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Japanese Girl Names

Corinth
By Corinth
Updated Thu May 25 2023
This is a list of Japanese names given to girls. In some circumstances a "meaning" is included, but do realize that many Japanese names could have several meanings, depending on the Chinese characters used (or not used), and not all of the possible character combinations will be listed along with the names. Some characters have multiple pronunciations and meanings also. These are not necessarily the most popular names in Japan, but they have all been given to real people. Just like in English speaking cultures, some parents like to get creative with how their names are spelled or, in this case, how the Chinese characters that make up the name are read. Such names are also included.
  1. Naomi

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "pleasantness; straight, direct, beautiful"

    • Description:

      A familiar name with a unique look and sound about it, Naomi combines a gentle cadence with classic strength. It was once a primarily Jewish name from the Old Testament, borne by the mother-in-law of Ruth, symbolically given to girls on Shavuot (a holiday held around the wheat harvest) when the story of Ruth is read in the synagogue.
  2. Nina

    • Origin:

      Short form of names that end in -nina

    • Description:

      Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.
  3. Maya

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, English, Hebrew, Estonian

    • Meaning:

      "illusion, magic; mother; water; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"

    • Description:

      Maya, which has an almost mystical image, has been steadily climbing in popularity in the US and the English-speaking world, along with a range of other countries, including France, Germany, Israel, and Brazil. It's ranked in the US Top 100 since the turn of this century, but has never risen to the top of the list, which you may consider a good thing.
  4. Mia

    • Origin:

      Italian word name or Scandinavian short form of Maria

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea"

    • Description:

      Mia is an appealingly unfussy multicultural name that has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts and is now firmly among the ten top girl names. Mia has surpassed its mother name Maria as the Number 1 girls' name starting with M.
  5. Mina

    • Origin:

      Hindu equivalent of Pisces or diminutive of Wilhelmina, German

    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"

    • Description:

      Most famous as a Dracula victim (where Mina is short for Wilhelmina), Mina is a name that can stand on its own or be a diminutive of any name ending in -mina, most usually Wilhelmina.
  6. Noa

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  7. Marin

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the sea"

    • Description:

      Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina.
  8. Kira

    • Origin:

      Russian feminine variation of Cyrus

    • Meaning:

      "throne"

    • Description:

      Though such cognates of Kira as Keira, Kyra, and Ciara are increasingly popular throughout Europe and in the U.S., this Cyrus relative has a different root. As with all the many variations of this appealing name, there is often confusion around spelling and pronunciation -- does the first syllable rhyme with ear or eye?
  9. Mika

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Slovene, Hebrew, English, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  10. Rumi

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"

    • Description:

      Rumi is a Japanese girl name, with a sweet yet substantial sound. Reminiscent of other popular choices in the West — think Ruby, Remy, and Romy — it is currently achieving more notice thanks to Beyonce and Jay-Z, who chose it for one of their daughters.
  11. Remi

    • Origin:

      Variation of Remy, French

    • Meaning:

      "oarsman"

    • Description:

      Remi is an adorable name that's fashionable and keeps gaining momentum. Remi entered the US Top 1000 in 2013 and is now approaching the Top 100.
  12. Aya

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Hebrew, Danish, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "colorful, design; honey buzzard, bird; rock, lull, happiness; sign, verse"

    • Description:

      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 babies in a recent year.
  13. Yuna

    • Origin:

      Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese, Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "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.
  14. Maria

    • Origin:

      Hebrew or Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

    • Description:

      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 girl names starting with M.
  15. Karen

    • Origin:

      Danish variation of Katherine, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "pure; lotus flower"

    • Description:

      Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to speak with the manager.
  16. Mari

    • Origin:

      Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese

    • Meaning:

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

    • Description:

      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 the name of a Basque goddess and an Estonian word name.
  17. Sena

    • Origin:

      Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; Ewe

    • Meaning:

      "this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth"

    • Description:

      Sena is one of those names that is as obscure in the Western World as it is simple and straightforward. Sena exists as a name in a range of languages and cultures and may be pronounced like Senna (with a soft e) or Sienna.
  18. Mimi

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others

    • Description:

      Sweet, nicknamey name belonging to the tragic heroines of both La Bohème and Rent. Mimi might feel too slight for many parents to use on the birth certificate, but as a short form, it's one of the cutest of the cute baby names.
  19. Mai

    • Origin:

      Japanese, French, Welsh, Vietnamese, Navajo

    • Meaning:

      "dance; May; cherry blossom; coyote"

    • Description:

      Cross-cultural winner.
  20. Rio

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "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!

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