Nao
Gender-neutral name · Japanese
Meaningoften honest · Japanese
Nao is a Japanese gender-neutral name often meaning “honest”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Nao and you get Noa. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationNao peaked in 1998, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Nao you'd meet today is about 27 years old.
- HistoryNao first shows up in US birth records in 1980, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 45 years since.
US births per million girls, 1980–2025
US births per million boys, 2001–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Nao
Nao is a gender-neutral name of Japanese origin meaning “often honest”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name. It works for a boy or a girl, which suits parents who'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
Questions about the name Nao
What does the name Nao mean?
Nao means “often honest” and comes from Japanese. Other gender-neutral names with a similar meaning include Naziha (“honest, pure”), Naoaki (“often honest brightness”), Naohiko (“often honest prince”) and Naohiro (“often honest and broad”).
What is the origin of the name Nao?
Nao is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Asa (“healer”) and Rio (“river”).
Is Nao a boy or girl name?
Both. Nao is a true gender-neutral name used for boys and girls. That balance makes it a good pick if you'd like a name that doesn't signal gender.
How popular is the name Nao?
Nao is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2021. It peaked at #8,016 in 1998, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Nao?
If you like Nao, you might also like Naziha, Naoaki, Naohiko and Naohiro.
What should I know before naming my baby Nao?
Nao is a Japanese gender-neutral name often meaning “honest”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. It suits a boy or a girl equally well. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.