The baby name Neko is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NEH-koh (Japanese: /ne.ko/).
Neko is Japanese in Origin.
The baby name Neko is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NEH-koh (Japanese: /ne.ko/).
Neko is Japanese in Origin.
Neko is a modern unisex given name best known from Japanese, where neko (猫) simply means "cat." The word is recorded in Old Japanese and remains a core everyday term; as a personal name in Japan it is rare and a touch whimsical, more often a nickname or stage name. In English-speaking countries, Neko gained notice in the late 20th century, helped by pop-culture and anime influences, and conveys feline grace, curiosity, and independence.
Because Japanese names can pair sounds with chosen characters, Neko may be written as 猫, or with inventive alternatives such as 音子 ("sound, child"), 根子 ("root, child"), or 寝子 ("sleeping child"), though these are uncommon. Variant spellings include Neeko; Niko and Neco are unrelated but sometimes confused. Notable bearer Neko Case has reinforced its usability. Meaning centers on "cat," with nuances shaped by the selected kanji or cultural context.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE | 0 | #44 | 1 | 997 | |
| MO | 0 | #52 | 1 | 2,706 | |
| JP | 0 | #76 | 2 | 4,057 | |
| CN | 0 | #85 | 2 | 3,857 | |
| JM | 0 | #93 | 1 | 3,714 | |
| GE | Girls | 0 | #107 | 2 | 1,564 |
| PH | 0 | #110 | 1 | 5,607 | |
| HU | 0 | #115 | 1 | 1,675 | |
| RS | Girls | 0 | #129 | 9 | 1,651 |
| AZ | Boys | 0 | #131 | 1 | 1,400 |
| IQ | 0 | #132 | 2 | 3,533 | |
| GR | 0 | #135 | 1 | 3,911 | |
| RS | Boys | 0 | #135 | 20 | 2,277 |
| BN | Boys | 0 | #137 | 3 | 6,332 |
| MT | Girls | 0 | #153 | 1 | 3,773 |
| PR | Girls | 0 | #167 | 1 | 3,171 |
| HR | 0 | #181 | 1 | 2,081 | |
| RU | 0 | #194 | 1 | 3,641 | |
| SI | Boys | 0 | #211 | 1 | 3,402 |
| HU | Girls | 0 | #225 | 1 | 3,308 |
| AL | Girls | 0 | #226 | 2 | 4,141 |
| BG | Girls | 0 | #231 | 1 | 3,559 |
| HR | Boys | 0 | #240 | 19 | 3,997 |
| JP | Girls | 0 | #246 | 6 | 6,592 |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #248 | 2 | 6,293 |
| JM | Boys | 0 | #252 | 21 | 6,876 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #253 | 1 | 6,830 |
| TW | Boys | 0 | #256 | 1 | 7,111 |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #260 | 4 | 7,056 |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #266 | 11 | 8,139 |
| GR | Boys | 0 | #271 | 3 | 6,912 |
| AF | Boys | 0 | #274 | 1 | 3,535 |
| SG | 0 | #278 | 5 | 11,010 | |
| Canada | Girls | 2018 | #285 | 6 | 2,960 |
| HR | Girls | 0 | #288 | 7 | 3,687 |
| KZ | Boys | 0 | #296 | 1 | 6,578 |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #299 | 5 | 7,909 |
| AL | Boys | 0 | #301 | 3 | 5,122 |
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #305 | 1 | 6,530 |
| Canada | Boys | 2021 | #311 | 5 | 2,600 |
| SA | 0 | #312 | 1 | 10,560 | |
| KZ | Girls | 0 | #328 | 5 | 5,862 |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #331 | 1 | 9,639 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #339 | 1 | 7,570 |
| PL | Boys | 0 | #339 | 2 | 6,459 |
| MY | 0 | #347 | 8 | 12,352 | |
| CZ | Girls | 0 | #350 | 2 | 5,378 |
| HK | 0 | #352 | 6 | 8,483 | |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #355 | 5 | 8,829 |
| SD | Girls | 0 | #358 | 1 | 7,678 |
| PL | Girls | 0 | #361 | 4 | 5,096 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #379 | 3 | 7,951 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #406 | 3 | 11,440 |
| BO | 0 | #408 | 1 | 6,868 | |
| UY | Boys | 0 | #409 | 5 | 5,922 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #427 | 3 | 13,098 |
| MX | 0 | #441 | 5 | 8,339 | |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #466 | 33 | 11,913 |
| PT | Girls | 0 | #469 | 3 | 7,952 |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #483 | 1 | 7,628 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #491 | 15 | 12,621 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #498 | 2 | 7,625 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #504 | 2 | 9,305 |
| CO | 0 | #508 | 3 | 7,768 | |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #510 | 1 | 10,188 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #514 | 14 | 12,905 |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #516 | 3 | 9,861 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #521 | 5 | 11,303 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #543 | 3 | 8,334 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #547 | 1 | 10,981 |
| LY | 0 | #559 | 1 | 12,703 | |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #560 | 2 | 10,655 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #561 | 1 | 19,177 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #562 | 4 | 10,162 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #563 | 105 | 13,071 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #570 | 46 | 16,104 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #572 | 2 | 11,342 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #576 | 11 | 18,916 |
| BH | 0 | #584 | 4 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #596 | 2 | 20,968 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #618 | 5 | 9,244 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #624 | 2 | 10,983 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #627 | 4 | 8,289 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #642 | 4 | 11,648 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #650 | 16 | 13,390 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #654 | 1 | 13,121 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #673 | 10 | 3,552 |
| LB | 0 | #690 | 1 | 13,263 | |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #731 | 9 | 17,960 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #741 | 11 | 12,213 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #743 | 1 | 18,093 |
| Germany | Girls | 0 | #823 | 16 | 4,949 |
| TN | 0 | #864 | 2 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #866 | 27 | 7,044 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #868 | 11 | 14,506 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #887 | 34 | 15,656 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #910 | 6 | 14,098 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #912 | 5 | 8,487 |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #917 | 14 | 5,610 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #925 | 1 | 15,035 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #926 | 10 | 25,931 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #938 | 57 | 24,821 |
| Germany | Boys | 0 | #941 | 12 | 5,697 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #964 | 19 | 16,355 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #989 | 4 | 12,708 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #1,001 | 1 | 16,906 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #1,003 | 7 | 14,742 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,003 | 8 | 14,861 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,039 | 1 | 16,750 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,085 | 27 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,117 | 12 | 20,986 | |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,142 | 2 | 22,615 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,149 | 4 | 16,140 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,163 | 16 | 25,619 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,171 | 13 | 17,781 |
| TR | 0 | #1,197 | 15 | 19,440 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,228 | 9 | 25,928 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,230 | 5 | 20,130 | |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,425 | 22 | 9,415 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,447 | 25 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,688 | 4 | 28,008 |
Neko is popular in 67 countries — most recent births per country:
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