Nami Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Nami – Meaning: wave (波, nami), depending on kanji – Origin: Japanese – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: NAH-mee

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Nami is a Japanese name, said NAH-mee, that means "wave" when written with the kanji 波 (nami), though the meaning depends on which kanji is used. It's short, easy to say, and easy to spell, with a soft, open sound from start to finish.

Meaning & Origin of Nami

Meaning: Wave (波, nami), depending on kanji.

Origin: Japanese.

How to Pronounce Nami

Phonetic: NAH-mee   IPA: /ˈnɑːmi/

Popularity of Nami

Nami ranked #1496 in the U.S. in 2024, with 145 babies given the name that year. That's also its highest ranking in the Social Security data, which covers 1983 through 2024, so it's at its peak right now.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1983–2024.

Make Nami Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Nami, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Abiel
• Rosalynn
• Kinsleigh
• Symphony
• Keilany
• Emryn

FAQ

What does the name Nami mean?

Wave (波, nami), depending on kanji.

How do you pronounce Nami?

Nami is pronounced NAH-mee (IPA: /ˈnɑːmi/).

Is Nami a popular name right now?

Nami is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #1496 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1983–2024.)

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