Japanese Girl Names

Mia

Italian word name or Scandinavian short form of Maria

"drop of the sea"

Mia is an appealingly unfussy multicultural name that has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts and is now firmly among the ten top girl names . Mia has surpassed its mother name Maria as the Number…

Naomi

Hebrew, Japanese

"pleasantness; straight, direct, beautiful"

A familiar name with a unique look and sound about it, Naomi combines a gentle cadence with classic strength. It was once a primarily Jewish name from the Old Testament, borne by the mother-in-law of…

Maya

Sanskrit, English, Hebrew, Estonian

"illusion, magic; mother; water; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"

Maya, which has an almost mystical image, has been steadily climbing in popularity in the US and the English-speaking world, along with a range of other countries, including France, Germany, Israel,…

Maria

Hebrew or Egyptian

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used…

Remi

Variation of Remy, French

"oarsman"

Remi is an adorable name that's fashionable and keeps gaining momentum. Remi entered the US Top 1000 in 2013 and is now approaching the Top 100. The Remi spelling is more popular for girls, while…

Sara

Hebrew

"princess"

Sara, the streamlined form of Sarah, makes this ancient name feel more modern, but perhaps a bit lighter weight. Some Old Testament sources give Sara as a variation of Sarai, the Biblical personage's…

Noa

Hebrew, Japanese

"motion; my love, affection"

This Old Testament name has been one of the most popular girls names in Israel over the last decade and is also a favorite in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. First appearing in the US charts…

Nina

Short form of names that end in -nina

Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility…

Kira

Russian feminine variation of Cyrus

"throne"

Though such cognates of Kira as Keira, Kyra, and Ciara are increasingly popular throughout Europe and in the U.S., this Cyrus relative has a different root. As with all the many variations of this…

Mina

Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

"resolute protection"

Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina. This Old World…

Ariya

Sanskrit

"noble"

An Indian name used to describe some of the tenets of Buddhism, such as the Four Noble Truths (catvary arya satyani) or The Noble Eightfold Path (arya marga). It can also simply be a spelling…

Aya

Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, Arabic

"colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"

Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, it ranks in the US Top 1000 and was chosen for nearly 470…

Hana

Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese

"grace, work, glow, flower"

Many things to many peoples: a flower name, also spelled Hanae, to the Japanese; a Czech and Polish short form of Johana; and an alternate form of the biblical name Hannah in the US. It also means…

Karina

Scandinavian, German, Polish, and Russian variation of Carina

This sweet and loving name, favored in recent years by a mix of Hispanic-American parents and Bob Dylan fans, was chosen for her daughter by TV actress Melina Kanakaredes.

Karen

Danish variation of Katherine, Japanese

"pure; lotus flower"

Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to…

Sarina

Italian diminutive of Sarah or spelling variation of Serena, Hebrew or Latin

"princess or serene"

With its melodic three syllables and flowing sound, Sarina offers a softer, more elaborate alternative to Sarah while maintaining an accessible pronunciation. The name gained modest popularity in the…

Ina

Latin, feminine suffix

This suffix is used as an independent name, but doesn't your little girl deserve more?

Mai

Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo

"dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"

Cross-cultural winner.

Risa

Latin

"laughing"

Yoshiko

Yoshiko is a traditional Japanese feminine name combining elements that typically mean 'good' (yoshi) and 'child' (ko), though the meaning can vary depending on the specific kanji characters used to…