Emiko
Meaningoften smiling child · Japanese
Emiko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “smiling child”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Emiko has the name Emi hiding inside it.
- GenerationEmiko peaked in 1923, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Emikos too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Emiko would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 26,810 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryEmiko first shows up in US birth records in 1916, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 109 years since.
US births per million girls, 1916–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Emiko
Emiko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often smiling child”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Emiko
What does the name Emiko mean?
Emiko means “often smiling child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Emika (“often smiling flower”), Basima (“smiling”), Erendira (“smiling one”) and Smita (“smiling”).
What is the origin of the name Emiko?
Emiko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Emiko a boy or girl name?
Emiko is a girl name. In 2025, 60 US girls were named Emiko.
How popular is the name Emiko?
Emiko ranked #2,822 for US girls in 2025, given to 60 babies. Its best year was 1923, when it reached #1,283. Over the last five years it has climbed 68 places.
What names are similar to Emiko?
If you like Emiko, you might also like Emika, Basima, Erendira and Smita.
What should I know before naming my baby Emiko?
Emiko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “smiling child”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.