Aiko
GirlJapanese· “love child”
- Meaning
- love child
- Origin
- Japanese
- Pronunciation
- EYE-koh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,720
- US babies 2025
- 63
- Best rank
- #1,155 (1919)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Aiko
Aiko is a Japanese name that means “love child”.
Aiko is a Japanese girls' name usually written with characters meaning love and child. The ending -ko, child, was a traditional element in Japanese girls' names for much of the twentieth century, as in Yoko and Keiko. Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, has made the name widely known in Japan. It is said EYE-koh, with even stress in Japanese. Like most Japanese names, it can also be written with other characters giving different meanings, so the sense depends on the writing chosen.
Popularity over time
Aiko first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,155 in 1919, and the most babies received it in 2023, when 77 were named Aiko. In 2025, 63 babies were named Aiko, and it ranked #2,720 nationally. That is 162% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,350 in 1920, #6,213 in 2000, #4,025 in 2010, and #2,720 in 2025. Of the 1,785 US girls named Aiko since records began, 22% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 311 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Mariama, Annalie, Nayomi, Xenia, and Zenaida.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aiko ranked highest in California and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1653 | 13 |
| Florida | #2157 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 89% of US babies named Aiko over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Aiko is usually pronounced EYE-koh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-ko”.
Middle names for Aiko
A few middle names that flow with Aiko: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aiko
Similar names
Lists that include Aiko
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aiko mean?
Aiko is a Japanese name that means “love child”.
What is the origin of the name Aiko?
Aiko has Japanese roots. Aiko is a Japanese girls' name usually written with characters meaning love and child.
Is Aiko a popular name?
Not especially. Aiko ranked #2,720 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Aiko a boy or girl name?
Aiko is mainly a girl's name. About 89% of US babies named Aiko over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Aiko?
Aiko is usually pronounced EYE-koh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings