Masato Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Masato is a Japanese name that signifies 'elegant person' or 'righteous man'. It has its roots in ancient Japanese language and has evolved through various historical forms. The name is associated with positive traits and has been popular for centuries, particularly among families wishing to convey virtues. It does not have a biblical background, and it continues to be a respected name in modern Japan.
The name Masato is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Masato has been stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Masato' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1920th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4548th out of 6773 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9536th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10707th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12339th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Masato' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Masato"
Pronunciation
/mɑːˈsɑːtoʊ/
Origin
Japanese
Etymology
Masato is derived from the Japanese elements 'masa' meaning 'elegant' or 'righteous' and 'to' meaning 'person' or 'man'.
Meaning
elegant person or righteous man
Language Evolution
古代日本語 (Kodai Nihongo), 中世日本語 (Chūsei Nihongo), 近代日本語 (Kindai Nihongo), 現代日本語 (Gendai Nihongo)
Historical Usage
Masato has been used in Japan for centuries and has seen popularity in various forms since the Heian period, especially among families wishing to convey virtues through names.
Variants & Derivatives
Masahiro, Masashi, Masayuki, Masa
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Masato is perceived as a traditional yet modern name in Japan, often associated with positive traits such as elegance and righteousness.
Famous People
Masato Yoshinari - Japanese professional baseball player, Masato Tsukada - Japanese actor
Explore More Masato Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Masato"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Masato"
"Masato" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1920th of 7545 | 268 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4548th of 6773 | 36 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9536th of 16616 | 37 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 10707th of 24088 | 74 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 12339th of 23106 | 47 |
Regional Popularity of "Masato" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - |
30.74% 351st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - |
60.50% 936th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
75.38% 4731st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Masato" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Masato"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Masato" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.