Holding steady.
Popularity of Yuko since 1969
Babies named Yuko per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 49 |
| 1980s | 63 |
| 1990s | 28 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Yuko first appeared in U.S. records in 1969 and reached its peak popularity in 1986, during which it was most commonly given in the 1980s. Since then, its usage has remained stable but low, never cracking the national top 1000. The name has not ranked in recent years, and there are no top states associated with it. As a Japanese name, Yuko reflects the cultural tradition of ending girls' names with ko, meaning 'child.' It offers a gentle sound and a connection to Japanese heritage without being overly common in the United States.
Yuko is a Japanese feminine name typically written with two kanji characters. The first element yu can mean 'gentle' or 'superior,' while ko means 'child,' a common ending for Japanese girls' names. The name has been in use since the mid-20th century, with peak popularity in the 1980s. It is also sometimes spelled as Yūko with a macron over the u.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yuki, Yu-chan
Variants: Yūko
Sibling names for Yuko
Names that share Yuko's style, for a brother or sister.
