Japanese names that mean red
Japanese names in shades of red: 紅, 朱, 茜 and 緋, from Akane and Akari to Momiji and Kureha.
紅 beni, kurenai: crimson茜 akane: madder red朱 aka: vermilion
Red is a warm colour in Japanese names, and each red kanji has its own shade. 茜 (Akane) is madder, a plant whose roots gave a deep red dye, and the word for the red of a sunset sky. 朱 is vermilion, the colour of shrine gates, and appears in Akari (朱莉) and Akane (朱音).
紅 is crimson and gives Kureha (紅葉, 紅羽) and Momiji: 紅葉 is the word for red autumn leaves. 緋 is scarlet, a rarer and more dramatic choice.
On this page
The kanji behind red names
| Kanji | Readings | Meaning | In names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 紅 | べに, くれない, あか, こう | crimson | Rare in ranked names |
| 朱 | あけ, しゅ | vermilion | 3 ranked names |
| 茜 | あかね, せん | madder red | 1 ranked name |
| 赤 | あか, せき, しゃく | red | Rare in ranked names |
| 緋 | あけ, あか, ひ | scarlet | Rare in ranked names |
Names chosen for their red meaning
Popular names with a red kanji
Spellings that have made Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
Red names of real people
Given names with a red kanji carried by notable Japanese people. The number shows how many notable people share each one.
More red names
Rarer spellings found in Japanese name records. In each one the red kanji keeps its own reading, so the meaning is really there, not just the sound.
朱子
Akeko朱 vermilion + 子 child
GirlRare茜子
Akaneko茜 madder red + 子 child
GirlRare紅子
Akako紅 crimson + 子 child
GirlRare赤子
Sekiko赤 red + 子 child
GirlRare朱美
Akebi朱 vermilion + 美 beautiful
GirlRare茜美
Senmi茜 madder red + 美 beautiful
GirlRare紅美
Kōmi紅 crimson + 美 beautiful
GirlRare美紅
Mikō美 beautiful + 紅 crimson
GirlRare朱里子
Shuriko朱 vermilion + 里 village + 子 child
GirlRare愛朱
Aishu愛 love + 朱 vermilion
GirlRare朱愛
Shua朱 vermilion + 愛 love
GirlRare朱愛莉
Shueri朱 vermilion + 愛 love + 莉 jasmine
GirlRare朱貴子
Shukiko朱 vermilion + 貴 precious + 子 child
GirlRare朱玖子
Shukuko朱 vermilion + 玖 black jade + 子 child
GirlRare朱吏子
Shuriko朱 vermilion + 吏 official + 子 child
GirlRare赤太郎
Akatarō赤 red + 太 big + 郎 son
BoyRareLast names with a red meaning
Questions
What Japanese name means red?
Akane (茜, madder red) is the classic red name. Akari (朱莉), Kureha and Momiji (紅葉) also use red kanji.
What does Momiji mean?
Momiji (紅葉) means autumn leaves turned red, especially maple leaves.