Japanese Names

Also a dog breed

Momoko is a Japanese name meaning "peach child." It's also the name of a character in the popular Sailor Moon manga series.

Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and the first to reach the summits of the tallest peaks on all seven continents.

As well as meaning victory, the name Katsu is strongly associated with heroism and masculinity.

A cute and lively Japanese name, reminiscent of names like Micah and Nico. Mikio can have many meanings depending on the kanji used to write it, but the most common ones give it the nature meaning "tree trunk": perfect for wishing strength, sturdiness and stability on your baby boy. Famous namesakes include Naruto manga artist Mikio Ikemoto, guitarrist Mikio Fujioka, and mathematician Mikio Sato.

This unisex Japanese name has dozens of possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.

Yasuko can be written in many ways in Japanese, but the usual kanji has the sweet, serene meaning of "peaceful child" or "tranquil". It's a well-used name in Japan with various namesakes, the most well-known one internationally being the late mountaineer Yasuko Namba.

This popular Japanese name has many various meanings (bright, clear, autumn), depending on the combination of kanji used to spell it. The final element is the character ko, meaning "child", which features in many Japanese feminine names. Akiko is one of the best unique names for autumn babies.

Interesting name with a cool, upbeat sound.

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.

A bright Japanese name with multiple appealing meanings, Mitsu can be associated with bright lights, a beautiful place, and with sweet honey, depending on which kanji characters are used. Also appearing as an element in other names such as Akimitsu, it is borne by actress Mitsu Dan.

A handsome Japanese name with a sharp, bouncy sound. Katsuhiko's meaning will vary based on the kanji used to write it, but the most common spelling consists of the characters for "to win" or "to overcome" and "prince, accomplished young man". Namesakes include the professional wrestler Katsuhiko Nakajima, judoka and author Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki, and geneticist Katsuhiko Hayashi.