Japanese Names that Start With H

  1. Hana
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "grace, work, glow, flower"
    • Description:

      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 "craft, work" in Hawaiian and "glow" in Maori.
  2. Hikaru
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "light or radiance"
    • Description:

      This name with a beautiful meaning can be used for girls as well as boys.
  3. Hiro
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "broad, widespread"
    • Description:

      Hiro is an apt name for a hero of the show Heroes -- and for our times. Widely used in Japan, sometimes also for girls. Hiroshi is a long form.
  4. Haruki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "spring child"
    • Description:

      Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, well known in the U. S. , might inspire some namesakes.
  5. Hanako
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "flower child"
    • Description:

      Hanako has a delicate sound and quaint meaning -- but there's a catch. According to widespread urban legend in Japan, Hanako is the name of the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms, who sometimes answers if you call her name.
  6. Hiroshi
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "generous"
    • Description:

      Several artistic Hiroshis make this one of the more plausible Japanese imports.
  7. Hiroko
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "generous, fair"
    • Description:

      Commonly used in Japanese families.
  8. Hideki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "bright tree"
    • Description:

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

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "star"
    • Description:

      Short and catchy form of traditional Asian name.
  10. Haruko
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "born in spring"
    • Description:

      A traditional possibility for a Japanese or Japanese-American child born in April or May.
  11. Hiroto
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "great flying"
    • Description:

      A very popular Japanese boys' name whose characters refer to the constellation Ursa Major. Short form Hiro might work better in the West, as may another popular Japanese boys' name, Ren.