Neko
Boy name · #3408 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Neko? In official American birth records, Neko has been tracked continuously since 1969, giving it 56 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neko against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neko in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Neko is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Neko?
In official American birth records, the name Neko first appeared in 1969 (over 56 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 56 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.