Eiko

Eiko is a feminine Japanese given name. Its meaning varies depending on the kanji characters used to write it. The name is composed of the element 'Ei,' which can be written with kanji meaning 'glory, honour, flourish, prosper' (栄), 'excellent, fine' (英), 'eternity' (永), 'lustre' or 'crystal' (瑛), or other possibilities, combined with 'ko' (子), the kanji for 'child.' This structure is typical of many traditional Japanese feminine names, where 'ko' serves as a common suffix. Other kanji combinations, such as 江威子 (meaning 'river, power, child'), also exist. For the masculine counterpart Eikō (also romanized as Eikou or Eikoh), the suffix 'kō' (often written with kanji like 公 'duke' or 光 'light') is used instead.

Notable Bearers

Eiko is not a rare name in Japan, and several notable individuals have borne it. Among them is Eiko Ando (1934–2018), a Japanese-American actress. The name appears across various fields, including arts and entertainment.

• Meaning: Varies by kanji; common meanings include 'glory child,' 'excellent child,' 'eternity child,' or 'crystal child'
• Origin: Japanese
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage regions: Japan
• Variant(s): Hidden (related to Hideko), with Korean cognates Yeong-ja and Young-ja