top japanese girl names - japan 2020
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top japanese girl names in japan for 2020, according to tamahiyo. ranked by reading/yomikata, not kanji
- Anna
Origin:
Variation of Hannah, HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
- Noa
Origin:
Hebrew, JapaneseMeaning:
"motion; my love, affection"Description:
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 back in the 2010s, it now sits in the Top 300, and while it may feel like an attempt to make Noah unisex, it is in fact a separate, feminine name.
- Sara
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"princess"Description:
Sara, the streamlined form of Sarah, makes this ancient name feel more modern, but perhaps a bit lighter weight.
- Yuna
Origin:
Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, DutchMeaning:
"superiority, gentleness, or citrus fruit; lamb; willow, abundant, child, happy + to reach, to hold; jade + elegant, beautiful; June"Description:
An attractive, widely appealing, multicultural option, Yuna has its roots in Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese. KPOP singer Yuna may be attracting some attention to her name, as might influencer Yunabugs who shares her life with her eight dachshunds on Instagram. Also used in the game franchise Final Fantasy, it is a popular choice in France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
- Rio
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese, JapaneseMeaning:
"river or place of the cherry blossoms"Description:
Rio is one of Japan's most popular girls' names, constantly sitting in that country's Top 10. Of course, Rio may also stem from the Portuguese and Spanish word for river, and the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro. A truly international name for a cosmopolitan baby!
- Mei
Origin:
Chinese; HawaiianMeaning:
"beautiful; plum"Description:
Homophonous with Mae and May, the beautiful (literally) Mei is poised to climb the charts. The hero of the 2022 Disney/Pixar film Turning Red is a Chinese-Canadian teen named Meilin "Mei" Lee, which may boost the name ever further.
- Hana
Origin:
Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, JapaneseMeaning:
"grace, work, glow, flower"Description:
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 "craft, work" in Hawaiian and "glow" in Maori.
- Mio
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beautiful, or, cherry"Description:
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 English-speaking world for parents who want to move beyond Mia and Maya.
- Rin
Origin:
Japanese, KoreanMeaning:
"dignified, severe; jade, clear"Description:
A very popular name for girls in Japan, though it is a unisex choice. It can mean "severe, cold", but also "dignified", "ethics" and "phosphorus", depending on the kanji used. It is notably used for the Vocaloid Rin Kagamine.
- Miyu
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beautfiul evening"Description:
Short and sweet alternative to Mia, Mila, Maya, et al.
- Yui
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"superior garment"Description:
Very popular girls' name in Japan not quite as easy to transport westward as the also-popular Rin.
- Mana
Description:
Mana is a feminine name with multicultural origins, appearing in Japanese, Hawaiian, Persian, and other traditions. In Japanese, it means 'love' or 'affection,' while in Hawaiian, it refers to 'spiritual power' or 'energy.' In Persian culture, it can mean 'eternal' or 'lasting.' The name is appreciated for its brevity, gentle sound, and profound meanings across different cultures. Though not extremely common in Western countries, Mana has maintained steady usage among families with connections to these cultural traditions. Its simple structure and meaningful associations with spiritual energy and love contribute to its enduring appeal as a name that combines strength and gentleness.
- Himari
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"sunflower; sunshine + hollyhock"Description:
A bright and pretty Japanese name, hugely popular in its native Japan.
- Nana
Origin:
Diminutive of Anna and Nancy; also HawaiianMeaning:
"spring"Description:
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.
- Ena
Origin:
Diminutive of several namesDescription:
Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.
- Sana
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"Description:
One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
- Aoi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"bluish"Description:
A very popular girls' name in Japan with an unfortunate English pronunciation: picture a toddler with a hurt knee saying "owee."
- Ema
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene, Croatian, Bosnian, Czech, Slovak, and Lithuanian variation of Emma, GermanMeaning:
"universal"Description:
Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.
- Akari
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"light; vermilion"Description:
Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US.
- Sakura
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"cherry blossom"Description:
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 to Japanese traditional culture without sounding frumpy and old-fashioned.