User-created list
By Corinth · Updated May 2023
Across 30 pages
of 30
Japanese
"flower child"
Hanako has a delicate sound and quaint meaning -- but there's a catch. According to widespread urban legend in Japan, Hanako is the name of the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms, who…
"bluish"
A very popular girls' name in Japan with an unfortunate English pronunciation: picture a toddler with a hurt knee saying "owee."
"flower stem"
Attractive but slight Asian alternative, with a 1970s nickname feel.
Japanese, Native American
"stork; night"
A funkier version of Coco that may be more appealing if you have Japanese or Native American heritage. Koko comes from the Blackfoot tribe, native to what is now Montana and Alberta, Canada.
"the righteous way"
One of the most familiar Japanese names thanks to the first commoner to become empress of Japan and to New York Times book empress Michiko Kakutani.
Hindi or Japanese
"holy or difference"
As an Indian name, Sai honors spiritual master Shirdi Sai Baba, who was revered by both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Sai is the name of the young heroine of Kiran Desai's prizewinning The Inheritance…
"clear, pure child; holy child; rejoice child"
A bright sounding Japanese name, Kiyoko is notably borne by singer and actress Hayley Kiyoko (Alcroft). It ranked briefly in the US Top 1000 during the 1920s, perhaps influenced by the birth of…
"blessing"
An Asian name not widely known in the West.
"beautiful love"
Despite being etymologically unrelated, Aimi has a similar meaning to the name Amy, "beloved."
Aisa is a concise feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'loved one' or 'one who is cherished,' while in Swahili traditions, it relates to 'life' or 'living.' The name…
"prosperous"
One of the better-known Japanese names.
Rinna is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It could be a variant of the Italian name Rina, which is a diminutive of names ending in '-rina' like Caterina or Marina. It might also have…
Swedish
"mother"
Moa was among the Top 100 Swedish baby names throughout the 2000s and 2010s, though it has since declined in use. Pronounced as MOO-ah in Sweden, it is virtually unknown in the US. Could Moa make an…
"elegant, refined"
Simple and, yes, elegant -- until you think of the wrestlers.
