Sadako Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: sah-DAH-koh /sæˈdɑːkoʊ/
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: child of sadness
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sadako has its roots in the Japanese language, where it is typically written with the kanji characters "貞子" or "佐田子." The first character, "貞" (sada), conveys meanings related to chastity, purity, or fidelity, while the second character, "子" (ko), means "child" or "daughter." This structure is common in Japanese names, where the suffix "ko" is often used for female names, signifying a sense of femininity and endearment. The name thus carries connotations of a pure or virtuous child, reflecting traditional values in Japanese culture.
Historically, the name Sadako gained prominence in the mid-20th century, particularly due to the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who became a symbol of peace and resilience following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Sadako was diagnosed with leukemia as a result of the radiation exposure and famously began folding origami cranes in hopes of recovering, inspired by the legend that one who folds a thousand cranes would be granted a wish.
Her story was popularized in various literary works and memorials, including the children's book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes," published in the 1970s, which has contributed to the name's cultural significance. The legacy of Sadako Sasaki has imbued the name with a strong association with themes of peace, hope, and the impact of war on innocent lives.
As a result, Sadako has become a name that resonates deeply within Japanese culture and beyond, symbolizing the enduring spirit of those affected by conflict. The name is often used in literature and art to evoke these themes, ensuring its place in the cultural narrative surrounding peace activism and remembrance.
Famous people named Sadako
In this section, you will find notable people named Sadako. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Sadako who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sadako who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Sadako Sasaki is a peace activist best known for her story related to the Hiroshima bombing and the paper crane legend.
Fictional characters named Sadako
The following list of fictional characters named Sadako is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Sadako Yamamura is a fictional character from the horror film series Ringu. She is a vengeful spirit whose curse leads to terrifying consequences for those who watch a cursed videotape.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sadako, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Sadako. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Sadako was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Sadako has ranked as high as #891 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Hawaii, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Sadako has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sadako is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Sadako was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Sadako (1932)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| HI | 8 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Sadako.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1930 | 12 |
| 1929 | 17 |
| 1928 | 18 |
| 1927 | 25 |
| 1926 | 23 |
| 1925 | 23 |
| 1924 | 25 |
| 1923 | 14 |
| 1922 | 14 |
| 1921 | 24 |
| 1920 | 22 |
| 1919 | 24 |
| 1918 | 21 |
| 1917 | 18 |
| 1916 | 12 |
| 1915 | 19 |
| 1913 | 7 |