Kazuko

Meaning of Kazuko

Kazuko is a classic Japanese feminine name that typically combines the kanji “kazu,” often read as “harmony,” “peace,” or “first,” with “ko,” the traditional suffix for “child,” yielding graceful interpretations such as “harmonious child” or “first-born daughter.” Pronounced kah-zoo-koh, it reached the American naming charts between the First World War and the post-war 1940s, peaking in 1927 when 63 newborn girls received it. Its brief appearance in U.S. records mirrors early-20th-century Japanese immigration, while in Japan it evokes mid-century icons like avant-garde poet Kazuko Shiraishi and pioneer film director Kazuko Miyamoto. The blend of gentle cadence and cross-cultural history gives Kazuko an understated, almost vintage charm—the kind that feels equally at home in a Zen garden or on an Ivy League class roster—making it an appealing choice for parents drawn to names that whisper harmony rather than shout for attention.

Pronunciation

Japanese

• Pronunced as kah-zoo-koh (/kɑzʌko/)

• Kazuyo
• Kazue