What does Nanami mean?
Nanami commonly joins the kanji for “seven” and “sea.”
What does Kaede mean?
Kaede is written with the kanji for the maple tree, prized for its autumn colour.
Nanami vs Kaede
Which is more popular?
Nanami is more popular than Kaede today: about 6 US babies were given the name Nanami in 2025, compared with 5 named Kaede.
| Nanami | Kaede | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Seven seas | Maple |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | nah-NAH-mee | kah-EH-deh |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1996 | 1997 |
| Peak year | 2009 (19) | 2006 (17) |
| In 2025 | 6 | 5 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nanami
Kaede
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nanami | Kaede |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 67 | 30 |
| 2010s | 100 | 109 |
| 2000s | 116 | 96 |
| 1990s | 12 | 13 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nanami or Kaede more popular?
Nanami is more popular than Kaede today: about 6 US babies were given the name Nanami in 2025, compared with 5 named Kaede.
What is the difference between Nanami and Kaede?
Nanami means Seven seas (Japanese origin), while Kaede means Maple (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Nanami or Kaede?
In US records, Nanami first appears in 1996 and Kaede in 1997, so Nanami has the longer recorded history.