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Minato
Minato (みなと) is a Japanese name for boys. Its best-known spelling is 湊, 湊 harbour. It is popular today and has reached No. 1 in 2025.
み · な · と · みなと · ミナト
Ways to write Minato
The same sound can be written with different kanji, and each choice changes the meaning. These are the spellings that have appeared in Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
湊
湊harbour
Boy, best No. 1 (2008–2025)湊斗
湊harbour斗the Big Dipper
Boy, best No. 8 (2015–2025)湊翔
湊harbour翔to soar, to fly
Boy, best No. 28 (2018–2024)湊音
湊harbour音sound
Boy, best No. 36 (2021–2025)奏
奏to play music
Boy, best No. 39 (2006–2024)湊人
湊harbour人person
Boy, best No. 43 (2013–2019)湊士
湊harbour士gentleman, samurai
Boy, best No. 94 (2018–2020)Rarer spellings
These spellings of Minato appear in Japanese name records but are uncommon. Each uses a standard reading of its kanji.
海南斗sea + south + the Big DipperGirl
源人source + personGirl
実奈斗fruit + (used for its sound + the Big DipperGirl
実奈都fruit + (used for its sound + capital cityGirl
水音water + soundGirl
水斗water + the Big DipperGirl
水都water + capital cityGirl
水那斗water + (used for its sound + the Big DipperGirl
Popularity in Japan
Where Minato has ranked among the most popular name readings each year. Its best year was 2025, at No. 1.
Show the numbers
| Year | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2025 | No. 2 |
| 2024 | No. 2 |
| 2023 | No. 2 |
| 2022 | No. 4 |
| 2021 | No. 2 |
| 2020 | No. 3 |
| 2019 | No. 3 |
| 2018 | No. 4 |
| 2017 | No. 7 |
| 2016 | No. 19 |
| 2015 | No. 21 |
| 2014 | No. 23 |
| 2013 | No. 15 |
| 2012 | No. 22 |
| 2011 | No. 20 |
Source: Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance yearly baby name survey. It covers the top 10 names each year from 1912 to 2003, and the top 100 names and top 50 readings from 2004.