Teruo
A masculine Japanese name meaning "radiant man" or "shining man".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Teruo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Teruo today is around 103 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Teruo births was 1927 (37 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Teruo. 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 Teruo is about 103 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Teruos were born before 1933.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Teruo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1927
37 babies that year
Average age
103
years old
1935 SSA rank
#4,093
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Teruo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Teruo 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 183 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Teruo 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 Teruo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Teruos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Teruo
The name Teruo is of Japanese origin, deriving from the combination of the words "teru" meaning "shining" or "radiant" and "o" meaning "male." It is a name that conveys a sense of brightness and luminosity associated with masculinity. The earliest recorded instances of this name date back to the late 7th century during the Asuka period of ancient Japan.
In its earliest form, the name was written using the kanji characters 輝夫, reflecting its literal meaning of "radiant man." Over time, various alternative kanji renderings emerged, including 照雄 and 輝雄, while still retaining the same essential meaning. These variations in writing highlight the adaptability and evolution of Japanese names across different eras and regions.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Teruo was Teruo Nobori, a celebrated Japanese painter and artist who lived from 1890 to 1983. His vibrant and expressive works, often depicting traditional Japanese scenes and landscapes, earned him widespread acclaim both within Japan and internationally. Another prominent individual was Teruo Hidaka, a renowned Japanese mathematician born in 1924, whose contributions to the fields of differential geometry and topology left a lasting impact on the academic community.
In the realm of literature, Teruo Matsumoto stands out as a prominent figure. Born in 1939, he was a celebrated Japanese author and poet, known for his evocative and introspective works that explored themes of human existence, memory, and the natural world. His literary achievements earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Akutagawa Prize.
The name Teruo also found its way into the world of politics, with Teruo Nobori serving as a member of the House of Representatives in the Japanese government from 1976 to 1996. His unwavering commitment to public service and his advocacy for various social and economic reforms left a lasting impact on Japanese society.
Another notable bearer of the name was Teruo Nakamura, a pioneering Japanese-American soldier and activist who lived from 1919 to 2013. Nakamura served in the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, and after the war, he dedicated his life to advocating for civil rights and promoting understanding between Japan and the United States.
These examples highlight the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Teruo throughout history, each leaving their mark in fields ranging from art and literature to mathematics, politics, and social activism. The name's enduring presence reflects its deep cultural roots and the enduring significance it holds within Japanese tradition.
People
Teruo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Teruo 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
Teruo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Teruo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Teruo 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 Teruo a common name?
We classify Teruo 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, 274 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Teruo most popular?
The single biggest year for Teruo was 1927, when 37 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Teruo is about 103 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Teruo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Teruo 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.
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.