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Teruko
Pronounced teh-ROO-koh /teˈruː.koʊ/Medium
Meaning: Teruko is a Japanese girls' name typically read as 'shining' or 'bright' plus '-ko', a very common traditional ending for girls meaning 'child' — hence 'shining child'.Medium
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
Teruko is a traditional Japanese girls' name, joining a 'shining' or 'bright' element to the classic -ko ending, 'child', so common in names of its generation. It reads simply and warmly as 'shining child'.
In American records its span reflects the early Japanese-American community — the immigrant Issei and their Nisei daughters — with a small peak around 1927 at a few dozen girls a year. The -ko ending, once near-universal for Japanese girls, has grown less common in Japan itself, giving names like Teruko a mid-century feel there as well.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Teruko mean?
Teruko is a Japanese girls' name meaning 'shining child' or 'bright child', from a 'bright' element plus -ko.
How do you pronounce Teruko?
It's said teh-ROO-koh /teˈruː.koʊ/ — three syllables.
Is Teruko a boy or girl name?
Teruko is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Teruko?
Teruko has always been uncommon in the U.S., borne mainly by early Japanese-American families.