Japanese Names

Commonly used in Japan, and so much more distinguished than Jen. 

A bright and musical Japanese name, usually interpreted as meaning "song child" or "child of melody", however, as with many Japanese names, alternative meanings are possible with different kanji. Options include: "melodious kite"; "child of poetry"; "folk ballad child"; "rumored daughter"; and "lover of the light giving daughter".
 
Notable bearers include medical doctor and inventor Utako Okamoto, figure skater Utako Wakamatsu, and educator and poet Utako Shimoda.

Utako

A melodic Japanese name with a bright sound, Utana has a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used. Options include "song + greens and vegetables"; "house of many greens"; "song of many": "song of peace"; and "poetry of the south". Ice dancer Utana Yoshida is a notable bearer. 


Utana

Appearing in the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena, Utena is possibly inspired by the Japanese word for "pedestal", though it is also viewed as a pop-culture creation. The character is known for her tomboyish, admirable, and kind nature.

Utena

Used for a character in the popular manga and anime series, Spy × Family, Yor is a transliteration of the Japanese pronunciation of Yol, Yol being a nickname for the Spanish and Greek Yolanda. As such, it means "violet flower".
 
Also written as Yoru, it is borne by the secret/part-time assassin, Yor Briar, and the creator of the show has emphasized they chose it in relation to the floral name, and not because it is a homophone of the kana word for night.

Also appearing as Yor, Yoru is used for a character in the popular anime and manga series, Spy × Family. It is an Anglicization of the Japanese pronunciation of Yol, itself a nickname for Yolanda, making this a floral choice. 
 
Yoru also happens to be a homophone of the kana word for "night".

Yoru

Notably borne by singer Yoshiki Hayashi and by a central character in the manga series The Summer Hikaru Died Yoshiki is a Japanese name, with various meanings, depending on the kanji combinations used. Potential meanings include: "good, valuable", "virtuous, opportunity", "justice, hope", and "good, foundation".

Yoshiki

Also written as Yūgao, this name refers to the moonflower, also known as the ipomoea alba or the moonvine, though it is sometimes more literally translated to "evening face". The name appears in classic Japanese literature, in The Tale of Genji (or Genji Monogatari) by 11th century noble woman, Murasaki Shikibu, and in the popular manga and anime series, Naruto.

Yugao

A Japanese name that could work easily in different languages, Yugo may also be transcribed as as Yuugo and Yūgo. As with many Japanese names, the meaning varies depending on which kanji are used.
 
Popular meanings include "excellent + mind"; "gentle + core", "courage + to defend"; "excellent + protection", "excellent + realizing, understanding"; and "friend+ awaken", though other meanings are possible. 
 
There was also a series of cars called Yugo, produced by the Yugoslav company, Zastava, between 1980 and 2008. In this case, it would mean "south" or "south Slavic".

Yugo

Azami has a prickly image and feel — reinforced by the thistle's image in Eastern mythology as one of defiance. A name that spans two widely divergent cultures, Azami might make the perfect international choice, at once unusual and easy to comprehend.

Azami

Well used in Japan, appreciated for its powerful meaning. 

Takeo

If you're planning to have a younger one. 

Aneko

Tora as a masculine name has multiple potential origins. In Japanese, Tora means 'tiger,' symbolizing strength and courage. In Norse traditions, it could be a masculine variant of 'Thor,' the god of thunder, or related to the name Tore. In Hebrew contexts, Tora might reference the Torah, though this usage is less common for boys. The name's brevity gives it a strong, distinctive quality across cultures. While predominantly used as a feminine name in some regions, as a masculine choice it remains uncommon in Western countries. Its cross-cultural meanings and simple pronunciation make it appealing to parents seeking a concise, meaningful name with international resonance and natural strength.

Tora

In the Japanese culture, this name suggests a sense of independence and is one of the popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for December babies</a>.

Yukio

A simple, importable Japanese name, that carries a multitude of meanings depending on which character is used to denote it. While most westerners pronounced it RY-o or REE-o, its real pronunciation is closer to REE-UH. 
 
Borne by actress Ryo Sato, and by Ryo Yamada, a character in the anime series, Bocchi the Rock!, it is currently used nearly exclusively for boys in the US, likely owing to its similarity to Rio, Rylo, or Ryan. In Japan, however, it is considered a unisex name.

Interesting name with a cool, upbeat sound.

Sanjiro

Kyoto is a Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?

Kyoto

Samaru is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it can be interpreted as 'to serve' or 'to protect,' while in some African cultures, particularly in Nigeria, it may be associated with concepts of strength or joy depending on the specific language. The name has a rhythmic, flowing quality with its three syllables and balanced sound. Though uncommon in Western countries, Samaru has modest usage in parts of Africa and occasionally appears in Japanese contexts. The name's multicultural nature makes it appealing for families seeking a distinctive name with international relevance. Samaru projects qualities of service, protection, and joy, depending on the cultural interpretation. Its relatively rare status gives children with this name a unique identity while maintaining a pleasant, pronounceable quality.

Samaru

The Japanese Rikku is familiar in the west as the name of one of the lead characters of the "Final Fantasy" video game series.  Voted "hottest character," the fictional Rikku is a thief with a good sense of humor.

Rikku

Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.

Issey

Japanese baby names are rarely used in the English-speaking world, as English names are rarely used in Japan. In other Asian countries, people often take on English names to ease pronunciation and spelling confusion when going to school or working internationally, but Japanese names are spelled and pronounced in a way that translates across tongues. 

Japanese names in the US Top 1000 for girls

 include Amaya, Kairi, Reina, Sara, and Tori. For boys, 

 include Asa, Kane, Kai, Raiden, and Ren. In Japan, popular names include Sakura, Yuna, Haruki, and Riku.



Not many Americans or British are able to speak Japanese, making for less fluid travel of names between cultures. Japanese baby names that work best in the West are those that are familiar via celebrities, pop culture, or similarity to more familiar Western names such as Hana, Kai, or Zen. 

There are many other lovely Japanese names for girls or boys worth browsing here is you’re looking for an unusual international name for your baby son or daughter.



Our full roster of Japanese baby names follows, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

Japanese Names for baby girls and baby boys, with meanings and popularity, including popular Japanese baby names and rare names with their origin in Japan country and culture. (Page 10)

Japanese Names (with Meanings & Popularity)