Tamiko is a unique and beautiful Japanese given name for females. Its origin can be traced back to the combination of two Japanese elements: "tami," which means "jewel," and "ko," meaning "child." Thus, Tamiko literally translates to "jewel child."
The name Tamiko has a rich history in Japan. It gained popularity during the Meiji era (1868-1912) when many families chose names that reflected their hopes for their children's future. The name Tamiko was often given to girls with the wish that they would grow into precious and wonderful individuals, much like jewels.
Tamiko is also associated with several notable figures in Japanese culture and history. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Tamiko Tsunoda, a prominent Japanese poet who lived during the Taisho period (1912-1926). Her works are still celebrated today for their beauty and insight.
In recent years, Tamiko has become increasingly popular among non-Japanese speakers as well, thanks in part to its melodic sound and attractive meaning. Parents around the world now choose this name for their daughters, drawn to its unique combination of strength, grace, and beauty.
Overall, Tamiko is a charming and meaningful Japanese given name with a rich history and beautiful origins. Its enduring popularity speaks to its timeless appeal as a name that captures the essence of preciousness and childhood wonder.
The name Tamiko has a fascinating history of usage in the United States, as reflected in its birth statistics over the years.
From the early 20th century up until the 1960s, Tamiko was quite uncommon, with only a handful of births each year. The first significant spike in popularity occurred in 1963 when there were 77 births, marking it as one of the most popular years for the name.
The 1960s and early 1970s saw Tamiko's popularity continue to grow. In fact, the name reached its peak in popularity during this period:
* There were 210 births in 1972, indicating that it was a particularly popular year for the name.
* The following year, there were still 174 births.
* Then, in 1973, Tamiko's popularity began to decline slightly with 131 births.
Despite this decrease, Tamiko remained relatively popular throughout much of the 1970s. However, starting from the late 1970s, its usage began to taper off:
* In 1979, there were only 54 births.
* This trend continued into the early 1980s, with fewer than 38 births each year between 1980 and 1982.
Throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, Tamiko was scarcely used as a baby name in the United States. For example:
* There were only 9 births in 1991.
* This trend continued with just 8 births in 1992.
However, since then, there has been a slight resurgence in its usage:
* Between 1993 and 1996, there were between 6 to 10 births each year.
* In recent years (up until 2002), Tamiko saw a steady increase in popularity with around 5 to 6 births each year.
In total, from 1917 to 2002, there have been approximately 3001 babies named Tamiko born in the United States. It's clear that while Tamiko may not be one of the most popular names today, its usage throughout history shows a unique pattern of popularity and decline over time.