Neko
Boy name · #3408 in 2025 · Uniqueness 79/100
Neko is currently the #3408 boy name in the United States — 34 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3591, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 boys born in 2025 was named Neko.
The 56-year story
Neko first appears in the Social Security records in 1969, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 55 boys were named Neko — good for #2439 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Neko per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neko against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neko in class?
Neko scores 79 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Neko will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Neko is most common
State-level data for Neko is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Neko
Statistically, parents drawn to Neko tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Neiko, Nikko, Niccolo, Miko, and Caio.
NeikoNikkoNiccoloMikoCaioNoorNarekNicolo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neko | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #3379 |
| 2024 | 27 | #3986 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3474 |
| 2022 | 38 | #3151 |
| 2021 | 55 | #2439 |
| 2020 | 36 | #3136 |
| 2019 | 26 | #4003 |
| 2018 | 26 | #3993 |
| 2017 | 31 | #3518 |
| 2016 | 31 | #3524 |
| 2015 | 30 | #3591 |
| 2014 | 33 | #3297 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 49 | #2517 |
| 2011 | 28 | #3695 |
| 2010 | 35 | #3181 |
| 2009 | 38 | #3045 |
| 2008 | 28 | #3744 |
| 2007 | 35 | #3188 |
| 2006 | 21 | #4370 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5034 |
| 2004 | 21 | #4129 |
| 2003 | 19 | #4276 |
| 2002 | 28 | #3188 |
| 2001 | 16 | #4676 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Neko a popular boy name?
Neko ranked #3408 among boys in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3591.
When was the name Neko most popular?
Neko peaked in 2021, when 55 American boys received the name (ranked #2439 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neko?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American boys was named Neko. It scores 79/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.