Aoi

Aoi is a Japanese given name that can be used for both men and women, though it is more commonly feminine in modern usage. The meaning of Aoi varies with the kanji characters used to write it. The most common forms include 葵, referring to the hollyhock plant, and 青, meaning blue or green. Other kanji combinations exist, and Aoi can also be written in kana as あおい.

Notable individuals with this name include actress Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎葵), who has appeared in films such as The Twilight Samurai and Happy Flight. Her prominence reflects the name’s ongoing usage in contemporary Japanese culture.

In popular culture, Aoi appears as a given name for many characters in anime, manga, and video games. The name’s simplicity and pleasant associations contribute to its continued appeal across a range of media and genres.

Overall, Aoi is a flexible and widely used Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen, and which remains a common choice for new generations in Japan and among fans of Japanese culture worldwide.