Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1921

Masako

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Masako
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1921
58 babies
All-time total
821
#8,583 all-time among girls
First recorded
1909
in Social Security records

Masako popularity over time

821 babies have been named Masako since 1909, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1913Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s 6 1 – #2,147
1910s 293 29 +4783% #921
1920s 386 39 +32% #981
1930s 109 11 -72% #1,519
1940s 10 1 -91% #4,814
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s 12 1 – #7,806
1980s – – – –
1990s 5 1 – #14,915
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Masako

Masako is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1909, 821 American babies have been named Masako. Its peak came in 1921, when 58 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Masako stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Masako year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 5 #4,814
1935 12 #2,528
1930 27 #1,519
1925 30 #1,526
1920 47 #1,098
1915 34 #1,182
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Masako

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Masako Chiba Japanese long-distance runner b. 1976 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Masako Hozumi Masako Hozumi Japanese speed skater (born 1986) Contemporary
  3. 3 Masako Yoshida Soccer player, Japan b. 1957 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Masako, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How popular is the name Masako in 2025?

Masako did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Masako?

821 babies have been named Masako in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Masako most popular?

Masako peaked in 1921, when 58 newborns received the name.

Is Masako a boy or girl name?

Masako is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Masako rising or falling?

Masako has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Masako?

Well-known people named Masako include Masako Chiba (athlete), Masako Hozumi (skater), Masako Yoshida (soccer player).

Names like Masako

Names that sound and feel close to Masako: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Masako with similar names → More names starting with M →