Haruo is a Japanese given name of uncertain origins. It has been suggested that it may come from the kanji characters 春 (haru), meaning "spring" or "season," and 夫 (o), meaning "husband." However, there is no definitive source to confirm this etymology.
The name Haruo became popular in Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912) as part of a wider trend towards using kanji characters with positive connotations for given names. It was often used for boys and had a particular association with the military due to its strong, martial sound.
There are several notable figures throughout Japanese history who have borne the name Haruo. One such example is Haruo Reischauer (1910-1980), an American scholar of Japanese language and culture who served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1961 to 1966.
In recent years, Haruo has seen a decline in popularity among Japanese parents naming their children. However, it remains a recognizable name with historical significance in Japanese culture.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Haruo was relatively popular in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, with a peak in popularity between 1918 and 1924.
During this period, the number of births for the name Haruo varied annually. The lowest recorded birth year was 5 in both 1912 and 1937, indicating that these years were not particularly popular for the name Haruo. However, there were several years where the popularity of the name surged significantly.
In 1918, there were 22 births, marking a significant increase from the previous year's 14 births. The following year, in 1919, this trend continued with 26 births, indicating that Haruo was becoming quite popular at the time. This popularity peaked in 1920 and 1921, with 28 and 32 births respectively.
However, after reaching its peak, the popularity of the name Haruo began to decline steadily over the next few years. In 1922, there were 19 births, which was still a reasonable number but significantly lower than the previous two years. This downward trend continued through 1934, with the lowest recorded birth year being 5 in both 1935 and 1937.
Overall, while Haruo experienced periods of popularity throughout its history, it appears that these periods were relatively short-lived. The total number of births for the name Haruo during this period was 376, indicating that although it may not have been a common name, there was still a significant number of individuals named Haruo born in the United States during this time.
It is interesting to note that despite fluctuations in popularity over the years, the name Haruo has maintained some level of consistency throughout its history. This could indicate that there has been a steady appreciation for the name among parents and families over generations.