Midori

The name Midori comes from the Japanese word 緑, which refers to the colour and senses of green, fresh growth and foliage. In Japanese the word is familiar and vivid, evoking gardens, leaves and the renewing energy of nature.

As a given name, Midori feels natural, lyrical and grounded. It suggests a calm, verdant quality rather than something loud or showy. Parents often choose it for its gentle modernity and its immediate connection to nature and renewal.

Midori began as an ordinary Japanese word for the colour green and for green things such as foliage and grass. As a given name it has been used in Japan for many decades and rose in visibility during the twentieth century as parents drew more often on words evoking nature and seasons.

The name has no single literary or religious origin. It is associated with the aesthetic values of Japanese culture that prize seasons, gardens and subtle natural imagery. Over time Midori has been used in popular culture, literature and media, which helped it travel beyond Japan as people encountered the name in film, music and fiction. When used outside Japan it is usually kept in its original form, which preserves its simple, evocative meaning.