Sueko
A feminine Japanese name with multiple potential meanings, such as "happiness in longevity" or "sparkling child."
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Sueko. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sueko today is around 97 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sueko births was 1926 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sueko. 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
- • The typical person named Sueko is about 97 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Suekos were born before 1939.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sueko. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1926
19 babies that year
Average age
97
years old
1935 SSA rank
#2,553
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Sueko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sueko from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 131 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Sueko remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sueko 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 Sueko during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Suekos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sueko
The name Sueko is a Japanese given name with roots tracing back to the 9th century. Its origins can be found in the combination of two words from Old Japanese - "sue," meaning "to end" or "to terminate," and "ko," a particle often used to form given names. Together, the name Sueko carries the meaning of "final child" or "last-born."
In ancient Japanese culture, the birth order of children held significant importance, and names often reflected this hierarchy. Sueko was a name traditionally bestowed upon the youngest child in a family, signifying the completion or culmination of the parents' childbearing years.
While the name's historical usage can be traced back centuries, one of the earliest recorded mentions of Sueko appears in the Muromachi period (1336-1573). During this era, a notable Buddhist monk named Sueko Gessan (1407-1473) gained prominence for his spiritual teachings and contributions to Zen literature.
Another historically notable figure bearing the name Sueko was Sueko Hirayama (1782-1859), a renowned Japanese painter and calligrapher. Her artworks, particularly her intricate ink paintings, are celebrated for their mastery and elegance, showcasing the delicate beauty of Japanese artistic traditions.
In the realm of literature, Sueko Matsumoto (1911-2008) was a celebrated Japanese novelist and essayist. Her works, spanning multiple genres, explored themes of personal identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of modern Japanese society. Matsumoto's influential writings earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Noma Literary Prize.
Moving into the contemporary era, Sueko Kimura (1928-2018) was a prominent Japanese politician and activist. She dedicated her career to advocating for women's rights, gender equality, and social justice. Kimura's groundbreaking efforts paved the way for greater representation and empowerment of women in Japanese politics and society.
Another noteworthy figure is Sueko Aoki (born 1952), a renowned Japanese sculptor and installation artist. Her captivating works, often incorporating natural materials and exploring the relationship between nature and humanity, have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, garnering international acclaim.
While the name Sueko has its roots in ancient Japanese tradition, its enduring presence throughout history demonstrates its timeless quality and the profound impact of individuals who have carried this name across various fields and disciplines.
People
Sueko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sueko 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
Sueko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sueko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sueko 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 Sueko a common name?
We classify Sueko 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, 271 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sueko most popular?
The single biggest year for Sueko was 1926, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sueko is about 97 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sueko a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sueko 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.