International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Japanese
"chick"
Heard most frequently in 18th century Japan, Hanzo is a rarity in modern culture. Hattori Hanzo was a legendary samurai of the Sengoku Era. A modern day namesake might be Hanzo Shimada, from the…
"spring tree"
Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, well known in the U. S. , might inspire some namesakes. Haruki is a popular Japanese name meaning spring tree or bright tree, a lovely nature meaning combined with…
"bell or beautiful"
A sweet and simple Japanese name with several possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.
"snow; happiness"
Succinct and memorable, Yuki is a Japanese name, which may relate to winter or joy, depending on the kanji used. It is a unisex choice, notably borne by singer Yuki Kuramochi (stylized as YUKI).
"arrow child"
A vibrant Japanese name with an adventurous meaning, Yumiko is a popular name in Japan. It has a range of meanings, including "arrow child", "permeance and beauty child", and "evening beauty child".…
Japanese; Finnish
"born in the autumn; ancestor"
A name known in several cultures, also through animated book character Tiger Aki. Finnish author Aki Ollikainen is another notable bearer.
Scandinavian and Finnish variation of Aino, Catalan variation of Anna, Japanese, Latvian, Kazakh, Yoruba
"always; grace; lover of green; sight; mirror; delivery had complications [umbilical cord twisted around neck]"
A bright-sounding name with multicultural appeal, used regularly as a first name in Japan, Scandinavia, Latvia, and Spain. The Yoruba name Aina, pronounced ah-ee-NAH, is traditionally used for baby…
"righteous; beautiful hope; valuable and beautiful"
This simple, bright Japanese name is used on both boys and girls and has numerous meanings. It can be interpreted as meaning "righteous" and "prince", or a combination of mi meaning "beautiful" and…
"a person born in the spring"
Common Japanese choice for boys born in the Spring.
"spring fountain"
Seen as both a given name and a surname in Japan. There was a Princess Izumi in eighth-century Japan, forbidden from marriage as her older sisters had already been paired off with the Emperor's sons.
"happy child"
Japanese classic with optimistic meaning.
"second love"
Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach , in which the kanji used for his name mean…
"beautiful hemp"
Japanese, Malay, Indonesian
"sea; mother"
Stylish and simple, Umi is an ocean inspired Japanese name that may appeal to those who enjoy Lumi, Rumi, and Una. It appears in the popular anime series, Love Live Umi might also be used as an…
"walking beauty; sweetfish"
"sincerity, truth"
Unisex Japanese name more often given to boys.
"praise"
Older Japanese name given new life in the anime series One Piece .
"born in the spring; clear weather"
A springtime baby name appropriate for either sex.
French nickname and Japanese
"double happiness"
Kiki is one of the Coco-Gigi-Fifi-Lulu bohemian-type French nickname names from the turn of the last century, which have endless energy and sparkle. Artist Kiki Smith is its most well-known…
