Neko

Meaning of Neko

Neko, recognized as a unisex appellation within both Japanese and Anglo-American contexts, derives from the Japanese common noun neko (猫), signifying “cat,” and is rendered phonemically as /ˈneko/ according to standard kana-to-Roman transcription conventions. Its adoption beyond its original linguistic environment has been gradual and remains relatively rare; Social Security Administration records trace its initial appearance to 1969, when five newborns in the United States received the name—attaining a rank of 659—and since that time periodic oscillations have maintained its position along the periphery of the top 1,000 names. Over the ensuing decades, Neko has fluctuated between ranks in the mid-seven to mid-nine hundreds, reaching a relative high near 740 in the early 1990s and recording 27 occurrences at rank 897 in 2024, thus reflecting a stable yet modest presence. While its semantic roots evoke feline attributes—agility, independence and curiosity—the name has also achieved broader cultural visibility through figures such as American singer-songwriter Neko Case, thereby contributing to its recognition among parents seeking a distinctive, culturally resonant choice.

Pronunciation

Japanese

• Pronunced as NEH-koh (/neko/)

• Niko
• Miko
• Nika
• Nekolette
• Nekoda
• Nekolina
• Nekonya