New, nine, or benevolent
Nio is a rare name with multiple potential roots. In a European context, it is often a shortened form of Antonio or Salvio, while in Japanese, it can be associated with the 'Nio' (Benevolent Kings), who are the two muscular guardians of Buddhist temples. It is also occasionally used as a modern variant of the Greek 'Neo', meaning new.
About 7 boys were named Nio in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
A character and guardian deity in Buddhist mythology · Buddhist scripture and art
A character from the video game Nioh · Nioh
