Yoko: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Yoko

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1981

24 babies

All-time total

476

#12,224 all-time among girls

First recorded

1923

in Social Security records

Yoko popularity over time

476 babies have been named Yoko since 1923, 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

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	–	–	–	–
1920s	11	1	–	#4,796
1930s	40	4	+264%	#2,682
1940s	6	1	-85%	#4,551
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	18	2	–	#5,967
1970s	100	10	+456%	#3,273
1980s	128	13	+28%	#3,530
1990s	90	9	-30%	#5,669
2000s	57	6	-37%	#10,903
2010s	21	2	-63%	#16,786
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	-60%	#17,577

The story of Yoko

Yoko 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 1923, 476 American babies have been named Yoko. Its peak came in 1981, when 24 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Yoko stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Yoko?

The median living Yoko is about 40 years old; half are between 29 and 49. An estimated 400 people named Yoko are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Yoko 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	5	#17,577
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	5	#18,782
2015	–	–
2014	5	#19,134
2013	–	–
2012	6	#16,786
2011	–	–
2010	5	#19,754
2009	5	#20,117
2008	7	#15,358
2007	7	#15,431
2006	8	#13,571
2005	10	#10,903
2004	–	–
2003	5	#18,374
2002	–	–
2001	9	#11,001
2000	6	#14,997
1995	8	#10,502
1990	12	#7,300
1985	14	#5,345
1980	11	#6,315
1975	10	#5,981
1970	8	#6,354
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	6	#4,551
1940	–	–
1935	6	#4,200
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Yoko

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

1 Yoko Ono Japanese artist and activist (born 1933) Contemporary
2 Yoko Shimomura Japanese composer (born 1967) Contemporary
3 Yoko Kanno Japanese composer (born 1963) Contemporary
4 Yoko Tawada Japanese writer (born 1960) Contemporary
5 Yoko Tanaka Japanese footballer b. 1993 · Contemporary
6 Yoko Takahagi Japanese footballer b. 1969 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Yoko?

The median living Yoko is about 40 years old. Half of all living Yokos are between 29 and 49 years old.

How many people named Yoko are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Yoko are alive in the United States, based on 476 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Yoko mean?

Borrowed from Japanese ようこ (Yōko), a female given name with many variant kanji spellings.

How popular is the name Yoko in 2025?

Yoko 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 Yoko?

476 babies have been named Yoko in the United States since 1923, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Yoko most popular?

Yoko peaked in 1981, when 24 newborns received the name.

Is Yoko a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Yoko rising or falling?

Yoko is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Yoko?

Well-known people named Yoko include Yoko Ono (artist), Yoko Shimomura (musician), Yoko Kanno (singer).

Names like Yoko

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

Compare Yoko with similar names → More names starting with Y →