Fun Facts About the Name Sho
- 460 babies named Sho: U.S. records list 460 babies given the name Sho from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Sho Mean?
Sho is usually a Japanese name, romanized from Shō; the long ō is often written as a plain o in English. Japanese names read shō take their meaning from the kanji chosen for them, so the name has no single fixed definition. The best-known kanji is 翔, "to soar, to fly," which gives the common sense "one who soars." Other frequent choices include 正 ("correct, upright"), 昇 ("to rise"), 昌 ("prosperous"), 祥 ("good fortune"), 章 ("chapter, badge"), 尚 ("esteem"), and 匠 ("artisan").
The sound shō belongs to the Sino-Japanese layer of the language, the on'yomi readings borrowed into Japanese along with Chinese characters. That is why one sound can match many different characters, and why the meaning depends on which character a family writes.
Sho Name History & Origins
Because a Japanese given name is fixed by the kanji chosen for it, Sho is best understood as a reading rather than a single word with one history. The element shō appears both as a one-kanji name, Sho, and as one part of two-character names such as Shōta, Shōhei, and Shōichi.
A separate and older use of the same sound belongs to the Ryukyu Islands. The Second Shō Dynasty, which ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom from 1469 to 1879, took the family name Shō, written 尚, and its kings - Shō Shin, Shō Nei, Shō Tai, and others - are known in English by that name. This is a royal surname, not the Japanese given name, and the two developed independently.
In English-language use, Sho is mainly a romanization of the Japanese name, sometimes written Shō or Shou in other romanization styles. It is unrelated to the similar-sounding Irish name Shea or the Scottish name Shaw, which come from different sources.
How Popular is the Name Sho?
Sho has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1990. Its best rank was #3,150 in 1990.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,582 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #8,837 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #8,166 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #8,868 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #8,068 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,106 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #7,058 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #10,598 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #8,700 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #6,620 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #5,677 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #8,660 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #7,469 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #9,467 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #5,993 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #5,763 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #8,211 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #9,637 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #10,492 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #13,058 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #12,943 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #5,502 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #4,876 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #5,354 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #5,004 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #8,570 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #5,778 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #5,232 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #5,910 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,452 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #4,500 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #3,987 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #4,820 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #3,793 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #3,150 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1989 | #3,310 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #4,128 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,900 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #6,609 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,434 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,222 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1923 | #3,425 | 8 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Sho Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Sho's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sho's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.