What does Nao mean?
Nao is commonly written with a kanji meaning “honest,” “straight” or “true.”
What does Riko mean?
Riko often pairs the kanji for “jasmine” with “child” (子), a classic feminine ending.
Nao vs Riko
Which is more popular?
Nao and Riko are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Nao | Riko | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Honest, straight | Jasmine child |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NAH-oh | REE-koh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1980 | 2002 |
| Peak year | 1998 (11) | 2017 (12) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nao
Riko
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nao | Riko |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 18 |
| 2010s | 10 | 50 |
| 2000s | 30 | 40 |
| 1990s | 29 | 0 |
| 1980s | 21 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nao or Riko more popular?
Nao and Riko are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Nao and Riko?
Nao means Honest, straight (Japanese origin), while Riko means Jasmine child (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Nao or Riko?
In US records, Nao first appears in 1980 and Riko in 2002, so Nao has the longer recorded history.