2021100
2019120
2018120
201770
201690
2015130
2014160
201390
2012110
201180
2010150
2009160
2008100
200780
200670
200550
200450
2003140
2002160
2001140
2000150
199970
1998110
1997120
1996100
1995110
1994140
1993160
1992120
1991160
1990200
1989180
1988120
198790
198660
198550
198250

The history of the first name Sho

The name Sho has its origins in the Japanese language and culture. It is a unisex name that can be given to both boys and girls. The name is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "sho," which means "to soar" or "to fly." This suggests that the name was likely given to children with the hope that they would soar to great heights in life, both metaphorically and literally.

Historically, the name Sho has been associated with several notable figures in Japanese history. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the Nihon Shoki, an ancient Japanese chronicle that dates back to the 8th century. In this text, Sho is mentioned as the name of a prince who lived during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

Another notable figure with the name Sho was Sho Hashi (1372-1459), a Japanese Buddhist monk and calligrapher who lived during the Muromachi period. He was renowned for his mastery of the Japanese art of calligraphy and is considered one of the most influential calligraphers in Japanese history.

In the realm of literature, Sho Ikeda (1564-1619) was a prominent Japanese poet and scholar who lived during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the haiku form of poetry and is regarded as one of the most influential haiku poets of his time.

Moving forward in history, Sho Sakurai (1858-1939) was a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Japan from 1908 to 1912. He played a crucial role in shaping Japan's foreign policy during the early 20th century and was instrumental in the country's participation in World War I.

In more recent times, Sho Kosugi (born 1948) is a Japanese actor, martial artist, and choreographer who has appeared in numerous action films and television shows. He is best known for his roles in movies like "Revenge of the Ninja" and "Ninja III: The Domination."

While these are just a few examples, the name Sho has been carried by many notable individuals throughout Japanese history, spanning various fields such as religion, art, literature, politics, and entertainment. The name's association with the concept of soaring and flying has undoubtedly contributed to its enduring popularity and significance in Japanese culture.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sho was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sho, please contact us.

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