Nao is a common feminine Japanese given name, occasionally used by males. It is also often a short form of names like Naoko, Naomi, Naoto, among others. Etymology and Written Forms The name Nao can be written with various kanji characters, each lending a distinct meaning. One common kanji is 直 (nao), meaning "straight" or "direct." Another is 尚 (meaning "esteem"), and 巨 (meaning "giant"). Combinations include 奈緒, where the first character 奈 is a phonetic element and 緒 means "cord," or 菜緒, where 菜 means "greens" and 緒 "cord." The kanji 奈央 uses 奈 phonetically and 央 (meaning "center"). Nao may also be written entirely in hiragana (なお) or katakana (ナオ). Notable Bearers Nao has been borne by many notable individuals across various fields. Nao (born 1985) is a Japanese singer and former lead vocalist of the band fripSide. Another Nao is a drummer for the visual kei band Alice Nine. Nao Deguchi (1837–1918) was the founder of the Oomoto religious movement. In sports, Nao Hibino (born 1994) is a professional tennis player, and Nao Higashihama (born 1993) is a baseball pitcher. The name also appears in entertainment as Nao Asahi (born 1994), a tarento, and Nao Furuhata (born 1996), a member of idol group SKE48. Cultural Significance Nao is a versatile name within Japanese naming conventions, reflecting both traditional meanings and modern usage. Its variant spellings allow for personalization while retaining simple pronunciation. Feminine but occasionally gender-neutral, Nao continues to be a popular choice across generations in Japan. Meaning: "straight, direct" or combinations with "center" Origin: Japanese Type: Feminine given name, sometimes masculine Usage regions: Japan