What does Nao mean?
Nao is commonly written with a kanji meaning “honest,” “straight” or “true.”
What does Kiku mean?
Kiku is the Japanese word for the chrysanthemum, a flower of autumn and of the imperial family.
Nao vs Kiku
Which is more popular?
Nao and Kiku are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Nao | Kiku | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Honest, straight | Chrysanthemum |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NAH-oh | KEE-koo |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1980 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 1998 (11) | 1915 (7) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nao
Kiku
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nao | Kiku |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 |
| 2010s | 10 | 0 |
| 2000s | 30 | 0 |
| 1990s | 29 | 0 |
| 1980s | 21 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nao or Kiku more popular?
Nao and Kiku are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Nao and Kiku?
Nao means Honest, straight (Japanese origin), while Kiku means Chrysanthemum (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Nao or Kiku?
In US records, Nao first appears in 1980 and Kiku in 1915, so Kiku has the longer recorded history.