Nobuko
Meaningoften faithful child · Japanese
Nobuko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “faithful 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, Nobuko would score 12 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationNobuko peaked in 1924, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryNobuko first shows up in US birth records in 1915, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 110 years since.
US births per million girls, 1915–2025
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 Nobuko
Nobuko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often faithful 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 Nobuko
What does the name Nobuko mean?
Nobuko means “often faithful child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Fidelia (“faithful”), Fidela (“faithful”), Nobue (“often faithful blessing”) and Savitri (“a faithful wife of legend”).
What is the origin of the name Nobuko?
Nobuko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Nobuko a boy or girl name?
Nobuko is a girl name.
How popular is the name Nobuko?
Nobuko is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1941. It peaked at #1,440 in 1924, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Nobuko?
If you like Nobuko, you might also like Fidelia, Fidela, Nobue and Savitri.
What should I know before naming my baby Nobuko?
Nobuko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “faithful 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.