US Popularity Rank: 4341

Origin: Japanese

Meaning: Pine tree child; Expected child

Matsuko is a girl's name of Japanese origin. Written in various ways using kanji characters, this name can have multiple meanings. Derived from the Japanese matsu, meaning "pine tree," “wait,” or “expect,” and ko, meaning “child,” Matsuko most commonly means “pine tree child” or “expected child.” A symbol of longevity and endurance, pine forms a central part of the kadomatsu—a traditional Japanese decoration used during the holiday, Shōgatsu. Translated as "gate pine," the purpose of the kadomatsu is to honor and welcome the ancestral spirits along with a bountiful harvest. In this way, aligned with renewal and good fortune, Matsuko serves as an everlasting gift for baby, beckoning a bright future filled with abundance and luck.