Japanese Word Names (Girls)

Hana

Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese

"grace, work, glow, flower"

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…

Sora

Japanese or Korean

"sky; conch shell"

A simple and pretty multicultural name: as a Japanese name, it's unisex and means "sky"; as a Korean name, it's feminine and means "conch shell".

Kaori

Japanese

"smell, fragrance"

Kaori is a Japanese girls' name once largely unknown but brought into the spotlight by celebrity couple Eniko and Kevin Hart, who gave it to their daughter in 2020. Kaori is easily translated in the…

Sakura

Japanese

"cherry blossom"

Lovely Japanese name that would certainly be appreciated in Europe and the U.S. It was rarely used in Japan until the 1990s, and draws its current popularity from the fact that it is deeply connected…

Yuki

Japanese

"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).

Miko

Miko is a multicultural feminine name with rich and varied origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'beautiful child' or refer to a shrine maiden or female shaman. In Hungarian, it serves as a diminutive of…

Nana

English, Greek, Hawaiian, Japanese

"grace; God is gracious; spring, beauty; vegetable, greens"

To most English speakers, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan , the daughter played by Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love , and another name for Grandma, however, it is also a diminutive of Nancy and Anna…

Mio

Japanese

"beautiful, or, cherry"

Mio is a lovely Japanese name for girls that has migrated beyond its native country. One Berry reports several young girls named Mio in Australia, and the name has potential in the rest of the…

Aoi

Japanese

"bluish"

A very popular girls' name in Japan with an unfortunate English pronunciation: picture a toddler with a hurt knee saying "owee."

Miki

Japanese

"flower stem"

Attractive but slight Asian alternative, with a 1970s nickname feel.

Kaede

Japanese

"maple tree"

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…