Eiko is a Japanese given name of both masculine and feminine usage. It is composed of the kanji characters "栄" (eihō, "prosperous" or "flourishing") and "光" (kō, "light"). Therefore, its meaning can be interpreted as "prosperous light".
The name Eiko has a rich history in Japan. It was traditionally used for both boys and girls until the mid-20th century when it became more commonly used for females due to the influence of popular culture, such as literature and theater. Today, Eiko is predominantly used as a feminine name.
Some notable individuals named Eiko include:
* Eiko Japanese-American sculptor who worked primarily in bronze.
* Eiko Ishioka, a Japanese-American costume designer and music video director who won an Academy Award for her work on the film "Bram Stoker's Dracula".
* Eiko Matteson, an American actress known for her role in the television series "Ryan's Hope".
Despite its popularity in Japan, Eiko is relatively uncommon outside of the country. However, it has gained some international recognition due to the achievements of individuals like those listed above.
In conclusion, Eiko is a Japanese given name with a beautiful and meaningful origin. Its prosperity and light interpretations make it a suitable choice for both boys and girls, although it is more commonly used for females today. With its rich history and notable individuals, Eiko remains a timeless and elegant name option.
The name Eiko has had a varying popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 195 babies being named Eiko since 1915.
In the early years, there were several birth years with no recorded births for the name Eiko. However, starting from 1915, we see the first instance of the name being given to a baby girl in the United States. This trend continued sporadically until 1938, with varying numbers of births each year.
The highest peak in popularity for the name Eiko occurred in 1921, with 18 babies born that year sharing this name. After this high point, the number of annual births with the name Eiko began to decrease, with only 5 or fewer births recorded each year until 1943.
There was a gap in usage for over three decades before the name resurfaced again in 2018, with 7 babies being named Eiko that year. This recent appearance suggests that the name may be experiencing renewed interest among parents in the United States.
Overall, while the name Eiko has not been consistently popular throughout history in the United States, it has nonetheless been chosen for a notable number of baby girls over the years. With its recent appearance in 2018, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues and the name gains more popularity in the coming years.