Yousuke
A masculine Japanese name composed of yo meaning "plentiful" and suke meaning "helper".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Yousuke. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yousuke today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yousuke births was 1991 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yousuke. 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 Yousuke. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1991
5 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
1991 SSA rank
#9,631
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Yousuke: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yousuke 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 Yousuke during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yousuke
The given name Yousuke has its origins in the Japanese language. Its roots can be traced back to the Edo period, which spanned from the early 17th century to the mid-19th century in Japan. The name is composed of two distinct elements: "You," which means "brave" or "courageous," and "suke," which translates to "assistant" or "helper."
Historically, the name Yousuke was often bestowed upon sons born into samurai families. The combination of the words "brave" and "assistant" reflected the expectation that these individuals would grow up to become loyal and valiant warriors, assisting their lords in times of conflict or battle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yousuke can be found in the chronicles of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled over Japan during the Edo period. In these historical records, there are mentions of several samurai warriors bearing the name Yousuke who distinguished themselves on the battlefield.
Throughout Japanese history, several notable individuals have carried the name Yousuke. One such figure was Yousuke Matsuoka (1880-1946), a prominent Japanese statesman and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the early years of World War II. Another was Yousuke Idezawa (1835-1918), a revered educator and founder of one of Japan's first modern private schools.
In the realm of literature, Yousuke Yamamoto (1837-1917) was a celebrated poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Japanese classical literature. His works, including translations of ancient texts, helped to ensure the endurance of Japan's rich literary heritage.
Moving into more contemporary times, Yousuke Natsuki (1936-2017) was a renowned Japanese actor and voice artist, known for his versatile performances in both live-action and animated productions. His talent and dedication to his craft earned him numerous accolades throughout his illustrious career.
Additionally, Yousuke Kusano (born 1976) is a renowned Japanese professional baseball player who has enjoyed a successful career spanning over two decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected players in the history of the Japanese professional baseball league.
While these are just a few examples, the name Yousuke has been carried by many accomplished individuals throughout Japanese history, reflecting its deep cultural roots and the admirable qualities it represents.
People
Yousuke + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yousuke 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
Yousuke: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yousuke?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yousuke 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Yousuke a common name?
We classify Yousuke as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yousuke most popular?
The single biggest year for Yousuke was 1991, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yousuke is about 34 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 Yousuke in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yousuke a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yousuke 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 Yousuke still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yousuke 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 Yousuke 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 the name Yousuke?
See how many Americans are named Yousuke on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.