What does Miyu mean?
Miyu commonly joins the kanji for “beauty” with “gentleness” or “superiority.”
What does Nanami mean?
Nanami commonly joins the kanji for “seven” and “sea.”
Miyu vs Nanami
Which is more popular?
Miyu is more popular than Nanami today: about 7 US babies were given the name Miyu in 2025, compared with 6 named Nanami.
| Miyu | Nanami | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Beautiful; gentle | Seven seas |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEE-yoo | nah-NAH-mee |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1995 | 1996 |
| Peak year | 2000 (16) | 2009 (19) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 6 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Miyu
Nanami
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Miyu | Nanami |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 35 | 67 |
| 2010s | 97 | 100 |
| 2000s | 96 | 116 |
| 1990s | 12 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Miyu or Nanami more popular?
Miyu is more popular than Nanami today: about 7 US babies were given the name Miyu in 2025, compared with 6 named Nanami.
What is the difference between Miyu and Nanami?
Miyu means Beautiful; gentle (Japanese origin), while Nanami means Seven seas (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Miyu or Nanami?
In US records, Miyu first appears in 1995 and Nanami in 1996, so Miyu has the longer recorded history.