Japanese first names & surnames

Every Japanese name, explained kanji by kanji

Look up what a name means, how it is written and how to say it. Each spelling is broken down kanji by kanji, with its popularity in Japan since 1912.

Popular: Sakura · Haruto · Yuki · Ren · Hina · names meaning dark

Featured nameBoy
大翔はると

Haruto

HAH-roo-toh

大big, great
翔to soar, to fly
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Your name in Japanese

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Emmaエマ
Michaelマイケル
Oliviaオリビア
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Japanese name generator

Real full names with kanji and meanings, in modern, classic, anime or samurai style.

佐藤 美咲Satō Misaki · girl
伊達 政宗Date Masamune · samurai
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Kanji name builder

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美 beautiful月 moon美月みづき
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Browse names by meaning

Start from an idea instead of a sound. Every name is grouped by what its kanji mean.

月Moon闇Dark死Death陽Sun星Star光Light空Sky火Fire水Water海Sea雨Rain雪Snow氷Ice風Wind花Flower桜Cherry blossom龍Dragon狼Wolf狐Fox虎Tiger鳥Bird愛Love希Hope美Beautiful

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More ways to browse

ANames A to ZGirl and boy names by first letter村Last namesTop 100, and by ending: -mura, -kawa, -hara…犬Pet namesWhat Japan names its dogs and catsちゃんNicknames-chan, -kun and how nicknames are made一Popular namesTop 100 and every No. 1 since 1912葵Unisex namesNames for boys and girls

Most popular baby names in Japan, 2025

The top names of 2025 from the Meiji Yasuda yearly survey. See the full top 100 and every No. 1 since 1912.

Girl names

All girl names →
翠SuiNo. 1 · 翠 jade green陽葵HimariNo. 2 · 陽 sun + 葵 hollyhock紬TsumugiNo. 3 · 紬 hand-spun silk茉白MashiroNo. 4 · 茉 jasmine + 白 white凛RinNo. 5 · 凛 dignified

Boy names

All boy names →
湊MinatoNo. 1 · 湊 harbour伊織IoriNo. 2 · 伊 (used for its sound + 織 to weave結翔YuitoNo. 2 · 結 to tie + 翔 to soar琉生RyūseiNo. 4 · 琉 lapis lazuli + 生 life蓮RenNo. 5 · 蓮 lotus

Start here

GuideHow Japanese names workFamily name first, no middle names, and kanji that can be read many ways: a clear introduction to Japanese names.GuideJapanese honorifics: san, kun, chan, sama and moreWhat -san, -kun, -chan, -sama, -sensei and -senpai mean, when to use each one, and when leaving one off is rude.GuideThe rules for naming a baby in JapanWhich kanji are allowed, how readings must now be registered, and what happened when parents tried to name a child Akuma (devil).For writersHow to name a Japanese characterPick a Japanese name for a story or game character that fits their age, era and personality, and avoid the mistakes that make names look fake.