Nao

The Japanese unisex first name Nao (奈央) is composed of the characters 奈, which stands for the Nara prefecture and its main town, and o (央), which means 'center.' Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'the one who originates from the center of Nara.' However, there are also other possible kanji combinations and meanings.

What does the name Nao mean?

The first name Nao (奈央) is a Japanese unisex name composed of the characters 奈, which stands for the Nara prefecture and its capital, and o (央) meaning 'center.' This results in the meaning 'the one who originates from the center of Nara.' Additionally, other kanji combinations with different meanings are possible.

Where does the name Nao come from?

The name Nao has its roots in Japan and can be used for both men and women. Its meaning is 'the one who originates from the center of Nara.' The word components are as follows: Nara (奈) stands for the Nara prefecture and its capital, while o (央) means 'center.' The language is Japanese, and the name is written in kanji.

How do you pronounce Nao?

Nao is pronounced like 'Nau.'

Popularity

In Germany, Nao is a fairly common first name. In 2023, it ranked 3,780th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2008, when it reached 1,535th place. Over the last ten years, Nao has been given as a first name about 30 times, which earned it 4,152nd place in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,913th.

Famous people

• Nao Midorikawa (character from the anime Pretty Cure (Cure Match))
• Nao Takagi (singer, actress)
• Nao Yoshikawa (character from 'Good Morning Call')