Beautiful Japanese girl names

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…

Anna

Variation of Hannah, Hebrew

"grace"

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. Anna is the Latin form of…

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…

Yuna

Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, Dutch

"superiority, gentleness, or citrus fruit; lamb; willow, abundant, child, happy + to reach, to hold; jade + elegant, beautiful; June"

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…

Erika

English and Scandinavian variation of Erica, Norse feminization of Eric or Italian word name

"eternal ruler; heather"

This is a more spunky and Nordic looking variant of Erica, but the k also makes the connection to the beautiful flower less apparent.

Yuri

Japanese

"lily"

Most familiar to American ears as the Russian variation of George. Not recommended for a daughter.

Mari

Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also…

Rio

Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese

"river or place of the cherry blossoms"

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…

Sora

Japanese or Korean

"sky; conch shell"

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".

Rina

European diminutive of Catherine, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Japanese

"pure; joy, singing; melted; white jasmine"

One of those short, punchy names with its roots in a variety of different cultures and languages, Rina is sister to names like Mina, Mira, Lina, and Nina. Retro in feel, but never overused in the US,…

Sayuri

Japanese

"small lily"

Asa

Hebrew, Japanese, or Scandinavian

"healer; morning; of the gods"

A male Biblical name meaning healer, Asa is also an international gem. In Japanese, it means "(born in the) morning". And in Scandinavia, where it's generally spelled Åsa or Ása and pronounced O-sa,…

Sakura

Japanese

"cherry blossom"

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…

Mai

Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo

"dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"

Cross-cultural winner.

Yumi

Japanese

"archery bow"

This Japanese name is easily accessible to English speakers, and has a cool archery meaning. It first made the US charts in 1960, and was given to under 47 girls in 2022: still rare, but more popular…

Eri

Japanese

"loving reason; blessing + reason; hometown blessing; picture + pear"

Short and sweet Eri is a common female name in Japan that could cross cultures quite easily.

Hina

Japanese

"chick"

Mana

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…

Yuki

Japanese

"snow; happiness"

Succinct and memorable, Yuki is a Japanese name, which may relate to winter or joy, depending on the kanji used. It is a unisex choice, notably borne by singer Yuki Kuramochi (stylized as YUKI).

Akemi

Japanese

"bright beauty"