Rikishi
A rikishi (力士), sumōtori (相撲取り) or, more colloquially, osumōsan (お相撲さん), is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who participate in professional sumo tournaments in Japan, the only country where sumo is practiced professionally.
Meaning & Origin of Rikishi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A rikishi (力士), sumōtori (相撲取り) or, more colloquially, osumōsan (お相撲さん), is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who participate in professional sumo tournaments in Japan, the only country where sumo is practiced professionally.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Rikishi
As a girl name
Rikishi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2000, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2000, when 6 Rikishis were born — ranking #13,154 that year. As of 2026, Rikishi ranks #13,154 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Rikishis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Rikishi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2000, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2000, when 10 Rikishis were born — ranking #6,315 that year. As of 2026, Rikishi ranks #6,315 for boys with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Rikishis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Rikishi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rikishi 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 Rikishi
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About the name Rikishi
Rikishi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2000 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Rikishi's peak popularity came in 2000 when it ranked #6,315. Use the chart and map above to compare Rikishi's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2000 →
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- Top names of 2026 →
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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.