Yuka is a feminine given name of Japanese origin. It is composed of two characters: "Yu" (由), which means "to follow," and "Ka" (嘉), which means "happy" or "celebrate." Therefore, the name Yuka can be interpreted to mean "follow happiness" or "happily follow."
The name Yuka has a rich history in Japan. It has been used for centuries as a given name for girls, often among families of high social standing. In some cases, the name was also used as an imperial era name (nengō), such as during the reign of Emperor Go-Yōzei.
Throughout Japanese literature and folklore, Yuka appears as a beautiful and graceful character in many stories and poems. One notable example is "Yuka no Uta" (由加のうた), a traditional Japanese folk song about a woman named Yuka who was known for her kindness and gentle spirit.
Today, the name Yuka remains popular among Japanese families and has gained international recognition as well. It is often chosen by parents who appreciate its meaningful combination of characters and its connection to Japan's rich cultural heritage.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends regarding the number of births given the name Yuka in the United States from 1975 to 2023.
The earliest recorded birth with the name Yuka occurred in 1975, with a total of five such births that year. The following years saw fluctuations in the number of newborn girls named Yuka, ranging from five to ten births per year until reaching a peak in 1996 with twenty-two babies being named Yuka.
The late 1990s and early 2000s continued this trend of relatively high numbers of newborns named Yuka, with nineteen births in 1997, eighteen in 1998, sixteen in 1999, twelve each in 2000 and 2001, eleven in 2003, nine in 2004, eight in 2006, thirteen in 2008, six in both 2009 and 2012, seven in 2011, and five in both 2010 and 2016.
More recently, the number of newborns named Yuka has been relatively low but has seen a slight increase from 2017 onwards. There were six births with this name in both 2017 and 2018, eight in 2019, and five in 2023.
In total, there have been 391 babies named Yuka born in the United States between 1975 and 2023. These statistics highlight the popularity of this name among parents during certain periods and its fluctuations over time.