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. Unlike other Asian cultures where English study has long been mandatory in school, Japanese students only began compulsory English classes in 2011.
 
Japanese names in the US Top 1000 for girls include Amaya, Kairi, Reina, Sara, and Tori. For boys, Japanese names in the US Top 1000 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 either, 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. But 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. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

Japanese Names

Kiaria is pretty but sure to prove confusing given all the more familiar Kiara and Keira variations out there. 

Kiaria

The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack Obama's name derives from the Luo people of Kenya, Obama is also a Japanese place name and a surname that means "little beach."

Obama

Similarity to the English name Jean could be a plus in a Japanese-American or Chinese-American family. 

Ishi

Short and catchy form of traditional Asian name. 

Hoshi

Hiroko

Maro is an ancient saints' name -- he was an Italian follower of St. Flavia and was martyred -- rarely used in modern life. The name Maro may stem from the Roman Marcellus, related to Mars, the god of war, or it may be a feminine form of Maria, connected with Mario. Maro is also a Japanese name meaning "myself."
 
And why couldn't Maro be more widely used today? As a masculine spin on stylish Mara, it certainly could.

Maro

A traditional possibility for a Japanese or Japanese-American child born in April or May. 

Haruko

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

Sachiko was one of the first Japanese names familiar to Americans when it was used in the 1950s by actress Shirley Maclaine for her daughter, called the adorable short form Sachi.  While Sachiko does not rank on the US Social Security baby names list, Sachi was given to 25 girls in the most recent year counted.

Sachiko

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

Ino was one of the Queens of Thebes who, after her death, became an immortal. Ino raised her nephew, Dionysus (son of Semele and Zeus), provoking the wrath of Hera. In desperation Ino threw herself into the sea and was thereafter venerated as Leucothea (The White Goddess).
 In Japanese, Ino means wild boar. Ino is most familiar in a Japanese context from Ino Yamanaka, a character in the Naruto anime.
 Despite being short and sweet, and bearing the fashionable "O" ending, Ino is one of the rarer Greek mythology names.

Tetsu is a female name with an unusually strong and powerful meaning. It sounds spunky and cute too. 

Tetsu

Fuji

If you're planning to have a younger one. 

Aneko

One Japanese name that feels Western, though not quite American. 

Botan

As well as Japanese physicist Hideki Yukawa, two Yankees ballplayers, Hideki Irabu and Hideki Matsui, made this name familiar to Americans.

Hideki

Popular name in Japan, wouldn't work too well outside that culture. 

Yoshi

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 6)

Japanese Names (with Meanings & Popularity)