|
|
Visit my new page
about Japanese Names,
with more names than here and more details per name (see
Kazumi as
a sample) and the possibility to display kanji and hiragana as large
pictures (like in
this sample,
the kanji for Kazumi).
Japanese names have some rather special features. A very
brief explanation: Most Japanese given names are written in
kanji, a script with Chinese origin where each
single character stands for a whole word or concept. Most names have
two kanji characters, some three, some only one.
If you see only the name written in kanji you do not yet know how
it is pronounced because each kanji character has several possible
pronounciations. The other way round is difficult as well: If you hear
a name you cannot be sure how to write it in kanji. (Many names
have several writings, with different meanings according to the actual
kanji used.) To resolve such
ambiguities the Japanese use Hiragana where the characters
stand for syllables.
You can read more about Japanese baby names
here.
If you see only "boxes" instead of Kanji and Hiragana characters in
the name tables below the most likely reason is missing Unicode
support in your browser and/or operating system. Some information
about Unicode can be found here.
As an alternative you can view the tables as GIF image
which correctly show all characters
(female male).
If you want your own name written in kanji, created by a
qualified translator and verified by native Japanese speakers, have
a look at
My Name in Japanese
or
Japanese Name Translation
| Name |
Meaning/ Translation |
Kanji |
Hiragana |
1st Kanji +Link |
Meaning of 1st Kanji |
2nd Kanji +Link |
Meaning of 2nd Kanji |
Additional Information |
| Ai |
love, affection |
愛 |
あい |
愛 ai |
the love, the affection |
|
|
|
| Aiko |
love child |
愛子 |
あいこ |
愛 ai |
the love, the affection |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Aimi |
|
愛美 |
あいみ |
愛 ai |
the love, the affection |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Akemi |
bright and beautiful |
明美 |
あけみ |
明 ake |
bright, the light |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Amaya |
night rain |
雨夜 |
あまや |
雨 ama |
the rain |
夜 ya |
the night, the evening |
|
| Aoi |
hollyhock |
葵 |
あおい |
葵 aoi |
the hollyhock |
|
|
|
| Ayaka |
colorful flower (?) |
彩花 |
あやか |
彩 aya |
the color, the coloring, the paint |
花 ka |
the flower, the blossom |
for writing 'Ayaka' 20 different Kanji combinations are in use |
| Ayano |
|
彩乃 |
あやの |
彩 aya |
the color, the coloring, the paint |
乃 no |
from |
|
| Beniko |
|
紅子 |
べにこ |
紅 beni |
red, vermilion |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Chiyo |
1000 generations, eternal |
千代 |
ちよ |
千 chi |
one thousand |
代 yo |
the change, the age, the generation |
often also written only in Hiragana |
| Chiyoko |
child of 1000 generations |
千代子 |
ちよこ |
千 chi |
one thousand |
代 yo |
the change, the age, the generation |
|
| Emi |
|
恵美 |
えみ |
恵 e |
the blessing, the kindness |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Fumiko |
|
文子 |
ふみこ |
文 fumi |
the writing, the sentence, the literature |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Haruka |
far away |
遥 |
はるか |
遥 haruka |
far away, distant |
|
|
Japanese name of the well-known anime character Sailor Uranus |
| Hiroko |
magnanimous child (?) |
弘子 |
ひろこ |
弘 hiro |
vast, broad, wide |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Hitomi |
pupil of the eye, eye |
瞳 |
ひとみ |
瞳 hitomi |
the pupil of the eye, the eye |
|
|
|
| Hotaru |
firefly |
螢 |
ほたる |
螢 hotaru |
the firefly |
|
|
Japanese name of the well-known anime character Sailor Saturn |
| Kaori |
fragrance, aroma, perfume |
香 |
かおり |
香
|
the fragrance, the aroma, the perfume |
|
|
|
| Kasumi |
mist, fog |
霞 |
かすみ |
霞 kasumi |
the mist, the fog |
|
|
not to be confused with the male name Katsumi |
| Kazuko |
peace child |
和子 |
かずこ |
和 kazu |
the harmony, the peace |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Kazumi |
harmony and beauty |
和美 |
かずみ |
和 kazu |
the harmony, the peace |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
not to be confused with Katsumi and Kasumi |
| Keiko |
happy child |
慶子 |
けいこ |
慶 kei |
the celebration, the rejoice, to be happy |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Kiriko |
|
桐子 |
きりこ |
桐 kiri |
the paulownia |
子 ko |
the child |
'kiriko' as an everyday Japanese word (different writing) means 'facet', e.g. with glas ware |
| Kumiko |
long time beautiful child |
久美子 |
くみこ |
久 ku |
the long time, long time ago |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Mai |
dance |
舞 |
まい |
舞 mai |
the dance, to dance |
|
|
|
| Mami |
true beauty |
真美 |
まみ |
真 ma |
true, the reality, the genuineness |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Mayumi |
true bow (?) |
真弓 |
まゆみ |
真 ma |
true, the reality, the genuineness |
弓 yumi |
the bow |
|
| Megumi |
blessing, kindness |
恵 |
めぐみ |
恵 megumi |
the blessing, the kindness |
|
|
|
| Midori |
green |
緑 |
みどり |
緑 midori |
green, the greenery |
|
|
very often written in Hiragana instead of Kanji |
| Misaki |
beautiful blossom |
美咲 |
みさき |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
咲 saki |
the blossom |
|
| Miu |
beautiful feather |
美羽 |
みう |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
羽 u |
the feather |
|
| Moe |
bud, sprout |
萌 |
もえ |
萌 moe |
the bud, the sprout |
|
|
|
| Nanami |
seven seas |
七海 |
ななみ |
七 nana |
seven |
海 umi |
the sea |
|
| Naoko |
|
直子 |
なおこ |
直 nao |
straight, erect, the honesty |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Naomi |
|
直美 |
なおみ |
直 nao |
straight, erect, the honesty |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
probably not connected to the identically sounding name of Hebrew origin |
| Natsuki |
summer hope |
夏希 |
なつき |
夏 natsu |
the summer |
希 ki |
the hope |
|
| Noriko |
|
法子 |
のりこ |
法 nori |
the method, the law, the rule |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Reika |
lovely flower |
麗華 |
れいか |
麗 rei |
lovely, beautiful |
華 ka |
the flower |
|
| Rin |
cold |
凛 |
りん |
凛 rin |
cold |
|
|
|
| Sachiko |
child of happiness |
幸子 |
さちこ |
幸 sachi |
the happiness, the blessing |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Sadako |
|
禎子 |
さだこ |
禎 sada |
lucky, auspicious |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Sakura |
cherry blossom |
桜 |
さくら |
桜
|
the cherry, the cherry blossom |
|
|
first ever female name (almost always) written in Hiragana that got the number 1 spot of the Japanese given name hitparade |
| Satsuki |
5th month |
皐 |
さつき |
皐 satsuki |
the swamp, the shore |
|
|
use of the old, now obsolete Japanese name for the 5th lunar month as given name; in the 'conventional' Gregorian calendar the days of this month mostly lay in the month of June |
| Sayuri |
little lily |
小百合 |
さゆり |
小
|
little |
百
|
one hundred |
|
| Setsuko |
child of the festival (?) |
節子 |
せつこ |
節 setsu |
the node, the section, the festival, the holiday |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Shigeko |
|
重子 |
しげこ |
重 shige |
heavy |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Shizuka |
quiet, calm |
静香 |
しずか |
静 shizuka |
quiet, calm |
香
|
the fragrance, the aroma, the perfume |
|
| Teiko |
upright child |
貞子 |
ていこ |
貞 tei |
upright, the chastity |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Tomoko |
child of wisdom |
智子 |
ともこ |
智 tomo |
the wisdom, the intelligence |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Tomomi |
beautiful friend |
朋美 |
ともみ |
朋 tomo |
the friend, the companion |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Umeko |
plum child, plum blossom child |
梅子 |
うめこ |
梅 ume |
the plum, the plum flower |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Yoko |
sun child |
陽子 |
よこ |
陽 you |
the sun, the sunshine |
子 ko |
the child |
uses the same Kanji as the name 'Youko' |
| Yoshiko |
good child |
良子 |
よしこ |
良 yoshi |
good |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Youko |
sun child |
陽子 |
ようこ |
陽 you |
the sun, the sunshine |
子 ko |
the child |
uses the same Kanji as the name 'Yoko' |
| Yukiko |
snow child |
雪子 |
ゆきこ |
雪 yuki |
the snow |
子 ko |
the child |
|
| Yumi |
beauty (?) |
由美 |
ゆみ |
由 yu |
the cause, the reason |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Yumiko |
child of Yumi |
由美子 |
ゆみこ |
由 yu |
the cause, the reason |
美 mi |
the beauty, beautiful |
|
| Yuna |
|
結菜 |
ゆな |
結 yu |
the knot, to tie |
菜 na |
the vegetables |
also means 'moon' in the Japanese dialect spoken in Okinawa |
| Yuuka |
excellent aroma |
優香 |
ゆうか |
優 yuu |
excellent, superior |
香 ka |
the fragrance, the aroma, the perfume |
'Yuuka' is written also with 20 other Kanji combinations |
| Yuzuki |
|
優月 |
ゆづき |
優 yu |
excellent, superior |
月 tsuki |
the moon, the month |
|
| Name |
Meaning/ Translation |
Kanji |
Hiragana |
1st Kanji +Link |
Meaning of 1st Kanji |
2nd Kanji +Link |
Meaning of 2nd Kanji |
Additional Information |
| Akio |
shining man (?) |
昭夫 |
あきお |
昭 aki |
shining, bright |
夫 o |
the man, the husband |
known from Morita Akio, co-founder of Sony Corporation |
| Daichi |
earth, vast land |
大地 |
だいち |
大 dai |
large, big |
地 chi |
the ground, the earth |
|
| Daiki |
large radiance |
大輝 |
だいき |
大 dai |
large, big |
輝 ki |
the radiance, to shine |
|
| Daisuke |
big help |
大輔 |
だいすけ |
大 dai |
large, big |
輔 suke |
the help |
|
| Eita |
|
瑛太 |
えいた |
瑛 ei |
the crystal, the luster |
太 ta |
thick, stout |
|
| Haruto |
|
大翔 |
はると |
大 haru |
large, big |
翔 to |
to soar, to fly |
|
| Hiroki |
big tree |
大樹 |
ひろき |
大 hiro |
large, big |
樹 ki |
the tree |
|
| Hiroshi |
generous |
寛 |
ひろし |
寛 hiroshi |
generous, tolerant |
|
|
beside the Kanji for 'generous' there are other, equally frequent writing variants |
| Hiroto |
|
大翔 |
ひろと |
大 hiro |
large, big |
翔 to |
to soar, to fly |
same Kanji as 'Haruto', but read differently |
| Isamu |
courage, bravery |
勇 |
いさむ |
勇 isamu |
the courage, the bravery |
|
|
|
| Kaito |
|
海斗 |
かいと |
海 kai |
the sea |
斗 to |
the sake dipper, the Big Dipper |
'sake dipper' is the Japanese name for the constellation 'Big Dipper'; 'kaito' as an everyday Japanese word (different word) means something like 'phantom thief' |
| Katsumi |
self-control |
克己 |
かつみ |
克 katsu |
to overcome, to win |
己 mi |
self |
not to be confused with the female name Kasumi |
| Kazuki |
1 tree |
一樹 |
かずき |
一 kazu |
one |
樹 ki |
the tree |
|
| Kazuya |
|
和也 |
かずや |
和 kazu |
the harmony, the peace |
也 ya |
to be |
|
| Keisuke |
|
恵介 |
けいすけ |
恵 kei |
the blessing, the kindness |
介 suke |
between |
|
| Kenta |
healthy and stout (?) |
健太 |
けんた |
健 ken |
healthy, the health |
太 ta |
thick, stout |
|
| Kenzo |
|
健三 |
けんぞ |
健 ken |
healthy, the health |
三 zo |
three |
|
| Kiyoshi |
pure |
清 |
きよし |
清 kiyoi |
pure, to purify |
|
|
|
| Kouhei |
calm peace (?) |
康平 |
こうへい |
康 kou |
peaceful, happy, healthy |
平 hei |
flat, even, level, calm |
also the name of a Japanese era (years 1058-1065 AD) |
| Makoto |
sincerity, truth |
誠 |
まこと |
誠 makoto |
the sincerity, the truth |
|
|
|
| Manabu |
studious (?) |
学 |
まなぶ |
学 manabu |
the study, the learning |
|
|
|
| Masahiro |
|
正博 |
まさひろ |
正 masa |
correct, the justice, righteous |
博 hiro |
Dr., to gamble, wide |
numerous variants written with other kanji |
| Masao |
righteous man |
正男 |
まさお |
正 masa |
correct, the justice, righteous |
男 o |
male |
|
| Masaru |
victory, win |
勝 |
まさる |
勝 masaru |
the victory, to win |
|
|
|
| Minoru |
fruit, seed |
実 |
みのる |
実 minoru |
the fruit, the seed, the truth |
|
|
|
| Naoki |
straight tree |
直樹 |
なおき |
直 nao |
straight, erect, the honesty |
樹 ki |
the tree |
|
| Nobu |
prolong, delay |
延 |
のぶ |
延 nobu |
to prolong, to stretch, to delay |
|
|
|
| Osamu |
|
修 |
おさむ |
修 osamu |
to study, to repair, to cultivate |
|
|
|
| Ren |
lotus |
蓮 |
れん |
蓮 ren |
the lotus |
|
|
|
| Riku |
land |
陸 |
りく |
陸 riku |
the land |
|
|
|
| Ryo |
cool, refreshing |
涼 |
りょう |
涼 ryo |
cool, refreshing |
|
|
|
| Saburo |
third son |
三郎 |
さぶろ |
三 sabu |
three |
郎 ro |
the son, the boy |
sometimes also written as 'Saburou' |
| Shigeru |
to grow thick, to be luxurious |
茂 |
しげる |
茂 shigeru |
to grow thick, to be luxurious |
|
|
|
| Shin |
true, reality |
真 |
しん |
真 shin |
true, the reality, the genuineness |
|
|
|
| Shinichi |
first son of Shin |
真一 |
しんいち |
真 shin |
true, the reality, the genuineness |
一 ichi |
one |
|
| Shiro |
fourth son |
四郎 |
しろ |
四 shi |
four |
郎 ro |
the son, the boy |
sometimes also romanized as 'Shirou' |
| Shou |
soar, fly |
翔 |
しょう |
翔 shou |
to soar, to fly |
|
|
|
| Shouta |
|
翔太 |
しょうた |
翔 shou |
to soar, to fly |
太 ta |
thick, stout |
also romanized as 'Shota' |
| Shun |
good horse; speed |
駿 |
しゅん |
駿 shun |
the good horse, the speed |
|
|
|
| Sora |
blue sky |
蒼空 |
そら |
蒼 so |
blue |
空 ra |
empty, the sky |
|
| Souta |
|
颯太 |
そうた |
颯 sou |
suddenly, smoothly |
太 ta |
thick, stout |
popular only in the last few years; also romanized as 'Sota' |
| Susumu |
advancement, progress |
進 |
すすむ |
進 susumu |
the advancement, the progress |
|
|
|
| Tadashi |
correct, righteous |
正 |
ただし |
正 tadashi |
correct, the justice, righteous |
|
|
|
| Taiki |
large radiance |
大輝 |
たいき |
大 tai |
large, big |
輝 ki |
the radiance, to shine |
|
| Takashi |
filial piety |
孝 |
たかし |
孝 takashi |
filial piety |
|
|
|
| Takeo |
hero, gentleman |
丈夫 |
たけお |
丈 take |
the man, the husband |
夫 o |
the man, the husband |
|
| Takeru |
warrior; military |
武 |
たける |
武
|
the warrior, military |
|
|
|
| Takumi |
artisan, carpenter |
匠 |
たくみ |
匠 takumi |
the artisan, the carpenter |
|
|
|
| Takuya |
|
拓也 |
たくや |
拓 taku |
to open up, to expand |
也 ya |
to be |
|
| Tetsuya |
|
哲也 |
てつや |
哲 tetsu |
wise, the philosophy |
也 ya |
to be |
|
| Tsubasa |
wing |
翼 |
つばさ |
翼 tsubasa |
the wing |
|
|
|
| Tsuyoshi |
strong, tough |
剛 |
つよし |
剛 tsuyoshi |
strong, hard, tough |
|
|
|
| Yoshio |
righteous man |
義雄 |
よしお |
義 yoshi |
the righteousness, the justice |
雄 o |
male, masculine, the hero, the excellence |
|
| Yutaka |
abundant, plentiful, rich |
豊 |
ゆたか |
豊 yutaka |
abundant, plentiful, rich |
|
|
this Kanji (as sole symbol) is used to write quite a number of names |
| Yuto |
|
悠人 |
ゆうと |
悠 yu |
the permance |
人 to |
the person |
is also Romanized as 'Yuuto' |
| Yuto |
|
悠斗 |
ゆうと |
悠 yu |
the permance |
斗 to |
the sake dipper, the Big Dipper |
is also Romanized as 'Yuuto' |
| Yuudai |
grandeur, splendor |
雄大 |
ゆうだい |
雄 yuu |
male, masculine, the hero, the excellence |
大 dai |
large, big |
|
| Yuuma |
|
悠真 |
ゆうま |
悠 yu |
the permance |
真 ma |
true, the reality, the genuineness |
|
| Yuuta |
|
優太 |
ゆうた |
優
|
excellent, superior |
太 ta |
thick, stout |
|
|