What does Koharu mean?
Koharu joins kanji for “small” and “spring,” and also names the mild days of an Indian summer.
What does Nao mean?
Nao is commonly written with a kanji meaning “honest,” “straight” or “true.”
Koharu vs Nao
Which is more popular?
Koharu and Nao are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Koharu | Nao | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Small spring | Honest, straight |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | koh-HAH-roo | NAH-oh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2004 | 1980 |
| Peak year | 2011 (7) | 1998 (11) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Koharu
Nao
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Koharu | Nao |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | 5 |
| 2010s | 17 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17 | 30 |
| 1990s | 0 | 29 |
| 1980s | 0 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Koharu or Nao more popular?
Koharu and Nao are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Koharu and Nao?
Koharu means Small spring (Japanese origin), while Nao means Honest, straight (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Koharu or Nao?
In US records, Koharu first appears in 2004 and Nao in 1980, so Nao has the longer recorded history.