Kiyoko
Meaningoften pure child · Japanese
Kiyoko 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Kiyoko would score 17 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationKiyoko peaked in 1921, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Kiyoko would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 227,273 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryKiyoko first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
US births per million girls, 1912–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Kiyoko
Kiyoko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often pure 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
Other spellings of Kiyoko
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 Kiyoko
What does the name Kiyoko mean?
Kiyoko 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 Kiyoko?
Kiyoko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Kiyoko a boy or girl name?
Kiyoko is a girl name. In 2025, 7 US girls were named Kiyoko.
How popular is the name Kiyoko?
Kiyoko ranked #11,932 for US girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1921, when it reached #969. Over the last five years it has climbed 210 places.
What names are similar to Kiyoko?
If you like Kiyoko, you might also like Kioko, Kyoko, Khadija, Alannah and Aiko. Kioko is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Kiyoko?
Kiyoko 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, 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.