← All names

Tanaka

Boy name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Tanaka: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2012.

A strong, internationally recognisable surname now gaining traction as a first name, Tanaka is of Japanese origin. It means “dweller in the middle of the rice fields,” combining *ta* (rice paddy) with *naka* (middle). The name is famously shared by the late Kakuei Tanaka, a transformative but controversial Japanese Prime Minister in the 1970s, and by actress Yūko Tanaka, known for her powerful performances in films like *The Ballad of Narayama*. No major places directly bear the name, though “Tanaka” is one of the most common surnames in Japan. A further note: while deeply rooted in Japanese culture, in Scotland the name has appeared very rarely on birth records, making it a distinctive choice for parents wanting something concise yet globally meaningful.