Find out how popular the first name Shoko has been for the last 10 years (from 1984 to 1993) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shoko by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Shoko is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1993, there were 9 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Shoko.

The history of the first name Shoko

The name Shoko has its origins in the Japanese language. It is a feminine name that dates back several centuries in Japan. The name is derived from the Japanese word "shoko" which means "soaring" or "flying high." It is believed that the name was originally bestowed upon girls in hopes that they would soar to great heights and achieve success in life.

In ancient Japanese literature, the name Shoko can be found in several historical texts and records. One notable example is the Tale of Genji, a classic work of Japanese literature written in the early 11th century. In this text, a minor character named Shoko is mentioned as a lady-in-waiting to one of the main characters.

The earliest recorded use of the name Shoko can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185 AD) in Japan. During this time, it was a popular name among the aristocratic class and members of the imperial court.

Throughout history, several notable Japanese women have borne the name Shoko. One of the most famous was Shoko Asahara (1955-2018), the founder and leader of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.

Another notable figure was Shoko Egawa (1920-2008), a Japanese writer and feminist who played a significant role in promoting women's rights and gender equality in post-World War II Japan.

In the field of sports, Shoko Murata (born 1989) is a Japanese judoka who won a gold medal in the women's 78 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Shoko Tendo (1913-2001) was a celebrated Japanese artist known for her intricate woodblock prints and paintings depicting traditional Japanese themes and landscapes.

Lastly, Shoko Nakazawa (1842-1914) was a prominent educator and pioneer of modern education in Japan during the Meiji era, playing a crucial role in establishing formal schooling for girls.

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 Shoko was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!