Subaru
The Japanese name meaning "my family's possession or property".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Subaru. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Subaru today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Subaru births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Subaru. 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 Subaru. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,869
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Subaru: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Subaru 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 Subaru 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 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Subaru
The given name Subaru has its origins in Japanese culture and language. It is derived from the Japanese word "subaru," which means the Pleiades star cluster or "mu," a comet-like object. The name has been in use since ancient times and has strong celestial associations.
In Japanese mythology, the Pleiades star cluster was believed to be the resting place for the souls of warriors who died in battle. It was considered a sacred and auspicious symbol, representing courage, resilience, and honor. The name Subaru was often given to children with the hope that they would embody these virtues.
The earliest recorded use of the name Subaru can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. During this time, the name appeared in various literary works, such as poetry collections and historical records. One notable figure from this era was Subaru no Fujiwara (936-997 CE), a renowned poet and courtier from the Fujiwara clan.
In the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE), the name Subaru gained further popularity among the samurai class. The Pleiades star cluster was considered a guiding light for warriors, and the name was believed to bring good fortune and protection in battle. One famous samurai who bore the name was Subaru Minamoto (1192-1253 CE), a skilled swordsman and military strategist.
During the Edo period (1603-1868 CE), the name Subaru continued to be used, particularly among the aristocratic and warrior classes. One notable figure from this time was Subaru Tokugawa (1673-1746 CE), a prominent daimyo (feudal lord) and member of the powerful Tokugawa shogunate.
In modern times, the name Subaru has maintained its popularity in Japan. Some notable individuals with this name include Subaru Shibutani (born 1977), a Japanese-American figure skater who won two bronze medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and Subaru Kimura (born 1974), a Japanese rock musician and lead vocalist of the band Flowsik.
While the name Subaru has its roots in Japanese culture and celestial associations, it has also gained recognition globally due to its unique sound and meaning. Many parents around the world have chosen to name their children Subaru, appreciating its connection to the stars and the virtues it represents.
People
Subaru + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Subaru 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
Subaru: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Subaru?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Subaru 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Subaru a common name?
We classify Subaru as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Subaru most popular?
The single biggest year for Subaru was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Subaru is about 10 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 Subaru in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Subaru a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Subaru 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 Subaru still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Subaru 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 Subaru 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 are named Subaru?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.