keiko

Keiko is a feminine given name of Japanese origin. It can be formed with different kanji characters, giving a range of meanings such as blessing, joy, or child, depending on the chosen writings. The name is most common in Japan but is also used by people of Japanese descent in other countries. As a personal name, Keiko has appeared across various fields and in popular culture.

Notable people named Keiko include Keiko Fujimori, a Peruvian politician and daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori; Keiko Agena, an American actress known for her role as Lane Kim on Gilmore Girls; Keiko Matsui, a Japanese-American pianist and composer in the contemporary jazz and new-age scenes; and Keiko Kitagawa, a Japanese actress and model with roles in film and television.

Keiko is also the name of the orca made famous by the 1993 film Free Willy. Keiko the whale was captured in 1979 and spent years in captivity before being rehabilitated in a sea-pen program in Oregon; she died in 2003.

The given name Keiko remains in use in Japan and among Japanese communities abroad, representing a combination of traditional kanji meanings with a contemporary, international presence.