Girl · #13,455 in 2026

Iroha

The Iroha (いろは) is a Japanese poem. Originally the poem was attributed to Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, but more modern research has found the date of composition to be later in the Heian period (794–1179). The first record of its existence dates from 1079. It is famous because it is a perfect pangram, containing each character of the Japanese syllabary exactly once.

Current Rank
#13,455
Peak Rank
#15,404 (2008)
Total Babies
17
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2008
First Year
2023
Last Year
2008
Peak Year
#15404
Peak Rank
17
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Iroha

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Iroha (いろは) is a Japanese poem. Originally the poem was attributed to Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, but more modern research has found the date of composition to be later in the Heian period (794–1179). The first record of its existence dates from 1079. It is famous because it is a perfect pangram, containing each character of the Japanese syllabary exactly once.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Authorship is traditionally ascribed to the Heian era Japanese Buddhist priest and scholar Kūkai ( 空海 ) (774–835). However, this is unlikely as it is believed that in his time there were separate e sounds in the a and ya columns of the kana table. The え ( e ) above would have been pronounced ye , making the pangram incomplete. It is said that the Iroha is a transformation of the " Gatha on Impermanence" verses in the Nirvana Sutra : 諸行無常 是生滅法 生滅滅已 寂滅為楽 which translates into \nAll acts are [[impermanence|impermanent]]\nThat's the law of creation and destruction.\nWhen all creation and dest

The Story of Iroha

Iroha first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2008, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 6 Irohas were born — ranking #15,404 that year. As of 2026, Iroha ranks #13,455 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 17 Irohas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Iroha

Phonetically similar names — useful when Iroha is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Iroha

What does the name Iroha mean?
The Iroha (いろは) is a Japanese poem. Originally the poem was attributed to Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, but more modern research has found the date of composition to be later in the Heian period (794–1179). The first record of its existence dates from 1079. It is famous because it is a perfect pangram, containing each character of the Japanese syllabary exactly once.
How popular is Iroha in 2026?
In 2026, Iroha ranks #13,455 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Iroha most popular?
Iroha reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #15,404 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Iroha a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Iroha is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Iroha?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Iroha include Inah, Marymae, Graice. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Inah
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Marymae
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Graice
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Lale
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Camill
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Jamayra
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Evemarie
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Juliamarie
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About the name Iroha

Iroha is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2008 and has accumulated 17 births in the dataset. Iroha's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #15,404. Use the chart and map above to compare Iroha's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.