Total births
1,001
Unisex name · since 1969
Neko
Neko has 1,001 recorded births since 1969 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2021 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4010
- among boys today
- 1,001
- born since 1969
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 72%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Neko is the #4010 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,001 recorded since 1969.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Neko has been recorded 1,001 times among boys since 1969, currently ranked #4010 nationally and more common than 72% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1969 to 2025.
- #4010 among boys today
- 1,001 born since 1969
- 2010s peak decade
- 72% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Neko is currently the #4010 unisex name in America, more common than 72% of boys - 1,001 born since 1969, peaking in the 2010s.
- #4010
- among boys today
- 1,001
- born since 1969
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 72%
- more common than other boys
Neko vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4010
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 72% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Neko was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
55 babies were named Neko in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How Neko compares
1,001 Top 31% higher than 69% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Neko's all-time total is 173% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Neko | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,001 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 55 | 23 | 22,252 |
Neko's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Neko splits its recorded history at 2006: 67% of all births land in the more recent half, 33% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1969 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2021 peak of 55 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Neko at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2021
Current rank
#4,010
Active since
1969
Neko popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1969–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 55
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
Neko popularity over time - girls
247 total births recorded since 1968 (Neko as girls' name)
Neko by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Neko's strongest decade.
327 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Neko births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1980s 39
1980s
39 births
- 1990s
1990s
162 births
- 2000s
2000s
245 births
- 2010s
2010s
327 births
- 2020s
2020s
223 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 327 births (33% of all-time use).
How Neko compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Neko's total volume
Neko vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Neko by state
Where Neko concentrates geographically, total births since 1969
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 42 | 4.2% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 7 | 0.7% |
| #3 | Florida | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #6 | Texas | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Neko's total US births 4.2%
Even split
42 of 1,001 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Neko? ▼
1,001 babies have been named Neko since 1969. It currently ranks #4010 among boys. The peak year was 2021 with 55 births.
When was Neko most popular? ▼
Neko was most popular in the 2010s decade with 327 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is Neko most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Neko are California (42 births), Georgia (7 births), Florida (6 births).
Is Neko a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Neko is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,001 births, and as a girl's name it has 247 births.
How long has the name Neko been used? ▼
Neko has been recorded in Social Security data since 1969, spanning 57 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Neko? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nekhi, Nekoda, Nektarios, Nekia, and 2 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Neko's data
- Neko's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (327 total births) through the 2020s (223) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nekos (42 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Neko
Nearby Names Like Neko
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Neko
Nekhi Boy
#7542 226 births
Nekoda Boy
#5351 214 births
Nektarios Boy
#8498 73 births
Nekia Boy
50 births
Nekko Boy
45 births
Compare Neko side by side: Neko vs Nekhi Neko vs Nekoda Neko vs Nektarios
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Neko
Taron #4009
2,726 births · Peak 2004
Kollin #4011
2,777 births · Peak 2009
Dallen #4008
1,215 births · Peak 2008
Johnhenry #4012
728 births · Peak 2017
Rainier #4007
874 births · Peak 2023
Aquiles #4013
646 births · Peak 2012
Shayne #4006
10,741 births · Peak 1990
Josey #4014
1,017 births · Peak 1989
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1969–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Neko: #4010 Unisex Name - 1,001 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/neko. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Neko draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.