Naoki
A masculine Japanese name meaning "straight and tree" or "honest tree".
Name Census estimates that about 331 living Americans carry the first name Naoki. It is a predominantly male name (95.5% of registrations). The average person named Naoki today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naoki births was 2011 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naoki. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
331
~ 1 in 1,035,512 Americans
Peak year
2011
19 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,570
Tracked since 1980
Gender
Gender distribution for Naoki
Naoki leans heavily male at 95.5% of total registrations, but 15 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Naoki as a male name
- Ranked #9,570 in 2024
- 8 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2020 (16 births)
Naoki as a female name
- Ranked #16,900 in 2024
- 5 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (5 births)
Popularity
Naoki: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naoki from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 106 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Naoki remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naoki by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Naoki during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naokis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Naoki
The name Naoki has its origins in Japanese culture and language. It is a masculine given name composed of the Japanese elements "nao" meaning "straight" or "honest," and "ki" meaning "tree" or "woody plant."
In Japanese tradition, the name Naoki was often bestowed upon boys with the hope that they would grow up to be upright, honest individuals with strong moral character, like the sturdy and straight-growing trees. The name's roots can be traced back to ancient times, with records of its use dating back to at least the 8th century AD.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Naoki was Naoki no Sukune, a prominent court noble and scholar who lived during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). He was renowned for his expertise in classical Japanese literature and his contributions to the development of the Japanese writing system.
Another notable individual with the name Naoki was Naoki Hoshino (1835-1917), a influential educator and reformer who played a significant role in modernizing Japan's education system during the Meiji era (1868-1912). He was instrumental in establishing several prestigious schools and advocating for the adoption of Western-style education methods.
In the 20th century, Naoki Sano (1923-2008) was a celebrated Japanese writer and poet. He was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan's highest literary honors, for his novel "Banana Wilderness" in 1965. His works often explored themes of identity, alienation, and the human condition.
Naoki Inose (born 1946) is a Japanese politician and former Governor of Tokyo (2012-2013). He gained prominence for his efforts to revive the city's economy and prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics, before resigning due to a financial scandal.
Naoki Urasawa (born 1960) is a highly acclaimed Japanese manga artist and writer, best known for his critically acclaimed series such as "Monster," "20th Century Boys," and "Pluto." His works have been praised for their complex narratives, character development, and exploration of social issues.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Naoki, a name deeply rooted in Japanese culture and tradition, symbolizing uprightness, honesty, and strength of character.
People
Naoki + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naoki as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naoki: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naoki?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 331 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naoki going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,035,512 US residents.
Is Naoki a common name?
We classify Naoki as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 337 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naoki most popular?
The single biggest year for Naoki was 2011, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naoki is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Naoki a male name?
Yes, 95.5% of people registered as Naoki in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.