Toivo
A male name of Finnish origin meaning "hope" or "wish".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Toivo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Toivo today is around 104 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Toivo births was 1918 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Toivo. 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 Toivo is about 104 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Toivos were born before 1932.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Toivo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1918
57 babies that year
Average age
104
years old
1930 SSA rank
#4,500
Tracked since 1906
Popularity
Toivo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Toivo from the 1900s through to the 1930s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 321 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Toivo 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 Toivo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Toivos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Toivo, while Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 81 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Toivo
The given name Toivo originates from the Finnish language and culture. It is derived from the Finnish word "toivo," which means "hope." The name's roots can be traced back to the earliest records of the Finnish language, which emerged around the 6th century AD.
Toivo is a relatively common name in Finland, where it has been used for centuries. The name's meaning and association with hope have made it a popular choice among Finnish families, reflecting their aspirations and optimism for their children's futures.
While the name Toivo does not appear in any major ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in various historical records and literature from Finland and other Nordic countries. The earliest known recorded use of the name dates back to the late 16th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Toivo. One of the most famous was Toivo Antikainen (1898-1953), a Finnish long-distance runner who won the gold medal in the 10,000 meters event at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Another prominent figure was Toivo Kuula (1883-1918), a Finnish composer and conductor who is considered one of the pioneers of Finnish national romantic music. His compositions, such as "Kuutamolla" and "Merenmies," have become beloved classics in Finland.
In the realm of politics, Toivo Koivisto (1923-2013) was a notable figure who served as the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. He played a crucial role in strengthening Finland's international relations and navigating the country through the challenging times of the Cold War era.
Toivo Niskanen (1936-2021) was a renowned Finnish cross-country skier who won eight Olympic medals, including four gold medals, between 1964 and 1976. He is considered one of the greatest cross-country skiers in Finnish history.
Another notable individual with the name Toivo is Toivo Loikkanen (1936-2022), a Finnish artist and sculptor known for his monumental public artworks and sculptures. His works can be found in various cities across Finland and internationally.
While these are just a few examples, the name Toivo has been carried by many other individuals throughout history, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance within the Finnish tradition.
People
Toivo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Toivo 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
Toivo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Toivo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Toivo 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Toivo a common name?
We classify Toivo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 535 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Toivo most popular?
The single biggest year for Toivo was 1918, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Toivo is about 104 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Toivo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Toivo 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.