an aqueous ink composition for ink - jet recording comprising an aqueous solution of a water - soluble dye of formula and a humectant dissolved in water : ## str1 ## wherein ar represents an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl group , or an unsubstituted or substituted naphthyl group ; x represents a hydroxyl group , an alkoxy group , a halogen atom , an alkylamino group , a hydroxyalkylamino group , a cyclic amino group or an anilino group ; m represents hydrogen , k , na , li , nh 4 or an organic amine cation ; and n is an integer of 1 or 2 .