top japanese girl names - japan 2020

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.

This Old Testament female name has been one of the most popular girls’ names in Israel over the last decade. Also highly popular in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, and a new entrant to the US Top 1000, it may be misunderstood here as an attempt to streamline and feminize the more familiar Noah – although it's a separate name with a separate derivation.

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 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!

Sara, the streamlined form of Sarah, makes this ancient name feel more modern, but perhaps a bit lighter weight.

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.

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.

A very popular girls' name in Japan whose sound is consistent with its meaning. Another possibility is Ren.

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.

One of the most easily imported Arabic names.

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.

Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US.

Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.

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.

Very popular girls' name in Japan not quite as easy to transport westward as the also-popular Rin.

Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.

A bright and pretty Japanese name, hugely popular in its native Japan.

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

Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.

Medieval name that still hasn't crossed the ocean, known here primarily via actress/teacher Uta Hagen.