Sho Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHO /ʃoʊ/
Origin: Japanese; Chinese
Meaning: Japanese: 'to fly'; Chinese: 'victory'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sho has its roots in Japanese, where it is written with various kanji characters, each carrying distinct meanings. Commonly, the characters used for Sho can mean 'to fly', 'to rise', or 'to soar', reflecting a sense of elevation or aspiration.
The name has been adopted in various contexts within Japan, often associated with positive attributes such as ambition and success. Linguistically, the name can be traced back to the ancient Japanese language, which has evolved over centuries, incorporating influences from Chinese characters during the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) when kanji were introduced into Japan.
Historically, the name Sho has been borne by notable figures in Japanese history, including emperors and samurai, contributing to its cultural significance. One of the most prominent historical references is to Emperor Shōwa, who reigned from 1926 to 1989, marking a significant period in Japan's modernization and post-war recovery.
The era name 'Shōwa' itself translates to 'enlightened peace', encapsulating the aspirations of the time. Additionally, the name has appeared in various literary works and traditional narratives, reinforcing its presence in Japanese culture.
Culturally, the name Sho is often associated with themes of growth and achievement, resonating with the values of perseverance and ambition in Japanese society. The name's positive connotations have allowed it to endure through generations, making it a meaningful choice for many families.
Related forms of the name, such as Shōhei or Shōta, also carry similar meanings and are used in various contexts, further enriching the name's legacy within Japanese culture.
Famous people named Sho
In this section, you will find notable people named Sho. 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 Sho who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sho 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.
Sho Kosugi is an actor and martial artist best known for his roles in the Ninja trilogy and other martial arts films.
Fictional characters named Sho
The following list of fictional characters named Sho 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.
Sho is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Shaman King. He is a powerful shaman and the main protagonist who seeks to become the Shaman King to fulfill his dreams.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sho, 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 Sho. 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 Sho was first seen in the United States in 1923.
Sho has ranked as high as #1207 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in California, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Sho has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sho 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 Sho was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Sho (2019)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
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 Sho.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 16 |
| 1990 | 20 |
| 1989 | 18 |
| 1988 | 12 |
| 1987 | 9 |
| 1986 | 6 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1923 | 8 |