Tsuruko
A Japanese feminine name meaning "crane child" or "child of the crane".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Tsuruko. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tsuruko today is around 110 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tsuruko births was 1915 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tsuruko. 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 Tsuruko is about 110 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Tsurukos were born before 1926.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Tsuruko. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1915
19 babies that year
Average age
110
years old
1927 SSA rank
#4,248
Tracked since 1909
Popularity
Tsuruko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tsuruko from the 1900s through to the 1920s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 103 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Tsuruko remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tsuruko 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 Tsuruko during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tsurukos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tsuruko
The name Tsuruko is of Japanese origin and has its roots in the ancient Shinto religion and culture. It is a feminine name composed of two Japanese words: "tsuru" meaning crane, and "ko" meaning child or little one.
The crane has been a highly revered and symbolic bird in Japanese mythology and folklore for centuries. It is often associated with longevity, good fortune, and grace. The name Tsuruko, therefore, can be interpreted as "little crane" or "crane child," conveying a sense of elegance and auspiciousness.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Tsuruko can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient Japanese chronicle dating back to the early 8th century. The Kojiki contains several stories and legends that feature characters with crane-inspired names, highlighting the cultural significance of the bird.
Throughout Japanese history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Tsuruko. One of the most prominent figures was Tsuruko Haraguchi (1892-1984), a renowned Japanese writer and poet. She was a pioneer of the modern tanka poetry movement and played a significant role in promoting and preserving traditional Japanese literature.
Another famous Tsuruko was Tsuruko Yamazaki (1918-2011), a celebrated Japanese actress known for her roles in both film and television. She had a prolific career spanning over six decades and was highly regarded for her versatility and talent.
In the realm of politics, Tsuruko Kiuchi (1920-2008) was a prominent figure. She was a member of the House of Representatives in the Japanese parliament and was known for her advocacy of women's rights and gender equality.
In the world of sports, Tsuruko Fukushima (1937-2021) was a renowned Japanese swimmer. She won multiple gold medals at the Asian Games and set several world records in her prime, becoming a national icon and inspiring generations of athletes.
Lastly, Tsuruko Yoshihara (1939-2016) was a respected Japanese artist and sculptor. Her works, often featuring bold and abstract forms, were exhibited internationally and earned her critical acclaim for her unique artistic vision.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Tsuruko, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Japan.
People
Tsuruko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tsuruko 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
Tsuruko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tsuruko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tsuruko 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 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Tsuruko a common name?
We classify Tsuruko as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 185 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tsuruko most popular?
The single biggest year for Tsuruko was 1915, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tsuruko is about 110 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 Tsuruko in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tsuruko a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tsuruko 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 Tsuruko still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tsuruko 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 Tsuruko 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 common is the name Tsuruko?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Tsuruko on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.