Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1924

Nobuko

Meaning Borrowed from Japanese のぶこ (Nobuko) Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

Borrowed from Japanese のぶこ (Nobuko).

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nobuko
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1924
33 babies
All-time total
371
#14,149 all-time among girls
First recorded
1915
in Social Security records

Nobuko popularity over time

371 babies have been named Nobuko since 1915, 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
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1924Girls

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 – – – –
1910s 62 6 – #2,232
1920s 234 23 +277% #1,466
1930s 63 6 -73% #2,507
1940s 12 1 -81% #4,219
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Nobuko

Nobuko 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 1915, 371 American babies have been named Nobuko. Its peak came in 1924, when 33 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 Nobuko stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Nobuko 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 6 #4,219
1935 9 #3,094
1930 9 #3,261
1925 28 #1,596
1920 22 #1,871
1915 11 #2,652
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nobuko

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

  1. 1 Nobuko Yoshiya Nobuko Yoshiya Japanese novelist (1896–1973) 19th century
  2. 2 Nobuko Kondo Japanese footballer b. 1956 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Nobuko Jashima Soccer player, Japan b. 1959 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

What does the name Nobuko mean?

Borrowed from Japanese のぶこ (Nobuko).

How popular is the name Nobuko in 2025?

Nobuko 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 Nobuko?

371 babies have been named Nobuko in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nobuko most popular?

Nobuko peaked in 1924, when 33 newborns received the name.

Is Nobuko a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nobuko rising or falling?

Nobuko has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Nobuko?

Well-known people named Nobuko include Nobuko Yoshiya (writer), Nobuko Kondo (soccer player), Nobuko Jashima (soccer player).

Names like Nobuko

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

Compare Nobuko with similar names → More names starting with N →