Declining since 2022, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Kino since 1969
Babies named Kino per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2021, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kino's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 42 |
| 1980s | 24 |
| 1990s | 39 |
| 2000s | 54 |
| 2010s | 51 |
| 2020s | 53 |
Meaning & origin
Kino is a rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1969. It saw its peak popularity in 1975, but has since declined, with a falling trajectory since 2022. In 2025, it ranked 12,008th, given to about 1 in 341,615 boys. The name has never charted among top states, underscoring its niche appeal. Its origins are unclear, possibly a modern coinage or a borrowing from Japanese, making it a distinctive choice. Parents drawn to short, vowel-ending names like Milo or Kai may find Kino appealing, though it lacks the familiarity of those names.
Kino is a name of uncertain origin, likely arising in the 20th century as a modern coinage or a short form of longer names. It may also be influenced by the Japanese word 'kino', meaning 'hope' or 'joy', though this connection is speculative. Its usage in the United States has been sporadic, with a peak in the 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Kyno
Sibling names for Kino
Names that share Kino's style, for a brother or sister.
