Aiko is a very common Japanese name with a lovely meaning that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.

A bright-sounding name with multicultural appeal, used regularly as a first name in Japan, Scandinavia, Latvia, and Spain.

An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls in the US receiving this name last year. Credit the mega-popular manga and animeOne Piece, which has a character named Nami, the Straw Hat Pirates' navigator. In the US, NAMI is the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

No - not a creative spelling of Katy. This name, which can be used for boys or girls, means maple tree. Kaede is unusual in Japan although it has been gaining more popularity after it has been used for several anime and manga characters, such as Kaede Akamatsu from Danganronpa.

A succinct Japanese with plenty of positive meanings, Kei can denote wisdom, celebration, and excellence, along with (square) gemstones and Japanese Judas-trees, depending on which kanji is used. In recent years, it has become notably feminine leaning in Japan, often as a short form of Keiko. It is however unisex and may also be used as shorten version of Keita, Keisuke, Keisaku, and more.

The name of a Japanese citrus fruit, Kiyomi made its debut in the US charts in 2025, where it was joined by alternative spelling Kyomi in the Top 1000. Given to 355 girls, it ranks slightly below Kyomi, though this spelling may reflect the traditional KEE-YO-MEE pronunciation better.

Mikasa references Mount Mikasa, a mountain in Japan with three peaks, thought to look like bamboo hats. The Mikasa battleship was named after the mountain.

Gaara is a character in the Naruto universe given a one-of-a-kind name. The first two elements in his name mean "I love," while the final kanji is related to the Buddhist asuras, or demigods. The meaning of Gaara can be read as "demigod who loves himself" and "demigod who I [Gaara's mother] love." Both interpretations align with the character.

As a given name, Franky peaked for boys in 2007 when it was used 94 times.

Short and sweet Eri is a common female name in Japan that could cross cultures quite easily.

Common name among Japanese men that can be written with a variety of kanji, giving it different meanings.

Commonly associated with the Japanese beverage company Asahi, which produces a beer by the same name.

Dainty and doll-like.

Cute Japanese name with a nickname to match. Rini was used in the Sailor Moon series.

The name Jiraiya was created in 1806 for yomi-hon — a type of book from the Edo Period — called Jiraiya Monogatari. The character was revived later in the century for a folk tale series Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari, in which Jiraiya, a ninja, shapeshifts into a giant toad.

Traditionally, this name is written with kanji that give it lovely meanings of "full moon," "moonlight," or similar. The character Mitsuki in Naruto uses kanji that denote the meaning "snake vessel," appropriate given he can summon magical snakes.

Jinbe, also called Jinbei or Jimbei is a whale-like character in the anime series One Piece. His name comes from the word jinbei-zame, "whale-shark."

With Bear and Fox becoming hot baby names, why not Panda? Why not indeed. Both the name and its animal namesake are adorable. And Pan is a nickname right in line with the mythological name trend. The word panda comes from the Nepali word ponya, meaning "bamboo eater" for the panda's favorite food.

As a feminine name, Kiko is Japanese in origin. One possible meaning is "hope child," but different kanji combinations will yield alternate meanings.

Japanese name common among older generations.