What does Nao mean?
Nao is commonly written with a kanji meaning “honest,” “straight” or “true.”
What does Sumire mean?
Sumire is the Japanese word for the violet flower.
Nao vs Sumire
Which is more popular?
Nao and Sumire are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Nao | Sumire | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Honest, straight | Violet |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NAH-oh | soo-MEE-reh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1980 | 1994 |
| Peak year | 1998 (11) | 2018 (11) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nao
Sumire
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nao | Sumire |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 26 |
| 2010s | 10 | 61 |
| 2000s | 30 | 17 |
| 1990s | 29 | 10 |
| 1980s | 21 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nao or Sumire more popular?
Nao and Sumire are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Nao and Sumire?
Nao means Honest, straight (Japanese origin), while Sumire means Violet (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Nao or Sumire?
In US records, Nao first appears in 1980 and Sumire in 1994, so Nao has the longer recorded history.