Nao (given name)

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Nao
GenderUnisex
Origin
Word/nameJapanese
Meaningmany different meanings depending on the kanji used
Other names
Related namesNaoko
Naomi

Nao (なお, ナオ) is a common feminine Japanese given name which is occasionally used by males. It is also a short name for Naoko, Naomi, Naoto, etc.

Possible writings[edit]

Nao can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:

  • 直, "honest"
  • 尚, "esteem"
  • 巨, "giant"
  • 奈緒, "Nara, cord"
  • 菜緒, "greens, cord"
  • 奈央, "Nara, center"

The name can also be written in hiragana be katakana.

People[edit]

  • Nao (ナオ), a drummer from Visual Kei band Alice Nine
  • Nao (born 1985), Japanese singer and former lead singer of the band fripSide
  • Nao (奈緒, born 1995), Japanese actress
  • Nao Deguchi (出口 なお, 1837-1918), founder of Oomoto
  • Nao Eguchi (江口 直生, born 1992), Japanese footballer
  • Nao Furuhata (古畑 奈和, born 1996), member of the girl group SKE48
  • Nao Hibino (日比野 菜緒, born 1994), Japanese pro tennis player
  • Nao Higashihama (東浜 巨, born 1993 ), Japanese baseball pitcher
  • Nao Horomura (幌村 尚, born 1999), Japanese male swimmer
  • Nao Kawakita (川北 奈緒, born 1975), drummer and backup vocalist of Japanese rock band Maximum the Hormone
  • Nao Kodaira (小平 奈緒, born 1986), Japanese Olympic long-track speed skater
  • Nao Kosaka (小坂 菜緒, born 2002), Japanese idol, model, actress and member of the girl group Hinatazaka46
  • Nao Matsushita (松下 奈緒, born 1985), Japanese actress and pianist
  • Nao Nagasawa (長澤 奈央, born 1984), Japanese actress, singer and model
  • Nao Oikawa (及川 奈央, born 1981), Japanese AV idol and tarento
  • Nao Ōmori (大森 南朋, born 1972), Japanese actor
  • Nao Saejima (冴島 奈緒, 1968–2013), Japanese AV idol
  • Nao Suzuki (鈴木 奈央, born 1997), Japanese cyclist
  • Nao Takamori (高森 奈緒, born 1973), Japanese voice idol
  • Nao Takasugi (1922–2009), Japanese-American politician
  • Nao Tamura (田村 奈央), a Japanese voice actress
  • Nao Tōyama (東山 奈央, born 1992), a Japanese pop solo artist and former leader of Buzy (band)
  • Nao Ueki (植木 南央, born 1997), member of the girl group HKT48. Often referred to as Chinkansen
  • Nao Watanabe (渡邊 奈央), Japanese singer
  • Nao Yasuda (安田 奈央, born 1990), former member of Kamen Rider Girls
  • Nao Yazawa (谷沢 直), Japanese manga artist

Characters[edit]

  • Nao, a character in the manga series Inu Neko Jump!
  • Nao Chikura (名央), a character in the manga series Hatsukoi Limited
  • Nao Egokoro (菜緒), a character from the visual novel Your Turn to Die
  • Nao Kamiya (奈緒), a character in the mobile game and anime The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls
  • Nao Kanzaki (ナオ), the main protagonist in the manga and live actions series, Liar Game
  • Nao Makinoha (奈緒), a character from the shōnen fantasy manga Midori No Hibi
  • Nao Mariota Pryderi, a female character in the MMORPG Mabinogi
  • Nao Midorikawa, a character in Smile PreCure!, the 9th season in the Pretty Cure franchise
  • Nao Morisaki (七央), a character from the erotic visual novel Soul Link
  • Nao Okuda (直), a character in the manga series K-On!
  • Nao Tomori (奈緒), a character in the anime series Charlotte
  • Nao Yasumori (奈緒), a female character in the anime and manga series Shiki (novel series)
  • Nao Yuuki (奈緒), a female character in the anime series My-HiME
  • Nao Yoshikawa (菜緒), the main character in the manga and live action series Good Morning Call