Female Japanese Names

Nagisa

Japanese

"beach; shore"

Nami

Japanese

"ocean wave"

An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls in the US receiving…

Naoko

Japanese

"obedient child"

Naoko is a common Japanese name with an admirable meaning, which, depending on how it's written, can translate to obedient, straight, honest, or green child. Naoko can also be spelled Nahoko.

Nara

Japanese place name or Celtic

"happy"

Soft, simple, and far more unusual than Tara or Farrah. As a Japanese place name, it's been used occasionally as a surname and is beginning to be used as a first. Nara is also the name of a Hindu…

Natsu

Japanese

"born in the summer"

A summertime baby name in Japan.

Niko

Finnish variation of Nicholas; diminutive of Nikolaos, Greek

"victory of the people"

Niko was used for 17 baby girls in the US last year, and twin sister Nico for another 35 -- though that's still far fewer than the 2700 baby boys who were given either of those two names. There were…

Nori

Japanese, English short form or Eleanor, Leonora, Nora, Honora, or North, form of Nor or Nuri, Arabic, Turkish

"ceremonial rites, doctrine, seaweed; unknown, honor, north; my light"

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…

Noriko

Japanese

"rule child; benevolent child"

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