Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Miko
UnisexJapanese, Polish· “beautiful child, or short for Mikolaj”
- Meaning
- beautiful child, or short for Mikolaj
- Origin
- Japanese, Polish
- Pronunciation
- MEE-koh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,743
- US babies 2025
- 47
- Best rank
- #1,981 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Miko
Miko is a Japanese and Polish name that is usually said to mean “beautiful child, or short for Mikolaj”.
Miko works in two unrelated ways. In Japanese it is a girls' name whose meaning depends on the characters chosen; one common writing combines the characters for beautiful and child. The word miko also refers to a shrine maiden who assists at a Shinto shrine. Separately, Miko is used in Poland and nearby countries as a pet form of Mikołaj, the Polish Nicholas, and in the US it can simply be a playful short form of Michael. Said MEE-koh, it is short and bright. Because these sources are independent, the meaning a family intends depends on which tradition it is drawing on.
Popularity over time
Miko first appears in US Social Security records in 1971. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,981 in 2023, the same year it reached its highest count of 78 babies. In 2025, 47 babies were named Miko, and it ranked #2,743 nationally. That is 52% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #4,506 in 2000, #4,073 in 2010, and #2,743 in 2025. Of the 980 US boys named Miko since records began, 36% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 306 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Ara, Fenix, Ahmari, Zaylin, and Nyjah.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Miko ranked highest in California and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1938 | 8 |
| Texas | #2831 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Miko is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Miko were girls and 75% were boys.
Miko is usually pronounced MEE-koh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-ko”.
Middle names for Miko
A few middle names that flow with Miko: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Miko
Similar names
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Lists that include Miko
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Miko mean?
Miko is a Japanese and Polish name that is usually said to mean “beautiful child, or short for Mikolaj”.
What is the origin of the name Miko?
Miko has Japanese and Polish roots. Miko works in two unrelated ways.
Is Miko a popular name?
Not especially. Miko ranked #2,743 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Miko a boy or girl name?
Miko is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Miko were girls and 75% were boys.
How do you pronounce Miko?
Miko is usually pronounced MEE-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