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Mao 真央 – Japanese girl given name
Mao (真央) is read まお and has 2 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 真央, the characters mean: true + center. This reading can be written with at least 79 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 13 to 24 strokes in total.
About the name Mao
Mao (真央 or 麻央) means true center or hemp center. The skater Mao Asada made the name known worldwide.
How to write Mao in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 真央 | まお | true + center | 15 |
| 麻央 | まお | hemp + center | 16 |
| 真緒 | まお | true + thong | 24 |
| 真大 | まお | true + large | 13 |
| 真生 | まお | true + life | 15 |
| 真和 | まお | true + harmony | 18 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Mao
Mao in different scripts
| Romaji | Mao |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | まお |
| Katakana | マオ |
| Kanji (most common) | 真央 |
Full name examples
- Mao Yuki (Japanese order: 結城真央, ゆうき まお)
- Mao Kono (Japanese order: 河野真央, こうの まお)
- Mao Maki (Japanese order: 牧真央, まき まお)
How to pronounce Mao
Break it into 1 parts: mao. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 2 sound units are written まお.
Questions about Mao
What does Mao mean in Japanese?
Mao has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 真央, combines these meanings: true + center. Other spellings include 麻央 (hemp + center), 真緒 (true + thong), 真大 (true + large).
How do you write Mao in kanji?
The most common way is 真央 (まお). It can also be written 麻央, 真緒, 真大, 真生, 真和.
How do you write Mao in katakana?
Mao is マオ in katakana and まお in hiragana.
Is Mao a boy or girl name?
Mao is mostly used for girls.
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Themes: Music and sound
Other names that use 真
真: true, reality, Buddhist sect
Similar first names by meaning
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.