UK boy's name
Taro
A masculine Japanese given name derived from a word meaning "eldest son".
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.
Taro is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Taro popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 6 births.
This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Taro. 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
- • Taro ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 6 boys were registered as Taro.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taro as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
6 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Taro mean?
The name Taro originated from Japan and has been in use since ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "taro," which refers to a type of edible root vegetable that was commonly cultivated in the region. The name itself can be written using different kanji characters, with one variation meaning "thick root" and another meaning "great son."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Taro can be found in the Kojiki, an ancient Japanese chronicle dating back to the early 8th century. In this text, Taro is depicted as a legendary figure who played a significant role in the mythological origins of Japan.
Throughout Japanese history, the name Taro has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Taro Katsura (1848-1913), a prominent Japanese statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1901 to 1908. He played a crucial role in modernizing Japan's political and economic systems during the Meiji era.
Another notable figure with the name Taro was Taro Okamoto (1911-1996), a renowned Japanese artist and sculptor. He is particularly famous for his abstract sculptures and his involvement in the avant-garde art movement in Japan during the 20th century.
In the realm of literature, Taro Yashima (1908-1994) was a celebrated author and illustrator of children's books. Born in Japan, he later immigrated to the United States and became known for his beautifully illustrated works that celebrated Japanese culture and traditions.
The name Taro has also been associated with the world of sports. Taro Daniel (born 1993) is a professional tennis player from Japan who has competed in various Grand Slam tournaments and achieved notable rankings on the ATP Tour.
Lastly, Taro Aso (born 1940) is a prominent Japanese politician who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 2008 to 2009. He has also held several other important positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance, and is known for his conservative political views.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Taro over time
The chart below shows babies named Taro registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Taro, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taro by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taro 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4665 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3401 | 32 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2882 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Taro
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Taro: questions and answers
How popular is the name Taro in the UK right now?
In 2021, Taro was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Taro most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 6 babies registered as Taro in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Taro?
A masculine Japanese given name derived from a word meaning "eldest son".
How many people are called Taro in the UK?
A total of 50 babies have been registered as Taro across the 14 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.