Meaning & History
Seiko is a Japanese feminine given name with a meaning rooted in the combination of two kanji elements. The first, sei (聖), means "holy" or "sacred," and the second, ko (子), means "child," together translating to "sacred child." However, other kanji combinations are possible, allowing for various nuances in meaning. The name is predominantly used for girls.
The name Seiko is well-known globally due to the watchmaking company Seiko Group, which shares the same characters. Founded by Kintarō Hattori in 1881, Seiko became famous for producing the first commercial quartz wristwatch in 1969. While the company name has a different origin (meaning "exquisite" or "precise," from a different character combination), the name itself is increasingly recognized beyond Japan. However, this article focuses on the given name, not the corporate brand.
A related variant of Seiko is Kiyoko, which also means "pure child" or "holy child" and shares the kiyo or sei element for "holy" combined with ko. Both names reflect a traditional Japanese naming convention where elements describing virtues or desirable qualities are combined with the suffix -ko.
- Meaning: Sacred/holy child
- Origin: Japanese
- Type: Given name (feminine)
- Usage regions: Japan