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