Meaning and Origin
What does the name Taro mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Taro
User Submitted Origins
Japanese
83%
Indian (Sanskrit)
8%
English
8%
User Submitted Meanings
- A user from Japan says the name Taro is of Japanese origin and means "An older son or the first things".
- A submission from Canada says the name Taro means "Scared".
- According to a user from West Virginia, U.S., the name Taro is of Japanese origin and means "root".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Ta"ro
A name for several aroid plants (Colocasia antiquorum, var. esculenta Colocasia macrorhiza, etc.), and their rootstocks. They have large ovate-sagittate leaves and large fleshy tuberous rootstocks, which are cooked and used for food in tropical countries.
Etymology: From the Polynesian name
Other Dictionary Sources
- Tropical starchy tuberous root
- Herb of the Pacific islands grown throughout the tropics for its edible root and in temperate areas as an ornamental for its large glossy leaves
- Edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants
Wiktionary
Borrowing from Maori taro, in turn from Proto-Polynesian *talo.
- Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
- Any of several other species with similar corms and growth habit in Colocasia, Alocasia etc.
- Food from a taro plant.
taro was also found in the following language(s): French, Hiri Motu, Italian, Maori, Portuguese, Spanish, Tahitian, Tok Pisin, and Welsh