Female Japanese Names

Naomi

Hebrew, Japanese

"pleasantness; straight, direct, beautiful"

A familiar name with a unique look and sound about it, Naomi combines a gentle cadence with classic strength. It was once a primarily Jewish name from the Old Testament, borne by the mother-in-law of…

Maria

Hebrew or Egyptian

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

As a highly popular girls' name in all Spanish-speaking countries, this saintly Latin variation of Mary retains a timeless beauty. Through the centuries, Maria remains one of the most widely-used…

Amaya

Spanish version of Amaia or Japanese

"mother city; the end; night rain"

The Spanish form of Amaya is both a given name and a surname, originating from the Spanish mountain and village of Amaya. In this context it means "mother city" or "the capital." Amaya can also be…

Noa

Hebrew, Japanese

"motion; my love, affection"

This Old Testament name has been one of the most popular girls names in Israel over the last decade and is also a favorite in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. First appearing in the US charts…

Mae

Diminutive of Mary or Margaret, Hebrew, Latin

"beloved, bitter, drop of the sea; pearl"

Mae, a sweet and springlike old-fashioned name, hadn't been on the national charts in forty years, but finally made it back in 2010. Mae is derived from May, the month name that was chosen for its…

Mina

Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

"resolute protection"

Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina. This Old World…

Aya

Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, Arabic

"colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"

Aya, barely more than a breath, is an international favorite, with origins in several languages and cultures. Popular throughout Europe, it ranks in the US Top 1000 and was chosen for nearly 470…

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…

Kiyomi

Japanese

"sacred and beautiful; pure and beautiful"

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…

Emi

English, Slovene, or Japansese

"rival; whole; beautiful favor, beautiful picture"

As an English nickname, Emi can be short for anything beginning with (or containing) the popular "em" sound, such as Emily, Emilia, or maybe even Clementine. As a Japanese name, it can be formed of…

Akira

Japanese

"bright, intelligent"

A popular Japanese name for both sexes that's migrated to the West because of its appearance in manga and video games and because of its international feel. It was a fast rising choice in 2024, when…

Ai

Japanese

"love; indigo"

Aiko

Japanese

"beloved child"

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

Aina

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…

Airi

Japanese, Finnish

"lover of jasmine; lover of pears; messenger, herald"

A multicultural choice with an airy feel, Airi is a Japanese name celebrating pears or jasmine and a Finnish name meaning "messenger", from the word airut . In Japanese, it is pronounced with three…

Akane

Japanese

"deep red"

A popular choice right now in Japan, where it recently ranked in the Top 10.

Akari

Japanese

"light; vermilion"

Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US. There are several well-known female singers and actors named Akira in Japan, and Akira Watanabe is a popular…

Aki

Japanese; Finnish

"born in the autumn; ancestor"

Aki is a simple international name from two wildly divergent cultures.

Akiko

Japanese

"bright child"

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…

Amane

Amane is a feminine name with Japanese origins, though it can occasionally be used for boys as well. In Japanese, it carries several beautiful meanings depending on the kanji characters used,…