Best Japanese Names (Girls)

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Mari is the name of the Basque goddess of fertility and weather and is also, for unrelated reasons, popular in Norway. The biggest problem with the potentially-lovely Mari will be getting people to say it the way you want. While some Europeans pronounce it as Marie, that will only confuse things more. Better to make it its own individual name by pronouncing it MAH-ree. As one commenter pointed out, in Estonian the name is not a Mary variation but means "berry" – all the more reason for us to like it!

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 contemporary representative, and Kiki was the inspiring heroine of Zadie Smith's On Beauty. Kiki can be a nickname for any name beginning with the K sound, from Katherine to Christina to Kayla.

Nori is one of those names with several origins that would have no trouble assimilating into a variety of cultures. It might also be associated with the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi or with the nickname Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use for their daughter North.

One of the most familiar and attractive Japanese names, though rarely heard outside that culture.

In Japan, color names are used to symbolize human qualities, and the green hues of Midori name are said to represent fame. While it is a unisex choice in its native Japan, Midori is predominantly used on girls.

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".

Japanese classic with optimistic meaning.

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.

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.

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

Tiki is a unisex name with Polynesian origins, particularly associated with Māori culture. In Polynesian mythology, Tiki was the first man created by the gods, and the term refers to carved human figures that serve as religious symbols. The name carries rich cultural significance across many Pacific Island traditions. Beyond its Polynesian roots, Tiki gained popularity in Western cultures during the mid-20th century tiki bar trend that appropriated Polynesian aesthetics. As a given name, Tiki remains quite rare but has a playful, tropical feel that appeals to some parents seeking unusual names. Its brevity and distinctive sound make it memorable, though potential cultural appropriation concerns should be considered by non-Polynesian families.

More common for girls in Japan, thanks to the prevalence of the related name Keiko.

Noriko is most common among Gen X Japanese women, making it a dated choice in Japan.