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