Yoneo
A Japanese masculine name meaning "celestial protector" or "one entrusted by heaven".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Yoneo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yoneo today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yoneo births was 1926 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yoneo. 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 Yoneo is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Yoneos were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Yoneo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1926
7 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1926 SSA rank
#3,706
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Yoneo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yoneo from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 29 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yoneo 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 Yoneo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yoneos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Yoneo
The name Yoneo is of Japanese origin, derived from the combination of two words: "yo" meaning "sun" or "positive," and "neo" meaning "to give birth" or "to produce." It is believed to have emerged during the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan, when traditional Japanese names reflecting natural elements or virtuous qualities became popular.
Historically, the name Yoneo was associated with the samurai class and noble families of feudal Japan. It carried connotations of strength, vitality, and the notion of bringing forth or cultivating something positive, much like the life-giving rays of the sun.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yoneo dates back to the late 12th century. Yoneo Tsunemasa (1172-1237) was a prominent samurai warrior who served under the Kamakura shogunate and played a crucial role in the Jōkyū War, defending the shogunate against imperial forces.
In the 16th century, Yoneo Kazuhide (1542-1609) was a notable daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled over the Tosa Domain in present-day Kochi Prefecture. He was known for his skillful administration and his efforts to promote agriculture and industry within his domain.
Another historical figure bearing the name Yoneo was Yoneo Hidemasa (1553-1591), a renowned samurai and military strategist who served under the powerful Tokugawa clan during the Sengoku period (1467-1615). He played a pivotal role in several battles, including the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute, and was praised for his tactical expertise.
In the realm of art and culture, Yoneo Okamoto (1902-1996) was a celebrated Japanese artist and sculptor, known for his avant-garde works and his contributions to the Mingei (folk craft) movement. His sculptures and installations often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the interplay between traditional and modern art forms.
Yoneo Morikawa (1882-1949) was a prominent Japanese businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., one of Japan's largest confectionery and dairy product companies. He was instrumental in introducing new manufacturing techniques and promoting the consumption of milk and dairy products in Japan during the early 20th century.
While these are just a few examples, the name Yoneo has a rich history and cultural significance in Japan, reflecting the country's ancient traditions, values, and the achievements of notable individuals throughout the centuries.
People
Yoneo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yoneo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yoneo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yoneo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yoneo 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Yoneo a common name?
We classify Yoneo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 34 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yoneo most popular?
The single biggest year for Yoneo was 1926, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yoneo is about 70 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 Yoneo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yoneo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yoneo 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.
Is Yoneo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yoneo 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 Yoneo 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 have Yoneo as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.