NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Sho

A Japanese name meaning "soaring" or "flying higher".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sho is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sho popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4632, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 4 births.

This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2000 to 2014. 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 7 living people in the UK are called Sho. 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 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sho ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 4 boys were registered as Sho.
  • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sho as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4632

2014

Births in 2014

3

Latest year

Peak year

2000

4 births

Estimated living

7

2026

Meaning

What does Sho mean?

The name Sho has its origins in the Japanese language and culture. It is a unisex name that can be given to both boys and girls. The name is believed to have derived from the Japanese word "sho," which means "to soar" or "to fly." This suggests that the name was likely given to children with the hope that they would soar to great heights in life, both metaphorically and literally.

Historically, the name Sho has been associated with several notable figures in Japanese history. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the Nihon Shoki, an ancient Japanese chronicle that dates back to the 8th century. In this text, Sho is mentioned as the name of a prince who lived during the Nara period (710-794 AD).

Another notable figure with the name Sho was Sho Hashi (1372-1459), a Japanese Buddhist monk and calligrapher who lived during the Muromachi period. He was renowned for his mastery of the Japanese art of calligraphy and is considered one of the most influential calligraphers in Japanese history.

In the realm of literature, Sho Ikeda (1564-1619) was a prominent Japanese poet and scholar who lived during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the haiku form of poetry and is regarded as one of the most influential haiku poets of his time.

Moving forward in history, Sho Sakurai (1858-1939) was a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Japan from 1908 to 1912. He played a crucial role in shaping Japan's foreign policy during the early 20th century and was instrumental in the country's participation in World War I.

In more recent times, Sho Kosugi (born 1948) is a Japanese actor, martial artist, and choreographer who has appeared in numerous action films and television shows. He is best known for his roles in movies like "Revenge of the Ninja" and "Ninja III: The Domination."

While these are just a few examples, the name Sho has been carried by many notable individuals throughout Japanese history, spanning various fields such as religion, art, literature, politics, and entertainment. The name's association with the concept of soaring and flying has undoubtedly contributed to its enduring popularity and significance in Japanese culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sho over time

The chart below shows babies named Sho registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Sho, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sho
01234200020072014

Decades

Sho by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sho 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
2010s #4632 3 1
2000s #2501 4 1

Related

Names similar to Sho

FAQ

Sho: questions and answers

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

In 2014, Sho was ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Sho most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 4 babies registered as Sho in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sho?

A Japanese name meaning "soaring" or "flying higher".

How many people are called Sho in the UK?

A total of 7 babies have been registered as Sho across the 2 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.