Misako
Meaningoften beautiful child · Japanese
Misako is a Japanese girl name often meaning “beautiful 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?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Misako has the name Isa hiding inside it.
- Word funMisako doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Misako would score 12 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationMisako peaked in 1923, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryMisako first shows up in US birth records in 1917, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 108 years since.
US births per million girls, 1917–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Misako
Misako is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often beautiful 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. 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 Misako
What does the name Misako mean?
Misako means “often beautiful child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Bella (“beautiful”), Callie (“beautiful”), Zuri (“beautiful”) and Annabelle (“gracious and beautiful”).
What is the origin of the name Misako?
Misako is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Misako a boy or girl name?
Misako is a girl name.
How popular is the name Misako?
Misako is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1932. It peaked at #2,732 in 1923, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Misako?
If you like Misako, you might also like Bella, Callie, Zuri and Annabelle.
What should I know before naming my baby Misako?
Misako is a Japanese girl name often meaning “beautiful 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.