Yoko

Yoko is a feminine given name of Japanese origin. In Japan it is used across generations and can be written with various kanji characters, with the intended meaning varying by the chosen characters. The name is commonly romanized as Yoko or Youko and is also rendered in kana as よこ or ヨコ.

Notable people with the name include Yoko Ono (born 1933), a Japanese-American multimedia artist, musician, and peace activist who was closely associated with John Lennon and the Fluxus movement, and who helped popularize avant-garde and peace-promoting work in the late 20th century. Japanese composers Yoko Kanno (born 1963) and Yoko Shimomura (born 1967) are prominent figures in anime and video game music, known for works such as Kanno’s soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop and Shimomura’s scores for Kingdom Hearts. Novelist Yoko Ogawa (born 1962) has received international recognition for works including The Housekeeper and the Professor and The Memory Police.

In fiction, the name Yoko appears for several characters, such as Yoko Littner, a main character in the anime series Gurren Lagann, who is noted for her sharpshooting and distinctive appearance. The name also appears in other works and has been adopted by non-Japanese creators to render Japanese names in various contexts.

Overall, Yoko remains a common given name in Japan and has been borne by several figures across the arts, music, literature, and popular culture, contributing to its international recognition beyond its linguistic origins.