Takeya
A Japanese masculine name meaning "bamboo arrow" or "warrior".
Name Census estimates that about 608 living Americans carry the first name Takeya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Takeya today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Takeya births was 1993 (33 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Takeya. 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.
People living today
608
~ 1 in 563,741 Americans
Peak year
1993
33 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2009 SSA rank
#19,904
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Takeya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Takeya from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 250 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Takeya 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 Takeya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Takeyas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, Maryland, Florida recorded the most babies named Takeya, while New Jersey, Florida, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 16 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Takeya
The given name Takeya has its origins in Japanese culture, specifically rooted in the Edo period (1603-1868) of Japan's history. It is derived from the Japanese words "take," meaning "bamboo," and "ya," which can refer to a hut, house, or shop. Together, the name Takeya evokes the image of a bamboo shop or dwelling.
In ancient Japan, bamboo was a highly valued material, prized for its strength, flexibility, and versatility. Bamboo artisans and craftsmen were respected members of society, and the name Takeya may have been given to individuals associated with this trade or those who lived in bamboo dwellings.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Takeya was a renowned bamboo artisan who lived in the late 17th century. His intricate and innovative bamboo creations were highly sought after by the nobility and samurai class of the time.
In the 19th century, a Buddhist monk named Takeya Zen'ichi gained recognition for his calligraphy skills and his teachings on mindfulness and spiritual enlightenment. His writings and teachings influenced many in the Buddhist community.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), a politician and diplomat named Takeya Kageyoshi played a crucial role in establishing Japan's diplomatic relations with Western nations. He served as the first Japanese ambassador to several European countries and was instrumental in modernizing Japan's international policies.
In the realm of literature, the name Takeya is associated with the celebrated novelist Takeya Aleko, who lived from 1883 to 1956. His novels, which explored themes of love, tragedy, and societal change, were widely acclaimed and remain influential works in Japanese literature.
Another notable figure was Takeya Masatoshi, a pioneering engineer and industrialist who lived from 1895 to 1968. He was instrumental in the development of Japan's automotive industry and played a significant role in advancing the country's technological capabilities during the post-World War II era.
While these examples highlight some of the prominent individuals who have carried the name Takeya throughout history, it is important to note that the name has been cherished and embraced by many families and individuals across various regions of Japan, each with their own unique stories and connections to this evocative and deeply rooted name.
People
Takeya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Takeya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Takeya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Takeya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 608 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Takeya 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 563,741 US residents.
Is Takeya a common name?
We classify Takeya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 640 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Takeya most popular?
The single biggest year for Takeya was 1993, when 33 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Takeya is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Takeya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Takeya 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.