Junko
Meaningoften pure child · Japanese
Junko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pure 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Junko would score 16 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationJunko peaked in 1971, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Junko you'd meet today is about 54 years old.
- HistoryJunko first shows up in US birth records in 1926, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 99 years since.
US births per million girls, 1926–2025
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Junko
Junko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often pure child”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. 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 Junko
What does the name Junko mean?
Junko means “often pure child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Khadija (“premature child”), Alannah (“dear child”), Aiko (“often beloved child”) and Emiko (“often smiling child”).
What is the origin of the name Junko?
Junko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Junko a boy or girl name?
Junko is a girl name.
How popular is the name Junko?
Junko is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1992. It peaked at #4,123 in 1971, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Junko?
If you like Junko, you might also like Khadija, Alannah, Aiko and Emiko.
What should I know before naming my baby Junko?
Junko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pure 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.