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.
The name Haruo saw a steady increase in popularity from 1912 to 1920, with the highest number of births recorded in 1920 (28). After that peak, there was a decline and fluctuations over the years until the late 1930s. The total number of births with the name Haruo between 1912 and 1937 is 376.