NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Keiko

Keiko is a feminine Japanese name meaning "respectful child".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Keiko is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keiko popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.

This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2006 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Keiko. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Keiko ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 girls were registered as Keiko.
  • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keiko as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

4 births

Estimated living

18

2026

Meaning

What does Keiko mean?

The name Keiko is of Japanese origin, derived from the combination of the Japanese words "kei," meaning "blessing" or "respect," and "ko," meaning "child." It is a popular name in Japan, often given to baby girls with the hope that they will be blessed and respected throughout their lives.

The earliest recorded use of the name Keiko dates back to the Heian period in Japan, which spanned from 794 to 1185 AD. During this time, the name appeared in various literary works and historical records, reflecting its cultural significance and popularity among the noble class.

One of the most notable historical figures with the name Keiko was Keiko Fukuda (1913-1998), a Japanese feminist and political activist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in Japan. She was a prominent figure in the fight for gender equality and worked tirelessly to secure voting rights for women in the country.

Another famous Keiko was Keiko Sato (1954-2017), a renowned Japanese actress who achieved international recognition for her roles in various films and television series. She was particularly celebrated for her performances in the films "Dolls" (2002) and "The Mourning Forest" (2007), earning critical acclaim and numerous awards.

Keiko Tanaka (born 1932) is a Japanese artist and ceramicist who has made significant contributions to the field of Japanese pottery. Her intricate and detailed ceramics have been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world, and she has received numerous accolades for her exceptional craftsmanship.

Keiko Abe (born 1937) is a pioneering Japanese percussion soloist and composer who has played a pivotal role in popularizing the marimba as a solo instrument. She has performed with major orchestras worldwide and has composed numerous works for percussion instruments, earning her a place among the most influential percussionists of the 20th century.

Keiko Hatano (1922-2008) was a Japanese writer and translator known for her literary works that explored themes of identity, cultural displacement, and the experience of Japanese immigrants in Brazil. Her novel "The Remains" (1967) received critical acclaim and established her as a prominent voice in Japanese literature.

Throughout history, the name Keiko has been associated with various notable individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, literature, politics, and cultural spheres, reflecting the diverse and rich heritage of this Japanese name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keiko over time

The chart below shows babies named Keiko registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Keiko, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keiko
01234200620132021

Decades

Keiko by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keiko was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5581 3 1
2010s #5080 11 3
2000s #4157 4 1

Related

Names similar to Keiko

FAQ

Keiko: questions and answers

How popular is the name Keiko in the UK right now?

In 2021, Keiko was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Keiko most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Keiko in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keiko?

Keiko is a feminine Japanese name meaning "respectful child".

How many people are called Keiko in the UK?

A total of 18 babies have been registered as Keiko across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.