Tanaka
Gender-neutral name · Japanese
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #4,155 in 1973
0 babies were named Tanaka in the US in 2025.
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US births per million girls, 1972–2025
US births per million boys, 1976–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Tanaka you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryTanaka first shows up in US birth records in 1972, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 53 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1973, when it reached #4,155.
About the name Tanaka
Tanaka is a gender-neutral name of Japanese origin. It has 6 letters and 3 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-aka”. US birth records list Tanaka for girls from 1972 to 2004, in 14 of those 33 years. Its best year was 1973, when it ranked #4,155 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2004, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:Japanese names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.0 | 125,000 girls |
| 1980s | 1.1 | 925,926 girls |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,703,704 girls |
| 2000s | 1.1 | 909,091 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.8 | 1,250,000 boys |
| 2000s | 0.4 | 2,400,000 boys |
More Japanese names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
- Unisex name: Sora · sky
- Unisex name: Namir · leopard
- Girl name: Terra · earth
- Unisex name: Sakura · cherry blossom
- Boy name: Ken · handsome
Questions about the name Tanaka
What is the origin of the name Tanaka?
Tanaka has Japanese roots in our records. Other Japanese names include Asa, Akira, Mars.
Is Tanaka a boy or girl name?
Both. Tanaka is used for boys and girls.
How popular is the name Tanaka?
Tanaka is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2004. It peaked at #4,155 in 1973.