Holding steady.
Popularity of Geisha since 1967
Babies named Geisha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 58 |
| 1980s | 19 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 18 |
| 2010s | 29 |
| 2020s | 20 |
Meaning & origin
Geisha is an unconventional American name derived from the Japanese word for a traditional female entertainer. It first entered U.S. birth records in 1967, a time of growing American interest in Japanese culture, but has never been common. Its peak year came in 2020, likely influenced by pop culture references, yet the name remains exceedingly rare. Because Geisha is not a traditional Japanese given name, its use in the United States marks it as a modern, culturally borrowed coinage. The trajectory of the name is listed as stable, meaning its yearly count has neither surged nor declined dramatically, but its one-in-N statistic is recorded as null, reflecting insufficient data to calculate the frequency. No top states reported births, confirming its scattered, infrequent use. Parents who choose Geisha may be drawn to its exotic sound and cultural resonance, though the name carries specific connotations from Japanese art and history.
Geisha is taken from the Japanese word geisha (芸者), meaning 'artist' or 'person of the arts,' referring to a female entertainer skilled in traditional music, dance, and conversation. Its use as a personal name in the United States likely arose from cultural fascination with Japan in the late 20th century, though it has no established history as a Japanese given name.
Sibling names for Geisha
Names that share Geisha's style, for a brother or sister.
