Holding steady.
Popularity of Taro since 1919
Babies named Taro per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1997, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Taro's real moment was 1919.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 28 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 14 |
| 1970s | 48 |
| 1980s | 35 |
| 1990s | 78 |
| 2000s | 87 |
| 2010s | 56 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Taro, a Japanese name meaning 'first-born son,' has been in consistent but low-level use in the United States, first recorded in 1919. Its usage has remained stable over the decades, with no significant peaks or declines. While it is not common enough to appear in national popularity rankings, Taro carries traditional significance in Japanese culture, where it has long been favored as a given name for eldest sons. The name has not seen a revival trend, but its steady presence underscores its enduring appeal within Japanese-American families and those attracted to authentic Japanese names.
Derived from Japanese 太 (ta) meaning 'thick, big' or 'great' combined with 郎 (rō) meaning 'son'. It was traditionally given to the first-born son in a family. The name is also used as a suffix in compound names. Taro has been consistently used in Japan since at least the early 20th century, with records from 1919 onward.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tacchan, Ta-chan, Taropi
Variants: Tarō
Sibling names for Taro
Names that share Taro's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Hanako, Yuki, Sakura, Aiko, Emi, Chieko, Chika, Chisa, Chiyoko, Emiko, Fusako, Haruko, Harumi, Ima, Inari, Katana, Keiko, Kiko, Kimie, Kiyomi, Kyoko, Kyomi, Mariko, Masako, Masami, Michiko, Mieko, Miyoko, Miyuki, Nami, Reiko, Rika, Riki, Sachi, Sachiko, Sadako, Satori, Shizue, Shizuko, Suki, Sumi, Sumiko, Takara, Tama, Tamura, Tomiko, Toyoko, Yaeko, Yoneko, Yoshiko, Yukie, Yumi, Yuriko, Akaya, Akeira, Asako, Asuka, Chiyeko, Chizuko, Daiya, Eiko, Fujiko, Fumi, Geisha, Hanya, Hiromi, Ishi, Junko, Kameko, Kanna, Katsumi, Kiori, Matsue, Mei, Misao, Mitsuko, Mitsuye, Miyeko, Oyuki, Sakae, Sayori, Sueko, Tanji, Timiko, Tomoko, Tsuruko, Tsuyako
Brothers: Jiro, Saburo, Kenji, Haruki, Ryo, Aizen, Akio, Gohan, Haru, Hideo, Hiro, Hiroshi, Jun, Kao, Kaoru, Kenta, Kenzo, Koji, Kota, Maki, Masaki, Namari, Noboru, Sakai, Shiro, Sho, Taji, Takeo, Tamon, Yukio, Yusuke, Iwao, Koki, Hanzo, Hitoshi, Ichiro, Kiyo, Maiko, Mori, Shizuo, Sota
