Naoto
Meaningoften honest person · Japanese
Naoto is a Japanese boy name often meaning “honest person”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationNaoto peaked in 1994, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Naoto you'd meet today is about 31 years old.
- HistoryNaoto first shows up in US birth records in 1994, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 31 years since.
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Naoto
Naoto is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often honest person”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Naoto
What does the name Naoto mean?
Naoto means “often honest person” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Nao (“often honest”), Naoaki (“often honest brightness”), Naohiko (“often honest prince”) and Naohiro (“often honest and broad”).
What is the origin of the name Naoto?
Naoto is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Naoto a boy or girl name?
Naoto is a boy name.
How popular is the name Naoto?
Naoto is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2012. It peaked at #6,968 in 1994, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Naoto?
If you like Naoto, you might also like Nao, Naoaki, Naohiko and Naohiro.
What should I know before naming my baby Naoto?
Naoto is a Japanese boy name often meaning “honest person”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.