Holding steady.
Popularity of Tanaka since 1972
Babies named Tanaka per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 96 | 5 |
| 1980s | 18 | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 | 0 |
| 2000s | 10 | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Tanaka is a rare unisex given name in the United States, first recorded in 1972. It has never entered the top 1000, and its peak usage was in 1978. The name is almost exclusively a Japanese surname, rarely used as a first name. Its trajectory has been stable but low, and it has not been associated with any particular state. Parents choosing Tanaka may be drawn to its Japanese heritage or distinctive sound.
Tanaka is a common Japanese surname, written with characters 田 (ta, rice paddy) and 中 (naka, middle or center). As a given name, it is rare and likely adopted from the surname. Its use as a first name in the United States has been sporadic since the 1970s, possibly influenced by Japanese cultural exports.
Sibling names for Tanaka
Names that share Tanaka's style, for a brother or sister.
