Kanako is a feminine Japanese given name. Its origin and meaning can vary depending on the kanji characters used to write it.
One common meaning for Kanako is "beautiful child." This interpretation comes from the kanji characters "ka" (香), which means "fragrant" or "beautiful," and "ko" (子), which means "child."
Another possible meaning for Kanako is "harmonious child." In this case, the kanji character "ha" (和) is used instead of "ka," and it means "harmony" or "peace." Combined with "ko," the name suggests a harmonious or peaceful childhood.
The name Kanako has been used in Japan for centuries, but its popularity has varied over time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was relatively common, particularly among children born to families of samurai origin. Today, Kanako is still used as a given name in Japan, although it is not as popular as some other feminine names.
There are no notable historical figures named Kanako, but the name has been carried by many ordinary Japanese women throughout history. It remains a beautiful and meaningful name choice for parents seeking a traditional Japanese name with a positive connotation.
The statistics on the given name Kanako in the United States show a varied pattern of usage over time. In the period from 1984 to 2005, there were a total of 51 births registered with this name.
Interestingly, the number of babies named Kanako fluctuated significantly from year to year during this period. The highest peak in popularity was seen in 1999, with 10 newborns bearing this name. This is more than double the number of births recorded for any other year within this dataset.
On the other hand, some years had notably lower numbers of Kanako births. For instance, there were only 5 births each in 1984 and 2005 – which are both significantly less frequent than most other years.
It's also worth noting that there was a period between 1993 and 2003 where the number of Kanako births remained relatively stable, with an average of about 6 to 9 births per year. This suggests that during this time frame, the name may have been moderately popular among parents.
In conclusion, while Kanako appears to have had some periods of popularity in the United States, its usage overall has been quite inconsistent throughout these years. It is not one of the most common names, but it also does not appear to be particularly rare or uncommon either.