Hideo

Meaning of Hideo

Hideo is a masculine Japanese name derived from the kanji 秀 (hide) meaning “excellence” and 夫 (o) meaning “man,” often rendered as “splendid man.” Early 20th-century birth records in Hawaii show Hideo consistently ranking between 15th and 45th for boys from 1912 to 1934, peaking at 22nd place in 1925 with 32 occurrences. Pronounced hee-DEH-oh, the name has been carried by influential figures such as game designer Hideo Kojima and filmmaker Hideo Nakata, reinforcing its link to creativity and leadership. In Latino communities across cities like Los Ángeles and Miami, Hideo retains a distinct appeal, offering parents a concise, cross-cultural choice that bridges Japanese heritage and a broader global outlook.