Chieko is a feminine Japanese given name. Its origin is from the combination of two kanji characters: "chii" (千) meaning "thousand", and "ko" (子) meaning "child". Therefore, Chieko translates to "a thousand children".
The name Chieko has been in use since ancient times in Japan but became more popular during the Taisho period (1912-1926), a time of significant cultural exchange with the West. It was chosen by parents who wanted their daughters to have a modern, progressive name that reflected their hopes for a prosperous future.
One notable figure with this name is Chieko Honda (本田 千恵子), a Japanese-American sculptor known for her abstract and surrealist works. She played an important role in promoting modern art in Japan after World War II.
Today, Chieko remains a popular choice among Japanese parents, ranking consistently among the top 100 names for girls each year. Despite its popularity, it is still relatively rare outside of Japan, giving it a unique and exotic appeal to those who choose this name for their daughters.
"The name Chieko had a notable rise in popularity between 1918 and 1925, with over 20 births per year during this period. However, it declined sharply afterwards, with fewer than 10 births annually until the 1980s."