What does Aoi mean?
Aoi can mean “hollyhock” or “blue/green,” depending on the kanji.
What does Makoto mean?
Makoto is written with a kanji meaning “sincerity” or “truth.”
Aoi vs Makoto
Which is more popular?
Makoto is more popular than Aoi today: about 11 US babies were given the name Makoto in 2025, compared with 9 named Aoi.
| Aoi | Makoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Hollyhock; blue | Sincerity, truth |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | AH-oh-ee | mah-KOH-toh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1994 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2014 (14) | 1922 (17) |
| In 2025 | 9 | 11 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Aoi
Makoto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Aoi | Makoto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 9 | 55 |
| 2010s | 95 | 107 |
| 2000s | 81 | 81 |
| 1990s | 23 | 72 |
| 1980s | 0 | 59 |
| 1970s | 0 | 31 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 | 11 |
| 1920s | 0 | 101 |
| 1910s | 0 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Aoi or Makoto more popular?
Makoto is more popular than Aoi today: about 11 US babies were given the name Makoto in 2025, compared with 9 named Aoi.
What is the difference between Aoi and Makoto?
Aoi means Hollyhock; blue (Japanese origin), while Makoto means Sincerity, truth (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Aoi or Makoto?
In US records, Aoi first appears in 1994 and Makoto in 1915, so Makoto has the longer recorded history.