All about the name

Neko

Male

« Neko is a unique and captivating Japanese given name meaning 'cat,' reflecting Japan's appreciation for felines and their symbolism of good luck and prosperity. »

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Meaning, origin, history

The term Neko is the Japanese word for cat. Its use as a personal name lacks documentation in classical onomastic records and does not correspond to a traditional masculine given name.

Meaning of the name Neko

The term translates to cat in Japanese. The word appears in Middle Japanese texts and follows documented phonetic developments within the Japanese language family. Its meaning is strictly lexical.

Origin of the name Neko

The term originates in Japanese culture. As a personal name, Neko does not appear in classical Japanese naming registers or historical documents. Its use as a given name is undocumented in scholarly onomastic literature.

History of the name Neko

No early attestations of Neko as a personal name exist in historical archives or civil registers. It does not appear in medieval or early modern naming practices. Its contemporary use is undocumented in traditional onomastic records.

Variants and related forms

As Neko is not an established given name in traditional onomastic systems, it has no recognized historical variants or standardized spelling variations across naming traditions.

Cultural heritage

The cultural association of Neko rests on its lexical meaning in Japanese, where the cat appears in folklore, art, and historical texts. These references apply to the animal itself rather than to a personal name. No religious or historical traditions have adopted Neko as a given name.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Neko since 1880

Total births
940
Total since 1880
Peak year
2021
55 births
in 2023
33
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+31% ↗
vs previous 5 years