Japanese names for Girls
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- Mika
Origin:
Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, GreekMeaning:
"beautiful fragrance; who is like God?; follower of Demeter"Description:
Mika is a sparky and stylish Japanese girls' name that translates easily to English. Also used as a Slovene and Hebrew diminutive for Mihaela and Michaela, as an alternative spelling to the Biblical Micah, and as a Greek diminutive of Dimitra (via Mimika), it is a truly multi-cultural choice.
- Amaya
Origin:
Spanish version of Amaia or JapaneseMeaning:
"mother city; the end; night rain"Description:
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 considered a derivation of Amaia, a Basque name meaning "the end." In Japan, Amaya is a surname.
- Nori
Origin:
Japanese, English short form or Eleanor, Leonora, Nora, Honora, or North, form of Nor or Nuri, Arabic, TurkishMeaning:
"ceremonial rites, doctrine, seaweed; unknown, honor, north; my light"Description:
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 nickname Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use for their daughter North.
- Emi
Origin:
English, Slovene, or JapanseseMeaning:
"rival; whole; beautiful favor, beautiful picture"Description:
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.
- Kairi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"sea"Description:
Kairi is the name of the main female character in the popular role-playing video game series, Kingdom Hearts. Voiced by Hayden Panettiere in the main series, Kairi is one of the seven Princesses of the Heart. Kairi entered the US Top 1000 in 2010 and was given to over 400 baby girls in one recent year.
- Ren
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"water lily, lotus"Description:
In Japan the lotus is the Buddhist symbol of purity and perfection. In the US, Ren can also be short for Lauren or Renee, but it could be misspelt as the more popular Wren.
- Akira
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"bright, intelligent"Description:
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 it entered the Top 1000.
- Sora
Origin:
Japanese or KoreanMeaning:
"sky; conch shell"Description:
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".
- Aiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beloved child"Description:
Aiko is a very common Japanese name with a lovely meaning that is rarely heard outside the Asian community.
- Chihiro
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"thousand questions"Description:
A popular Japanese name used for the young heroine of the animated film, "Spirited Away."
- 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.
- Ruri
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"lapis lazuli"Description:
Naming babies after precious gems as a protection against evil spirits is an ancient Japanese tradition.
- 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.
- Keiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"happy child"Description:
Japanese classic with optimistic meaning.
- Midori
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"green; beautiful bird"Description:
In Japan, color names are used to symbolize human qualities, and the green hues of Midori name are said to represent fame. While it is a unisex choice in its native Japan, Midori is predominantly used on girls.
- Kiaria
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"fortunate"Description:
Kiaria is pretty but sure to prove confusing given all the more familiar Kiara and Keira variations out there.
- Megumi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"blessing"Description:
An Asian name not widely known in the West.
- Kimiko
Description:
Kimiko is a feminine Japanese name composed of elements that can have various meanings depending on the kanji characters used. Common interpretations include 'noble child' (貴美子), 'empress child' (后美子), or combinations using 'ki' (希 - hope, 喜 - joy), 'mi' (美 - beauty, 実 - truth), and 'ko' (子 - child). This traditional name gained some recognition outside Japan through cultural exchange and immigration. Kimiko balances being authentically Japanese while remaining relatively easy for non-Japanese speakers to pronounce. The name carries associations with elegance and cultural heritage. While never among the most common names in Western countries, Kimiko has maintained steady usage, particularly in multicultural communities and among families with Japanese connections.
- Yuki
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"snow; happiness"Description:
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).
- Miki
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"flower stem"Description:
Attractive but slight Asian alternative, with a 1970s nickname feel.
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