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Kameko

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kameko

Pronounced kah-MEH-koh /kɑˈmɛ.koʊ/Low

Meaning: Kameko is a Japanese girls' name joining kame, 'tortoise,' with the common girls' suffix ko, 'child,' for 'tortoise child.' In Japanese tradition the tortoise is an emblem of longevity and good fortune, so the name reads as a wish for a long, blessed life.Low

In 30 seconds: Kameko is a Japanese girl's name meaning 'tortoise child,' a symbol of long life. In the United States it appeared with Japanese American families, peaking around 1990 (said kah-MEH-koh).

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Origin LowJapanese

MeaningKameko is a Japanese girls' name joining kame, 'tortoise,' with the common girls' suffix ko, 'child,' for 'tortoise child.' In Japanese tradition the tortoise is an emblem of longevity and good fortune, so the name reads as a wish for a long, blessed life.

U.S. rank (2008)#16411 ↗ Rising

2008 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1990

Total births (all-time)≈ 208

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kameko is a traditional Japanese name from kame, 'tortoise,' and the girls' suffix ko, 'child.' The -ko ending was extremely common for Japanese women through the twentieth century, and Kameko appears in American records among Japanese American families across several generations.

In the United States Kameko was always rare and community-specific, appearing from the early twentieth century onward and reaching a small high around 1990. The name is best understood as a respectfully used Japanese heritage name rather than a broad American trend.

Did you know? The tortoise in Japanese culture is a classic symbol of longevity, said to live a thousand years, so Kameko, 'tortoise child,' quietly wishes a long life on its bearer.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Kameko — Japanese kame 'tortoise' + ko 'child', tortoise a longevity symbol; heritage name; US peak around 1990.

Variations

KameyoKamikoKamekaKameko

Nicknames

KameKamKeko

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kameko…

Yukiko— a comparable traditional Japanese girl's name

Emiko— a same-style -ko name of like rhythm

Hanako— a familiar Japanese -ko heritage name

Kimiko— shares Kameko's Japanese roots

Kazuko— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kameko mean?

It is a Japanese name meaning 'tortoise child,' from kame 'tortoise' and ko 'child,' with the tortoise symbolizing long life.

How do you pronounce Kameko?

It is said kah-MEH-koh /kɑˈmɛ.koʊ/ - three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Kameko a boy or girl name?

Kameko is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kameko?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year around its high near nineteen-ninety, mostly within Japanese American families.