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Home › Baby Names Directory › Aoi

Aoi

♀ Girl

Pronounced AH-oh-ee /ˈɑː.o.i/Medium

Meaning: A Japanese given name. Written one way it means 'hollyhock', the flower; written another it means 'blue' or 'blue-green'. Japanese names are character-dependent, so the meaning genuinely shifts with the writing, and we say so rather than pick one.Medium

In 30 seconds: A Japanese name of flower and color: Aoi means 'hollyhock' or 'blue', depending on the characters (said 'AH-oh-ee').
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Origin HighJapanese
MeaningA Japanese given name. Written one way it means 'hollyhock', the flower; written another it means 'blue' or 'blue-green'. Japanese names are character-dependent, so the meaning genuinely shifts with the writing, and we say so rather than pick one.
U.S. rank (2019)#12579 ↘ Falling
2019 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 199

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719942019

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Aoi is a well-established Japanese given name. The hollyhock reading carries old associations with Kyoto's Aoi Festival and with the Tale of Genji; the color reading gives 'blue', calm and clear. Which one applies is a matter of the characters chosen, which we note respectfully (said 'AH-oh-ee').

In the U.S. it is rare, carried by Japanese-American families. Rare, gentle, and rooted.

Did you know? In Japanese, the meaning of a name depends on the characters used to write it. Aoi can mean 'hollyhock' — a flower with deep cultural resonance — or 'blue-green'. We give both, because both are true (said 'AH-oh-ee').
Overall data confidence 62%
References — Aoi — Japanese given name; 'hollyhock' or 'blue' depending on characters

Variations

AwoiAoi

Nicknames

AoOi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Aoi…

Mei— another soft Japanese pick
Sakura— a Japanese flower name
Hana— a similar nature-themed Japanese name
Koi— another Japanese name
Mai— another Japanese name

Explore names like Aoi

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Aoi mean?

Aoi is Japanese for 'hollyhock' or for 'blue', depending on the characters used to write it.

How do you pronounce Aoi?

It's said AH-oh-ee /ˈɑː.o.i/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Aoi a boy or girl name?

Aoi is chiefly used as a girl's name, though in Japan it is occasionally given to boys.

How popular is Aoi?

Aoi is a rare name for girls in the U.S., though well used in Japan.

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