Japanese baby names
172 names with Japanese roots, each one with what it actually means. 27 of them are still given to 40 or more babies a year.
In common use
Given to at least 40 babies a year in the US or England and Wales.
- Raidenthunder and lightning god; thunder deity815 a year · the US, 2017
- Roninwave man; masterless samurai568 a year · the US, 2017
- Raydenthunder and lightning god; a modern spelling of Raiden394 a year · the US, 2017
- Kayawater296 a year · the US, 2017
- Akirabright or clear273 a year · the US, 2017
- Miyatemple, shrine258 a year · the US, 2017
- Yurilily; a form of various Japanese names168 a year · the US, 2017
- Noriseaweed used in sushi164 a year · the US, 2017
- Kaisenocean battle; sea warfare136 a year · the US, 2017
- Kenjihealthy second son; vigorous second136 a year · the US, 2017
- Renbenevolence; lotus93 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Emiblessed, beautiful; a form of Emiko27 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Zenmeditation; a buddhist school25 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Ryudragon76 a year · the US, 2017
- Taibig; great16 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Akarilight or brilliance42 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Sakuracherry blossom68 a year · the US, 2017
- Kaizencontinuous improvement, change for the better23 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Reispirit or soul; also a Portuguese coin62 a year · the US, 2017
- Hiroabundant or generous; heroic60 a year · the US, 2017
- Kamidivine spirit or god58 a year · the US, 2017
- Katanacurved sword; Japanese long sword58 a year · the US, 2017
- Kageshadow52 a year · the US, 2017
- Koia type of ornamental carp fish51 a year · the US, 2017
- Sayafine sand or yarn10 a year · England and Wales, 2025
- Kaorifragrance; scent46 a year · the US, 2017
- Sayurismall lily; graceful water lily41 a year · the US, 2017
Rarer names
Fewer than 40 babies a year in either country — which often means a name in wide use somewhere the records do not reach.
- Emikobeautiful child or blessing child depending on kanji
- Mikoshrine maiden or beautiful child
- Rindignified, severe, or cold
- Kiyomiclear beauty; clean beauty
- Namiwave
- Nekocat
- Nakaiinside the middle; a Japanese surname used as given name
- Yukisnow
- Hinatasunny place or towards the sun
- Akemibright beauty; from akeru and mi
- Haruspring season
- Junpure; handsome; obedient
- Arisabecoming silk
- Keirespectful; orderly; may vary with kanji used
- Sukibeloved or liked
- Keikorespectful child or joyful child
- Masagood; true; righteous
- Misabeautiful; truth; righteousness
- Aikobeloved child
- Kaidalittle dragon
- Yumibeautiful reason
- Airilove, jasmine
- Kiringiraffe; or mythical hooved chimerical creature
- Mayumitrue bow; symbol of elegance
- Rikochild of truth or jasmine child
- Rikuland or continent
- Kenshinhumble or modest sword
- Onnawoman or female
- Miraifuture
- Onidemon or ogre; also used as name
- Akiautumn; bright
- Akiobright man; autumn man
- Aoiblue or hollyhock
- Hikarilight, radiance
- Inaririce deity; shinto goddess of fertility
- Takumiartisan or craftsman
- Yoshigood or righteous; typically a masculine given name
- Yutogentle or kind; a common masculine given name
- Akanedeep red or brilliant red
- Kaedemaple; maple leaf
- Kitree; wood; or various meanings by character
- Kikitree tree; or diminutive of various names
- Kimikochild of beauty
- Kojismall path or small two
- Makotrue or genuine child; a shark
- Asahimorning sun
- Ayameiris flower
- Harukisun, clarity; spring; depends on kanji
- Hayatohawk person; warrior; depends on kanji
- Namikochild of the waves
- Seijirighteous; justice; governance; orderly
- Taiyosun or solar light
- Akirahbright, clear; a form of Akira
- Akitobright person or autumn person
- Ishistone
- Makotosincerity, truth, or genuine
- Ryoclear or distant
- Shioriweaving thread; poetry thread
- Aikabeloved song; love song
- Akinaautumn vegetables; spring vegetables
- Jirosecond son
- Kayorespectful; a form of Kayō
- Kohanalittle flower
- Marikocircle, truth, child
- Midorigreen
- Minamisouth
- Miyukibeautiful gentleness or deep snow
- Satorisudden enlightenment or awakening in zen buddhism
- Sekaiworld; the whole world
- Tadashiloyal, true, sincere
- Akikobright child or autumn child
- Kaiseiocean or sea blue
- Misakibeautiful bloom or cape
- Miyubeautiful gentleness
- Mizukibeautiful moon or water moon
- Nanamiseven seas or seven waves
- Takeowarrior, military man
- Amaya-Rosenight rain rose; a form of Amaya with Rose
- Izumispring or fountain
- Kazukipeaceful; harmonious
- Keigenwise or respectful generation
- Kiyoshipure, clean, righteous, quiet
- Minatoharbor or port
- Raidanthunder and lightning; used in English
- Sakisake; rice wine; bloom
- Azumisafe or peaceful; scent or fragrance
- Daigreat or large
- Harukadistant; serene
- Himarisun village or sun truth
- Hinasun or light
- Hirokigenerous or abundant tree
- Hirotogenerous person or abundant
- Inoriprayer; wish
- Kazumapeaceful; harmony and truth
- Masakirighteous or true combined with autumn or brightness
- Mayutrue gentleness or genuine reason
- Momokopeach child; symbol of beauty and longevity
- Mugeninfinite or unlimited
- Naokivaries by kanji; commonly straight or honest tree
- Nozomihope or wish
- Renjilotus second son
- Sakaialcohol, sake
- Sasukeassistance help; a Japanese given name
- Tarothick or big; a plant name
- Aiindigo; love
- Asukafragrant or tomorrow smell
- Atarito hit or target; video game brand
- Hiroyukiabundant courage; generous and brave
- Ichirofirst son; one of a kind
- Kawaicute or lovely
- Kazewind
- Kazutoharmony and person
- Keijirespectful; orderly; a given name element
- Kiyokoclear child or respectful child
- Koheiwide or spacious peace
- Sayakasmall fragment, bloom
- Takaratreasure; precious thing
- Hanzohalf third son; name element zan
- Harafield plain; Japanese surname used as given name
- Honokaflower that blooms in harmony; varies by kanji
- Kanaeflower, bud
- Kasumimist, haze
- Kawaiicute, lovely, adorable
- Keisukemeaning depends on kanji used; typically includes help or assistance
- Kubocube; a form of kubota or similar surnames
- Mireibeautiful spirit; from Japanese elements
- Miwabeautiful harmony; from Japanese elements
- Reikaspirit flower; spiritual fragrance
- Reikospirit child; bell child
- Rikavarying based on kanji used; often beautiful or fragrant
- Ringoapple; also used for the Beatles member
- Ryokodragon child
- Shirowhite or castle
- Sumireviolet flower
- Taiseigreat world; great generation
- Takeruwarrior; military hero
- Takumawarrior; military hero
- Takutowarrior; military hero
- Umeplum tree
- Yurikolily child
- Yuzucitrus fruit
- Eriblessing; a form of Japanese name
- Kenzo-Jameshealthy and vigorous; a form of James
- Tanakamiddle of rice field
- Tamikochild of the people; a form of Tamiko
Which of these would you actually choose?
Put them head-to-head and find out. Every name here can be voted on.
Play nowThis page gathers names our sources describe as Japanese and Chinese/Japanese. Different eras of the same language, filed together.