Naota

Naota is a masculine given name of Japanese origin. Like many Japanese given names, its meaning depends on the kanji characters used to write it, and the name can be formed from different combinations of syllables.

In popular culture, Naota Nandaba is the central character of the 2000 anime series FLCL (Fooly Cooly) created by Gainax. As a well-known example in international audiences, the name Naota is sometimes associated with the series and its themes of adolescence, energy, and transformation.

In everyday use, Naota is primarily encountered as a given name within Japan and is less commonly found as a surname. It is regarded as masculine in contemporary Japanese naming practice, though the exact nuance can vary with the chosen kanji. When written in romaji without kanji, the name remains a phonetic rendering, and its precise meaning is not evident.

The name is phonetically close to Naoto, another common Japanese male given name, and they may be discussed together in naming contexts. Both share the same first syllable and a similar cultural presence, but they are distinct names with different typical spellings and kanji possibilities.

Notable occurrences of the name outside of fiction are less widely documented in English-language sources, but Naota appears among individuals in Japan in various professional fields. Overall, Naota is recognized as a legitimate Japanese given name with meanings tied to its kanji and a presence in contemporary media through FLCL.