What does Mio mean?
Mio is written variously — “beautiful cherry blossom,” or a kanji meaning “waterway.”
What does Himari mean?
Himari commonly joins kanji for “sun/light” with “hollyhock,” among the most popular girls’ names in Japan today.
Mio vs Himari
Which is more popular?
Himari is more popular than Mio today: about 25 US babies were given the name Himari in 2025, compared with 15 named Mio.
| Mio | Himari | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Beautiful cherry; waterway | Sun hollyhock |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEE-oh | hee-MAH-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1988 | 2011 |
| Peak year | 2020 (21) | 2025 (25) |
| In 2025 | 15 | 25 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Mio
Himari
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Mio | Himari |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 90 | 77 |
| 2010s | 143 | 25 |
| 2000s | 87 | 0 |
| 1990s | 23 | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mio or Himari more popular?
Himari is more popular than Mio today: about 25 US babies were given the name Himari in 2025, compared with 15 named Mio.
What is the difference between Mio and Himari?
Mio means Beautiful cherry; waterway (Japanese origin), while Himari means Sun hollyhock (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Mio or Himari?
In US records, Mio first appears in 1988 and Himari in 2011, so Mio has the longer recorded history.