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Evidence-led referenceJapanese names, readings and kanji
japanesenameatlas.infoJapanese name reference
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ReferenceNamesYūko
Canonical reference record
JMnedict-backedKANJIDIC2 character context
Japanese given name

Yūko

ユーコ

Given-name classification varies across source records.

ゆうこユウコYūko
Compare spellings
Reference coverage

Extended source depth

This reading group has a comparatively broad dictionary footprint across source-recorded spellings or records. The counts describe corpus coverage, not real-world popularity.

Distinct recorded spellings138

group-level written forms

Source spelling/reading rows139

records contributing to this reading group

Coverage levelExtended

based only on the imported source footprint

Pronunciation & romanization

How to read Yūko

The kana reading is source-recorded. Romanization and mora segmentation are deterministic reading aids generated from that kana; pitch accent is not inferred.

Source readingゆうこ

Normalized to hiragana for comparison.

Katakana formユウコ

The same reading converted to katakana.

RomanizationYūko

Macron-style display. Vowel-sequence form: Yuuko. Personal spelling and true vowel boundaries can differ.

Mora segmentationゆ · う · こ

3 morae in this reading. Small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana join the preceding mora.

Audio note: the play button uses Japanese text-to-speech provided by the visitor’s browser/device. It is a convenience preview, not a recorded native-speaker pronunciation or pitch-accent authority.

Meaning by written form

What can Yūko mean?

A Japanese name can be written in more than one way, and its meaning can change with the kanji used. Rather than assigning one English meaning to “Yūko”, this page explains each recorded spelling separately.

Kanji spellings10

character meanings available

Kana-only spellings2

no kanji meaning attached

InterpretationBy spelling

based on the exact written form

Kana-only spelling

ユーコ

This spelling is written only in kana. Because it contains no kanji, there is no kanji meaning to interpret here. The kana record the name’s sound; any personal or cultural meaning would depend on context not supplied by the dictionary.

Characters and loaded glosses
ユKana characterーKana characterコKana character
Kana-only spelling

ゆうこ

This spelling is written only in kana. Because it contains no kanji, there is no kanji meaning to interpret here. The kana record the name’s sound; any personal or cultural meaning would depend on context not supplied by the dictionary.

Characters and loaded glosses
ゆKana characterうKana characterこKana character
Mixed kanji and kana spelling

ユウ子

This spelling combines kanji and kana. Dictionary meanings are shown only for the kanji characters; the kana represent sound and do not add a kanji-derived English meaning.

Characters and loaded glosses
ユKana characterウKana character子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Mixed kanji and kana spelling

ゆう子

This spelling combines kanji and kana. Dictionary meanings are shown only for the kanji characters; the kana represent sound and do not add a kanji-derived English meaning.

Characters and loaded glosses
ゆKana characterうKana character子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Kanji spelling

七夕子

These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.

Characters and loaded glosses
七seven夕evening子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Kanji spelling

佑侑子

These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.

Characters and loaded glosses
佑help, assist侑urge to eat子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Kanji spelling

佑子

These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.

Characters and loaded glosses
佑help, assist子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Kanji spelling

侑右子

These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.

Characters and loaded glosses
侑urge to eat右right子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
Kanji spelling

侑子

These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.

Characters and loaded glosses
侑urge to eat子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Showing meaning context for the first 12 distinct written forms out of 139. The recorded-spellings section below retains the wider source set.

How to read these meanings

The English words shown here are dictionary meanings of individual kanji. They help explain what a spelling can suggest, but they are not a guaranteed translation of the full name and do not establish why a particular person was given that name.

Reading profile

How Yūko is represented

These counts describe records in the imported name corpus. They are not a ranking of how popular a spelling is among people in Japan.

Recorded kana readings3

ゆうこ · ユーコ · ユウこ

Kanji-based spellings137

among the forms analyzed on this page

Kana characters3

in the primary dictionary reading

Morae3

small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana combine with the preceding mora

Kana-only2

recorded spellings

1-kanji forms3

recorded spellings

2-kanji forms67

recorded spellings

3-kanji forms67

recorded spellings

JMnedict classification evidence

How this reading is classified in the source corpus

This separates dictionary classification from popularity. The same exact kana reading can be recorded as a given name, a surname, or both, and given-name records can carry male, female or unspecified source labels.

Primary reading recorded asGiven name + surname

ゆうこ in the imported JMnedict corpus

Given-name written forms153

155 source spelling/reading rows

Surname written forms1

1 source spelling/reading row

Given-name labelsmale 4 · female 137 · unspecified 14

row counts carrying each JMnedict source label

Exact readingGiven-name evidenceGiven-name labelsSurname evidence
ゆーこYūko11 source rowunspecified 1source rows · distinct forms: unspecified 100 source rows
ゆうこYūko153155 source rowsmale 4 · female 137 · unspecified 14source rows · distinct forms: male 4 · female 135 · unspecified 1411 source row
ゆうこYūko00 source rows—source rows · distinct forms: —00 source rows

Classification boundary: male/female/unspecified are labels attached to imported JMnedict name records. They are not population shares, probabilities, identity claims, or evidence that a spelling is currently common in Japan. A source row can also be repeated across different written forms, so row counts and distinct-writing counts are shown separately.

Spelling anatomy

Corpus structure behind Yūko

This section summarizes the exact source-recorded forms loaded for this reading group. Stroke and character-position statistics are descriptive corpus properties, not popularity or style scores.

Kanji forms with complete stroke data137

3–30 strokes observed span

Median total strokes15

among forms with complete KANJIDIC2 stroke data

All-kanji name-classified forms133

all component kanji loaded as jōyō/jinmeiyō classes

Other/unclassified kanji forms4

contains at least one character outside that loaded classification

Source-reading distribution
ReadingRomanizationMoraeForms
ゆうこYūko3138
ゆーこYūko31
Recurring adjacent kanji sequences
有子10 analyzed forms羽子7 analyzed forms宇子6 analyzed forms布子6 analyzed forms佑子4 analyzed forms生子4 analyzed forms

Shown only when the same adjacent two-kanji sequence occurs in at least two analyzed source forms. Open a sequence in Kanji Pair Research for corpus co-occurrence context.

Reading ambiguity

Can the same writing be read another way?

29 of 80 displayed written forms have more than one given-name reading somewhere in the active JMnedict corpus. This is dictionary-record ambiguity, not a prediction of how a particular person reads the name.

Written forms checked80

distinct spellings displayed on this page

Multiple recorded readings29

exact written forms with 2+ source readings

Single recorded reading50

within this active given-name corpus

Largest reading set9

distinct kana readings for one displayed writing

A reading shown without a link is still source-recorded, but its destination group does not yet meet the reference-depth standard used for the main library. Limited records are not promoted merely to create extra internal links.

Kanji role reference

How recurring characters function across Yūko spellings

Position counts are calculated only from the distinct written forms analyzed for this page. KANJIDIC2 nanori are character-level name-reading references; they are not used here to decompose or assert the reading of a specific multi-kanji name.

KanjiCharacter glossesFormsFirstFinalInternalSoloStrokesKANJIDIC2 nanoriLoaded class
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM1070107003い, き, ぎ, く +2Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1
有possess, have, exist20110906あ, あら, あり, ある +3Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3
由wherefore, a reason17160105—Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3
優tenderness, excel, surpass131201017ゆ, よしJōyō · KANJIDIC grade 6
夕evening11100103ゆJōyō · KANJIDIC grade 1
湖lake8080012うみ, みJōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3
友friend870104う, ど, ゆJōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2
侑urge to eat750208あつむ, すすむ, ゆき, ゆJinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9
羽feathers, counter for birds, rabbits700706しゅう, ばJōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2
祐help7502010—Jinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9
裕abundant, rich, fertile7700012すけ, のり, ひろ, ひろし +3Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8
佑help, assist630307すけ, たすく, ゆJinmeiyō · KANJIDIC grade 9

Counts describe this source-recorded spelling set, not population use. A repeated kanji can contribute to more than one position role across different spellings.

Exact writing research map

Move from a spelling to its readings, characters and literal sequence context

These relationships are exact and source-backed. Whole-name readings shown in each card come from JMnedict within the current name class; exact-writing search can surface records from other name classes. Character links open KANJIDIC2-backed kanji pages. Sequence context means the same kanji string occurs contiguously in another recorded written form—it does not prove shared origin or meaning.

Exact written form

ユーコ

Search exact writing →
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Yūkoゆーこ · this page
Characters in order
ユKanaーKanaコKana
Exact written form

ゆうこ

Search exact writing →
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Yūkoゆうこ · this page
Characters in order
ゆKanaうKanaこKana
Exact written form

佑子

Search exact writing →Research this pair →
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
SachikoさちこHirokoひろこYūkoゆうこ · this page
Characters in order
佑help, assist子child, sign of the rat
Other public forms containing the same contiguous sequence
万佑子Given name · Mayuko · まゆこ亜佑子Given name · Ayuko · あゆこ安佑子Given name · Ayuko · あゆこ

The exact sequence 佑子 appears contiguously inside these other source-recorded forms.

Showing research maps for the first 10 distinct written forms out of 139. Every detailed spelling card below still links to exact-writing search and its component kanji.

Corpus pattern

Kanji recurring across Yūko spellings

Only characters appearing in at least two distinct analyzed spellings are shown here. Frequency describes this source-recorded spelling set, not real-world baby-name popularity.

子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM107 of 139 analyzed forms有possess, have, exist20 of 139 analyzed forms由wherefore, a reason17 of 139 analyzed forms優tenderness, excel, surpass13 of 139 analyzed forms夕evening11 of 139 analyzed forms湖lake8 of 139 analyzed forms友friend8 of 139 analyzed forms侑urge to eat7 of 139 analyzed forms羽feathers, counter for birds, rabbits7 of 139 analyzed forms祐help7 of 139 analyzed forms
Same reading, different writing

Explore written forms of Yūko

138 source-recorded forms use the primary source reading ゆうこ. Other source readings can appear in this romanized group when the imported records converge on the same index form. Use Compare to inspect exact spellings side by side.

ユーコ

ユーコ · Yūko

Katakana ユーコMorae 3Strokes —

This written form uses kana rather than kanji, so there are no character-level kanji glosses to combine.

Character-set checkKana spelling
Search this exact writing

ゆうこ

ゆうこ · Yūko

Katakana ユウコMorae 3Strokes —

This written form uses kana rather than kanji, so there are no character-level kanji glosses to combine.

Character-set checkKana spelling
Search this exact writing

Showing the first 80 spelling/reading records out of 139 loaded records for this reading group. The group contains 138 distinct written spellings.

Spelling comparator

Compare Yūko forms side by side

Each exact written spelling appears once in this table even when JMnedict records more than one reading for that writing. Stroke totals and character glosses come from KANJIDIC2 when all component kanji are available.

SpellingOne source readingCharacter-level glossesTotal strokesLoaded character class
ユーコユーコKana-only spelling—Kana spelling
ゆうこゆうこKana-only spelling—Kana spelling
ユウ子ユウこ子 — child, sign of the rat3All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
ゆう子ゆうこ子 — child, sign of the rat3All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
七夕子ゆうこ七 — seven · 夕 — evening · 子 — child, sign of the rat8All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
佑侑子ゆうこ佑 — help, assist · 侑 — urge to eat · 子 — child, sign of the rat18All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
佑子ゆうこ佑 — help, assist · 子 — child, sign of the rat10All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
佑有子ゆうこ佑 — help, assist · 有 — possess, have · 子 — child, sign of the rat16All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
侑右子ゆうこ侑 — urge to eat · 右 — right · 子 — child, sign of the rat16All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
侑子ゆうこ侑 — urge to eat · 子 — child, sign of the rat11All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
侑宇子ゆうこ侑 — urge to eat · 宇 — eaves, roof · 子 — child, sign of the rat17All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
侑布子ゆうこ侑 — urge to eat · 布 — linen, cloth · 子 — child, sign of the rat16All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
侑湖ゆうこ侑 — urge to eat · 湖 — lake20All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
優こゆうこ優 — tenderness, excel17All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
優侑子ゆうこ優 — tenderness, excel · 侑 — urge to eat · 子 — child, sign of the rat28All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified
優児ゆうこ優 — tenderness, excel · 児 — newborn babe, child24All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified

The comparison table shows the first 16 distinct written forms; the detailed cards above show up to 80 spelling/reading records.

What does Yūko mean?

There is not necessarily one fixed English meaning. The reading identifies the spoken name; different written forms can use different kanji. Character glosses describe individual kanji and should not be treated as proof of the intention behind a particular person’s name.

Related readings

More names beginning with ゆう

Related by the opening kana of the dictionary reading. This is a deterministic browsing relationship, not a claim that the names share the same meaning.

Given name · mixed records · limited reference

Yūki

264 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūka

215 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · mixed records · limited reference

Yū

129 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · mixed records · limited reference

Yūji

128 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūri

119 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūna

113 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūmi

98 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · mixed records · limited reference

Yūkō

70 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · mixed records · limited reference

Yūsuke

61 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūhi

50 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · male · limited reference

Yūjirō

46 recorded spellings

Explore →Given name · female · limited reference

Yūho

36 recorded spellings

Explore →
Shared-kanji relationships

Other names sharing kanji with Yūko

These links are calculated from exact characters appearing in source-recorded spellings on this page. Sharing a kanji does not mean two names have the same reading, origin, gender or intended meaning.

Given-name relationship

Yukiko

侑優友夕子有湖由祐

9 shared kanji · 252 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yumiko

侑優友夕子有湖由祐

9 shared kanji · 142 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yukako

侑優友夕子有湖由祐

9 shared kanji · 111 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Mayuko

侑優友夕子有湖由祐

9 shared kanji · 86 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yūmi

侑優友夕有湖由祐羽

9 shared kanji · 54 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yūki

侑優友夕有由祐羽

8 shared kanji · 138 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yūka

侑優友夕有由祐羽

8 shared kanji · 125 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yuka

侑優友夕子有由祐

8 shared kanji · 118 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yuriko

侑優友夕子有由祐

8 shared kanji · 89 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Mayumi

侑優友夕子有由祐

8 shared kanji · 86 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Sayuri

侑優友夕子有由祐

8 shared kanji · 84 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →Given-name relationship

Yū

侑優友夕有由祐羽

8 shared kanji · 72 matching source-recorded spellings

Inspect name →
Continue research

Where to go next from Yūko

Use literal reading, character and corpus relationships to continue without treating nearby records as automatically related.

Exact reading

Search ゆうこ

See source records matching this kana reading or beginning with it.

Continue →Reading family

Yu / ゆ

Browse other public given names with the same opening reading family.

Continue →Character reference

子 — child, sign of the rat

Open the kanji page for readings, classifications and literal name-use context.

Continue →Character reference

有 — possess, have

Open the kanji page for readings, classifications and literal name-use context.

Continue →Interactive discovery

Open Name Explorer

Use the same name type and 3-mora reading length as a starting point.

Continue →
Evidence on this page

What each source establishes

JMnedict establishes recorded written forms, readings and name classifications; where safely associated, this page can also show JMnedict-supplied trans_det source text without treating it as a whole-name meaning. KANJIDIC2 supplies character readings, nanori, stroke counts, grade classes and English character glosses. The Ministry of Justice remains the official reference for Japanese child-name character rules. The Agency for Cultural Affairs romanization guidance is the reference for generated Latin-script reading aids.

Source boundary

The spelling-frequency and structural counts on this page are calculated from imported JMnedict records. They are corpus counts, not population-frequency claims. KANJIDIC2 supplies the kanji metadata used in character and stroke comparisons.

Review sources →