Yaeko
Meaningoften eightfold child · Japanese
Yaeko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “eightfold 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Yaeko would score 12 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationYaeko peaked in 1922, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryYaeko 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 Yaeko
Yaeko is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often eightfold child”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. 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 Yaeko
What does the name Yaeko mean?
Yaeko means “often eightfold child” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Yae (“often eightfold”).
What is the origin of the name Yaeko?
Yaeko is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Yaeko a boy or girl name?
Yaeko is a girl name.
How popular is the name Yaeko?
Yaeko is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1936. It peaked at #1,464 in 1922, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yaeko?
If you like Yaeko, you might also like Yae.
What should I know before naming my baby Yaeko?
Yaeko is a Japanese girl name often meaning “eightfold 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.