William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Neko
UnisexJapanese· “cat”
- Meaning
- cat
- Origin
- Japanese
- Pronunciation
- NEH-koh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,424
- US babies 2025
- 34
- Best rank
- #2,453 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Neko
Neko is a Japanese name that means “cat”.
Neko is the Japanese word for cat. It is used as a nickname and sometimes as a given name, especially outside Japan, and it can be written with different characters in Japanese names. In Japan, cats have a place in folklore, including the maneki-neko, the beckoning cat figure displayed in shops and believed to bring good luck. It is said NEH-koh. In Japan it is more common as a nickname than as a formal name. Outside Japan it is used for both boys and girls, often by families who like its playful meaning.
Popularity over time
Neko first appears in US Social Security records in 1969. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,453 in 2021, the same year it reached its highest count of 55 babies. In 2025, 34 babies were named Neko, and it ranked #3,424 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #3,607 in 2000, #3,222 in 2010, and #3,424 in 2025. Of the 1,001 US boys named Neko since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 245 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Amori, Ziah, Lynden, Rion, and Rei.
Gender, sound and spelling
Neko is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 22% of US babies named Neko were girls and 78% were boys.
Neko is usually pronounced NEH-koh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-ko”.
Middle names for Neko
A few middle names that flow with Neko: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Neko
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Lists that include Neko
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Neko mean?
Neko is a Japanese name that means “cat”.
What is the origin of the name Neko?
Neko has Japanese roots. Neko is the Japanese word for cat.
Is Neko a popular name?
Not especially. Neko ranked #3,424 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Neko a boy or girl name?
Neko is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 22% of US babies named Neko were girls and 78% were boys.
How do you pronounce Neko?
Neko is usually pronounced NEH-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