Kokoro
Meaningheart, spirit · Japanese
Kokoro is a Japanese girl name meaning “heart, spirit”. 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, Kokoro would score 14 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationKokoro peaked in 2011, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Kokoro you'd meet today is about 14 years old.
- HistoryKokoro first shows up in US birth records in 2011, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
US births per million girls, 2011–2025
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 Kokoro
Kokoro is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “heart, spirit”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. 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 Kokoro
What does the name Kokoro mean?
Kokoro means “heart, spirit” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Spirit (“spirit”) and Nuliajuk (“sea spirit”).
What is the origin of the name Kokoro?
Kokoro is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Kokoro a boy or girl name?
Kokoro is a girl name.
How popular is the name Kokoro?
Kokoro is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2012. It peaked at #14,824 in 2011, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Kokoro?
If you like Kokoro, you might also like Spirit and Nuliajuk.
What should I know before naming my baby Kokoro?
Kokoro is a Japanese girl name meaning “heart, spirit”. 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.