Entry № 1595 · Japanese origin

Masako Masako — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ mah-SAH-koh /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Japanese
Meaning
"The Nun Shogun (Hojo Masako)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (Japanese)

A name that means "the nun shogun (hojo masako)".

Masako (政子) combines the Japanese masa (correct, government) and ko (child). **Hojo Masako (1156-1225)** was the wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Shogun of Japan. **After her husband's death, she took Buddhist vows but continued to wield supreme political power as ama-shogun ("the Nun Shogun")** through her father, brother, and sons. **Effectively the first female ruler of Japan in the warrior era.**

Featured throughout *Azuma Kagami* and Japanese historical drama.

The Nun Shogun. Took Buddhist vows but ruled Japan as ama-shogun.

The name in its native script.

政子
Transliteration
Masako
Pronunciation
/ məˈsɑː.koʊ /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Masako stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Masako · last year
87 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Masakos before her.

Real people
Hojo Masako
The Nun Shogun.
1156 – 1225
Empress Masako
Current Empress of Japan.
born 1963
In fiction
Masako
Azuma Kagami.

Names connected to Masako.

The number behind Masako.

7

The Seeker

Masako reduces to seven — the number of Japan's Nun Shogun.

Why families chose this name.

"Nun Shogun. Six letters. Masako."
Yuki · Mother of one · Kamakura