Boy and girl
Nao
Nao (なお) is a Japanese name for boys and girls. Its best-known spelling is 奈央, 奈 (used for its sound + 央 centre. It was most popular in the past, reaching No. 36 in 2014.
な · お · なお · ナオ
Ways to write Nao
The same sound can be written with different kanji, and each choice changes the meaning. These are the spellings that have appeared in Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
奈央
奈(used for its sound, na)央centre
Girl, best No. 64 (2004–2018)菜央
菜greens, rapeseed flower央centre
Girl, best No. 82 (2004–2011)直
直honest, straight
Boy, best No. 96 (2014)奈緒
奈(used for its sound, na)緒thread, beginning
Girl, 8 notable people on Wikidata菜保
菜greens, rapeseed flower保to protect, keep
Girl, 1 notable person on WikidataRarer spellings
These spellings of Nao appear in Japanese name records but are uncommon. Each uses a standard reading of its kanji.
菜音greens + soundGirl
菜桜greens + cherry blossomGirl
菜緒greens + threadGirl
菜織greens + to weaveGirl
菜生greens + lifeGirl
菜穂greens + ear of grainGirl
七愛seven + loveGirl
七央seven + centreGirl
Popularity in Japan
Where Nao has ranked among the most popular name readings each year. Its best year was 2014, at No. 36.
Show the numbers
| Year | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | No. 36 | No. 96 |
| 2013 | No. 42 | – |
| 2010 | No. 50 | – |
| 2007 | No. 37 | – |
| 2004 | No. 40 | – |
Source: Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance yearly baby name survey. It covers the top 10 names each year from 1912 to 2003, and the top 100 names and top 50 readings from 2004.
Famous people named Nao
Nao Shikata 四方 菜穂Japanese association football player
Nao Kodaira 小平 奈緒Japanese speed skater
From Wikidata: notable Japanese people with this given name.