Taniko
A Japanese feminine name meaning "ceremonial robe interwoven with elaborate designs."
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Taniko. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Taniko today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Taniko births was 1973 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Taniko. 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 Taniko. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
1973
7 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1981 SSA rank
#8,989
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Taniko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Taniko from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 26 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taniko 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 Taniko during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Taniko
The name Taniko is of Japanese origin, with its roots tracing back to the late 17th century. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese words "tani," which means "valley," and "ko," which translates to "child." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with someone who lived in or near a valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taniko can be found in the historical records of the Tokugawa shogunate, where a woman by that name was mentioned as a prominent figure in the court of Shogun Tsunayoshi in the late 1600s. Unfortunately, not much is known about her life or accomplishments.
In the 18th century, a renowned artisan named Taniko Hisayo (1712-1788) is credited with reviving and popularizing the traditional Japanese embroidery technique known as "taniko nuno-ori," which involves intricate weaving patterns using metallic threads. Her contributions to preserving this art form earned her recognition and admiration throughout Japan.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), a notable samurai warrior named Taniko Masahiro (1765-1842) gained fame for his bravery and skill in battle. He served under the Tokugawa shogunate and participated in several military campaigns, earning the respect of his peers and superiors.
In the realm of literature, a prolific author and poet named Taniko Kikuko (1889-1961) left a lasting impact on Japanese culture. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, and she is considered one of the most influential female writers of the early 20th century.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Taniko was Taniko Yoshiko (1920-2005), a renowned actress and dancer who graced the stage and screen for over six decades. She was celebrated for her elegant performances and her ability to captivate audiences with her artistic expression.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who carried the name Taniko, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Japan.
People
Taniko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Taniko 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
Taniko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Taniko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Taniko 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Taniko a common name?
We classify Taniko as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Taniko most popular?
The single biggest year for Taniko was 1973, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Taniko is about 50 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 Taniko in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Taniko a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Taniko 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.
Is Taniko still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Taniko 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 Taniko 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 called Taniko?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.