Michio is a unisex given name of Japanese origin, composed of two kanji characters: 'Michi' (道) meaning 'path', and 'Yo' (用) meaning 'use'. Together, they form Michio, which can be interpreted as 'used path' or 'way of use'. This name has been used in Japan for centuries but has gained international recognition due to notable individuals like Japanese-American physicist Michio Kaku. The name Michio is also the basis for various familial names such as Michi and Yo.
The name Michio experienced fluctuations in popularity throughout the period from 1915 to 2011, with peaks occurring in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Despite a gap of nearly eight decades between recorded births, there were five instances of the name Michio being given in the year 2011, indicating a recent resurgence or possible family tradition. Overall, Michio was bestowed upon 90 newborns across these years.