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