Nao
Nao is a common feminine Japanese given name which is occasionally used by males. It is also a short name for Naoko, Naomi, Naoto, etc.
Meaning & Origin of Nao
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nao is a common feminine Japanese given name which is occasionally used by males. It is also a short name for Naoko, Naomi, Naoto, etc.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nao
As a girl name
Nao first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 11 Naos were born — ranking #8,015 that year. As of 2026, Nao ranks #15,244 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 95 Naos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nao first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2001, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 7 Naos were born — ranking #9,752 that year. As of 2026, Nao ranks #9,752 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 23 Naos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Nao
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Nao (ナオ), a drummer from Visual Kei band Alice Nine
- Nao (born 1985), Japanese singer and former lead singer of the band fripSide
- Nao (奈緒, born 1995), Japanese actress
- Nao Asahi (朝日 奈央, born 1994), Japanese tarento
- Nao Deguchi (出口 なお, 1837-1918), founder of Oomoto
- Nao Eguchi (江口 直生, born 1992), Japanese footballer
- Nao Furuhata (古畑 奈和, born 1996), member of the girl group SKE48
- Nao Hibino (日比野 菜緒, born 1994), Japanese pro tennis player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Nao
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nao 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 Nao
What does the name Nao mean?
How popular is Nao in 2026?
When was Nao most popular?
Is Nao a unisex name?
What names go well with Nao?
About the name Nao
Nao is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1980 and has accumulated 95 births in the dataset. Nao's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #8,015. Use the chart and map above to compare Nao's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1998 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.