Japanese names
Japanese names carry meaning in every kanji character chosen, so parents compose them like tiny poems: Haruki for shining spring, Sakura for cherry blossom, Kenji for wise second son. The sound matters as much as the meaning, prized for its clean, balanced rhythm.
Airi love, or love and pear blossom depending on the kanji chosen
Akari light, brightness
Akiko bright child, crystal child or autumn child, depending on the kanji
Akio bright, luminous man
Akira bright, intelligent
Aoi hollyhock, blue-green
Asahi morning sun
Asako flax child in its common writing; other kanji occur
Ayako child of color, or of woven design, depending on the kanji
Ayame iris flower
Ayumi walk, step
Chiyo a thousand generations
Chiyoko child of a thousand generations
Daiki great brightness
Daisuke great help
Emiko blessed, beautiful child
Etsuko child of joy
Fumiko child of writing
Fuyuko winter child
Hajime beginning
Hana flower
Haru spring
Haruka distant, spring fragrance
Harumi clear weather and beauty
Haruto sun soaring, flying with light
Hayato falcon person, quick and alert
Hideko excellent, outstanding child
Hideo excellent, outstanding man
Hikari light
Hikaru light, radiance
Himari from himawari, 'sunflower'; often written with kanji for 'sun' and 'hollyhock', though kanji vary
Hina sunny place, doll
Hinata sunny place, facing the sun
Hiroki great brightness, or great tree
Hiroko tolerant, generous child, or abundant, prosperous child
Hiromi wide, vast beauty, or great truth, depending on the kanji
Hiroshi generous, tolerant
Hisako child of long life, or of long ago, depending on the kanji
Hitoshi meaning depends on the kanji chosen; a mid-century masculine classic
Ichika a thousand blossoms
Isamu courage
Izumi spring, fountain
Jiro second son
Junko pure child
Kaede maple
Kai ocean
Kaito ocean flying, sea rowing
Kaname hinge, key point, essential
Kanon a phonetic name echoing the musical term 'canon,' popularized through Japanese pop culture
Kaoru fragrance
Katsu victory
Katsumi victory and beauty, or to overcome
Kazuki meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often 'harmony tree' or 'radiant tree'
Kazumi harmony and beauty
Keiko happy, blessed child
Keisuke gemstone and help, or favor and blessing, depending on the kanji
Kenichi healthy and strong, with ichi meaning one
Kenji strong, wise second son
Kenta healthy and big
Kimiko valuable, beautiful child, or noble child, depending on the kanji
Kiyoko pure, clear child, or holy child, depending on the kanji
Kiyoshi pure
Koichi prosperous, or happy, with ichi meaning one
Koji meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often with ko meaning prosperous or happiness
Kokona a soft, modern phonetic name whose meaning varies by kanji
Kokoro heart, spirit
Kotone sound of the koto harp
Kyoko mirror child
Makoto sincerity
Mamoru to protect, to defend
Mariko genuine village child in its classic kanji; other combinations occur
Masao a right and proper man, or hero, depending on the kanji
Masaru victory, or excellence
Masato righteous person
Megumi favor and benefit, or love and affection, depending on the kanji
Mei bright, sprout
Michiko beautiful wisdom child
Mieko child of beauty and favor
Miku meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often glossed as 'beautiful sky'
Minato safe harbor
Minoru to bear fruit
Mio beautiful cherry blossom, beautiful thread, or waterway, depending on the kanji
Mitsuko child of light
Mitsuo man of light
Miyoko beautiful generation child
Miyu meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often glossed as 'beautiful gentleness'
Miyuki beautiful happiness, or beautiful snow
Momoka peach blossom
Momoko peach child, or hundred child
Nagisa shore, beach
Nanami seven seas
Naoki straight, direct tree
Naomi honest, beautiful
Natsuko summer child
Natsumi summer beauty
Noboru to rise, ascend
Nobuko child of trust
Nobuo meaning depends on the kanji chosen; a classic masculine name
Noriko child of ceremony, or chronicle child
Nozomi hope
Osamu discipline, study; often written 修, though kanji vary
Raito a phonetic borrowing of the English word 'light,' popularized through manga and anime
Reiko child of the tinkling of jade, or child of ceremony
Reina meaning depends on the kanji chosen; one common writing is 怜 (rei, "wise") + 奈 (na, a phonetic character)
Ren lotus
Riko jasmine child, logical child
Riku land, earth
Rin dignified, cold-beautiful
Rio meaning varies widely by kanji, from 'cherry blossom village' to 'clear'
Rui affection, kind-hearted
Ryo meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often 'refreshing' or 'bright'
Ryota meaning depends on the kanji chosen; a common modern boy name
Ryusei dragon star, or shooting star depending on the kanji chosen
Sachiko child of happiness
Sadako virtuous child
Sakura cherry blossom
Saori weaving; the first element varies by kanji, often sand
Satoshi wise, quick-witted
Saya sand, fine silk, or little night, depending on the kanji
Sayaka refreshing, clear
Seiji sincere and true, or pure and refined, with ji often meaning two
Setsuko child of verse and melody
Shigeo luxuriant man in its usual kanji
Shigeru lush, luxuriant
Shinji meaning depends on the kanji chosen, sometimes 'true two' or 'one who believes'
Shiori woven poem, or bookmark, depending on the kanji
Shiro fourth son
Shizuka quiet, calm
Shizuko quiet child
Shota soar greatly
Shun fast, talented
Sora sky
Sosuke helper, aide
Sota soar boldly, sprout quickly
Sumiko clear child
Susumu to advance, make progress
Suzu bell
Takako child of filial piety
Takashi filial piety, noble and prosperous, or esteem, depending on the kanji
Takeo martial, military man
Takeshi fierce, warrior-like
Takumi artisan, skilled craftsman
Takuya to expand, open
Tamiko child of many beauties
Taro eldest son, great man
Tatsuya meaning depends on the kanji chosen, sometimes 'accomplished one' or referencing the dragon
Teruko shining child
Tetsuya meaning depends on the kanji chosen, sometimes 'iron arrow' or a philosophical reading
Tomiko child of wealth and abundance
Tomoko wise child, or friend child depending on the kanji chosen
Tomoya meaning depends on the kanji chosen, sometimes 'friend' or 'wise'
Toshiko quick, clever child
Toshio talented, handsome man, or quick and clever, depending on the kanji
Tsubasa wings
Tsutomu to strive, endeavor
Wakana harmony, song
Yamato great harmony
Yasuko peaceful child
Yasuo peaceful man
Yoko ocean child
Yudai meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often 'great hero' or 'abundant'
Yui tie together, gentle bond
Yuina meaning depends on the kanji chosen, often glossed as 'bond' or 'gentle'
Yuji meaning depends on the kanji, with yu often heroic or abundant
Yuka fragrance, or goodness and beauty; the kanji vary
Yukari meaning depends on the kanji chosen, sometimes 'deep bond' or the yukari plant
Yuki snow, or good fortune depending on the kanji chosen; used for both boys and girls
Yukiko snow child
Yuko gentle, excellent child
Yuma gentle truth, abundant kindness
Yumi beautiful bow
Yumiko child of the archery bow, or beautiful child, by its kanji
Yutaka bountiful, abundant, rich
Yuto gentle, kind-hearted person
Yuzuki gentle moon
Which of these fits YOUR family? →