What does Kaede mean?
Kaede is written with the kanji for the maple tree, prized for its autumn colour.
What does Mio mean?
Mio is written variously — “beautiful cherry blossom,” or a kanji meaning “waterway.”
Kaede vs Mio
Which is more popular?
Mio is more popular than Kaede today: about 15 US babies were given the name Mio in 2025, compared with 5 named Kaede.
| Kaede | Mio | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Maple | Beautiful cherry; waterway |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kah-EH-deh | MEE-oh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1997 | 1988 |
| Peak year | 2006 (17) | 2020 (21) |
| In 2025 | 5 | 15 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Kaede
Mio
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Kaede | Mio |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 30 | 90 |
| 2010s | 109 | 143 |
| 2000s | 96 | 87 |
| 1990s | 13 | 23 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kaede or Mio more popular?
Mio is more popular than Kaede today: about 15 US babies were given the name Mio in 2025, compared with 5 named Kaede.
What is the difference between Kaede and Mio?
Kaede means Maple (Japanese origin), while Mio means Beautiful cherry; waterway (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Kaede or Mio?
In US records, Kaede first appears in 1997 and Mio in 1988, so Mio has the longer recorded history.