Zuko
An invented name likely derived from the Japanese word "zukō" meaning "to follow".
Name Census estimates that about 256 living Americans carry the first name Zuko. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zuko today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zuko births was 2024 (54 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zuko. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Zuko with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
256
~ 1 in 1,338,884 Americans
Peak year
2024
54 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,520
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Zuko: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zuko from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 196 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
Zuko 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 Zuko during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zukos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Zuko, while Texas, New York, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zuko
The name Zuko is believed to originate from the Swahili language, which is primarily spoken in East Africa. It is derived from the Swahili word "zuku," which means "generation" or "age." The name can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was commonly used in the coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania.
In Swahili culture, names often carry significant meanings and are chosen to reflect the aspirations or circumstances surrounding a child's birth. The name Zuko may have been given to children born during a time of generational change or transition within their communities.
While the name Zuko does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that its roots can be traced back to even older linguistic traditions in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zuko can be found in the historical records of the Swahili coastal city-states, where it was used by members of the ruling elites and merchant classes. Notable individuals from this era include Zuko ibn Hasan, a prominent trader and diplomat from the 14th century, and Zuko al-Bakri, a renowned scholar and poet from the 15th century.
Outside of East Africa, the name Zuko gained some recognition in the 20th century. Zuko Dembo, a South African singer and activist, was born in 1949 and played a significant role in the anti-apartheid movement through his music. Another notable figure was Zuko Aluko, a Nigerian writer and playwright, who was born in 1932 and contributed to the development of contemporary African literature.
In more recent times, the name Zuko has been adopted by individuals of various cultural backgrounds, particularly in the United States and other Western countries. One notable example is Zuko Gatimu, a Kenyan-American artist and illustrator, who has gained recognition for his vibrant and culturally inspired artwork.
Overall, the name Zuko has a rich history rooted in the Swahili language and culture of East Africa. While it may have ancient origins, it has transcended its geographical boundaries and continues to be embraced by individuals around the world, carrying with it a sense of generational significance and cultural heritage.
People
Zuko + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zuko as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zuko: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zuko?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 256 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zuko 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 1,338,884 US residents.
Is Zuko a common name?
We classify Zuko as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 258 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zuko most popular?
The single biggest year for Zuko was 2024, when 54 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zuko is about 5 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 Zuko in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zuko a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zuko 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 Zuko still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zuko 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 Zuko 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 share the name Zuko?
Want to know how many people share the name Zuko? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.