Naoko is a charming feminine given name of Japanese origin, meaning "honorable child" or "respectful child". It consists of two kanji characters: "nao" ( honour, respect) and "ko" (child). Naoko gained international recognition due to the popularity of Haruki Murakami's novel, "Norwegian Wood", in which the main female character shares this name. In the Roman alphabet, it is often written as Naoko or Nao'ko. The name has a soft, lyrical sound and carries a sense of warmth and kindness, making it a delightful choice for parents seeking a unique yet meaningful name for their daughter.
The name Naoko was quite popular between the late 70s and early 90s, with a total of 67 babies given this name over those years. The peak years for its popularity were 1979 and 1982, when it was chosen for seven and nine newborn girls respectively. However, there seems to have been a decline in its usage after the mid-80s, as evidenced by the lower numbers from 1986 onwards.