Umeki
A Japanese feminine name meaning "plum blossom bud" or "dream tree".
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Umeki. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Umeki today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Umeki births was 1970 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Umeki. 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 Umeki. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
1970
6 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
1975 SSA rank
#9,019
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Umeki: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Umeki 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 Umeki during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 17 | 17 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Umeki
The given name Umeki is believed to have its origins in Japanese culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Japanese words "ume," meaning plum, and "ki," meaning tree or wood. This combination suggests a possible connection to the beautiful and fragrant plum blossom, a symbol of renewal and perseverance in Japanese tradition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Umeki can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient chronicle of Japanese mythology and historical records dating back to the 8th century. The name appears in reference to a mythical figure associated with the plum blossom, though the specific details surrounding this figure are shrouded in the mists of time.
Throughout Japanese history, the name Umeki has been borne by notable individuals across various fields. One such individual was Umeki Miura (1624-1707), a renowned samurai warrior and strategist who played a pivotal role in the Siege of Osaka during the Sengoku period. His military prowess and tactical acumen earned him a place in the annals of Japanese history.
Another notable bearer of the name was Umeki Tsubame (1802-1879), a celebrated geisha and performer during the Edo period. Her exceptional skills in traditional Japanese arts, such as dance and music, made her a highly sought-after entertainer among the elite of her time.
In the realm of literature, Umeki Satoru (1887-1942) was a prominent Japanese novelist and poet. His works, which often explored themes of human nature and societal issues, gained him critical acclaim and a dedicated following.
Umeki Yukiko (1910-1998) was a Japanese-American actress who achieved international fame for her role in the film "Sayonara," for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1958. Her captivating performance helped break down barriers and shed light on the experiences of Japanese Americans.
While the name Umeki may not be as widely used today, its rich cultural heritage and historical significance continue to resonate with those who appreciate the beauty and symbolism behind Japanese names.
People
Umeki + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Umeki as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Umeki: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Umeki?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Umeki 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Umeki a common name?
We classify Umeki as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 17 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Umeki most popular?
The single biggest year for Umeki was 1970, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Umeki is about 54 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 Umeki in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Umeki a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Umeki 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 Umeki still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Umeki 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 Umeki 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 named Umeki?
Find out how many people have the name Umeki on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.