Aiko is a unisex Japanese given name, derived from the character combination of 'ai' meaning 'love' and 'ko' meaning 'child'. It has been used for both boys and girls in Japan, but it's more commonly associated with females internationally. The name Aiko gained global recognition through notable figures such as Aiko Mori, a Japanese singer-songwriter, and Aiko Hayashi, a professional tennis player. In Western cultures, the name Aiko has been adopted and gained popularity due to its melodic sound and unique meaning.
The name Aiko experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the century from 1912 to 2023, with a total of 1644 births recorded during this period. The highest number of births occurred recently, with 77 babies named Aiko born in 2023, marking a notable resurgence in popularity after several decades of varying popularity. The peak years for the name were in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with particularly high numbers in 2009 (50 births), 2018 (31 births), and 2020-2022 (47, 56, and 53 births respectively). Conversely, the name's popularity was at its lowest in the mid-20th century, with fewer than 10 births recorded annually between 1930 and 1943.