100 Japanese Baby Names

By
Namiko Abe
Namiko Abe
Namiko Abe is a Japanese language teacher and translator, as well as a Japanese calligraphy expert. She has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years.
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Updated on October 17, 2021
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 by
Daniella Amato
Daniella Amato
Fact checked by Daniella Amato

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You might choose a Japanese name for your baby to reflect the child's heritage or because you like the sound of the name or its meaning. For example, a name that means sun can reflect your hopes for a cheerful and spirited child, or you may choose one that means beautiful, wise, or strong.

Japanese names are noted with kanji characters, which often can be read in several different ways. In addition, since there are thousands of kanji to choose from, even the same name can usually be written using many different kanji combinations (some have more than 50 combinations). The kanji character for the zodiac animal for the year may also be used in boy names, but less often for girls. There is also a trend to use only one kanji character for girls' names, especially when choosing names that are associated with a plant or nature. You might also want to check out popular Chinese baby names.

Japanese Baby Names

Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin 

Popular Japanese Baby Names for Girls

When looking for a name for your baby girl, consider these that have been popular recently or throughout the past few decades.

Ai

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 愛 (kanji), あい (hiragana), アイ(katana)
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Ai Carina Uemura, poet Ai Ogawa
  • Peak Popularity: Ai is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Besides love, Ai can be associated with the kanji for indigo.

Airi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Combines words for love with the word for either white jasmine or pear
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 愛莉 or 愛梨 (kanji), アイリ or アイリ(hiragana), メリ or エリ(katana), Eri, Meri
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Airi Taira
  • Peak Popularity: Airi, Eri, and Meri are not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Airi was both the sixth and the 13th most common name for girls in Japan in 2013. The variation using the symbol for "ri" that means white jasmine was more popular than the variation using the symbol of "ri" meaning pear.

Akari

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Combines words for red or clear with that for either cold, profit, plum, or pear tree.
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 丹凛, 明里, 明梨, 明理, 朱里, 朱莉, 亜香里, あかり
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress and singer Akari Hayami
  • Peak Popularity: Akari has not been in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Akemi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Bright and beautiful
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 明美
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Akemi Takada
  • Peak Popularity: Akemi has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Anzu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Apricot
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 杏 (kanji), アン (hiragana), アンズ(katana), An
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Anzu Lawson
  • Peak Popularity: Anzu and An are not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Aoi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Hollyhock
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 葵 (kanji), あおい (hiragana), アオイ (katana)
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Aoi Yūki
  • Peak Popularity: Aoi is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Besides meaning a plant, aoi can also mean a blue color, represented by different symbols.

Chiyo

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Thousand generations, thousand worlds
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 千代, 千世
  • Famous Namesakes: Haiku poet Fukuda Chiyo-ni, kimono designer and author Chiyo Uno
  • Peak Popularity: Chiyo has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Fukuda Chiyo-ni lived in 18th-century Japan and was the first notable woman haiku poet. Her most famous haiku is "Morning Glory."

Chiyoko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Thousand generation child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 千代子
  • Famous Namesakes: Television presenter and enka singer Chiyoko Shimakura
  • Peak Popularity: Chiyoko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Emiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 恵美子, -笑子
  • Famous Namesakes: Filmmaker Emiko Omori
  • Peak Popularity: Emiko is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fumiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Child of treasured beauty, hibiscus beautiful child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 富美子, 芙美子
  • Famous Namesakes: Writer Fumiko Enchi, politician Fumiko Hayashi
  • Peak Popularity: Fumiko was in the 1,000 names for girls in the U.S. in 1919, 1920, and 1923.

Fun Fact: Fumiko Hayashi was ranked 39th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2006. Her roles have included being the first female mayor of Yokohama, president of BMW Tokyo, and CEO of the Daiei supermarket chain.

Hana

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Flower
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 花, 陽菜 (kanji), ヒナ、ヒナタ、ハナ、ハルナ、アキナ、ヒナノ, Hina, Hinata, Haruna, Akina, Hinano​
  • Famous Namesakes: Artist Hana Usui
  • Peak Popularity: Hana has been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S. since 1993, usually ranking around 700.

Haruka

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Distant or spring blossom, spring fragrance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 遥, 春花, 晴香
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Haruka Tomatsu
  • Peak Popularity: Haruka has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Himari

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Long jasmine, or benevolent sunflower, home of light and love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: ひまり, 久茉莉, 仁葵, 光愛里
  • Peak Popularity: Himari has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Hiroko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Generous child, abundant child, prosperous child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 寛子, 裕子, 浩子
  • Famous Namesakes: Politician and economist Hiroko Ota
  • Peak Popularity: Hiroko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S. It was the fifth most popular name for girls in Japan in 1945.

Hisako

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Long-lived child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 寿子
  • Famous Namesakes: Hisako, Princess Takamado, artist Hisako Hibi
  • Peak Popularity: Hisako has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Ichika

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Best, excellent
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: いちか, 伽, 佳
  • Peak Popularity: Ichika has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kanna

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Guidance, pear
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 栞奈, Kana
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress and singer Kanna Hashimoto
  • Peak Popularity: Kanna has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kaori

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Fragrance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 香
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic figure skater Kaori Sakamoto
  • Peak Popularity: Kaori has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kazuko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Peaceful child, one child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 一子, 和子
  • Famous Namesakes: Kazuko, Princess Taka (third daughter of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun)
  • Peak Popularity: Kazuko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kei

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Blessing
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 恵
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Kei Yasuda
  • Peak Popularity: Kei has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Kei was formerly mostly a male name, but it has new popularity in Japan for girl, often as a short version of Keiko.

Keiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Lucky child, respectful child, happy child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 慶子, 敬子, 啓子, 恵子
  • Famous Namesakes: Peruvian politician an former First Lady Keiko Fujimori, actress Keiko Kitagawa
  • Peak Popularity: Keiko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Keiko the orca portrayed the killer whale in the movie "Free Willy." After the movie, the orca was first given a home at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The Free Willy-Keiko Foundation attempted to return the orca to the wild in the ocean off of Norway.

Kiyo

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Pure or holy
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 清, 聖
  • Peak Popularity: Kiyo has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Koharu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Heart, spring, or late summer
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 心春, 小春, コハル
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress and singer Koharu Kusumi
  • Peak Popularity: Koharu has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kokoro

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Heart, mind, soul
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 心
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actress Kokoro Kikuchi
  • Peak Popularity: Kokoro has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Kumiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Forever beautiful child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 久美子
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Yuuka Yano
  • Peak Popularity: Kumiko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: "Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter" is a 2014 movie based on an urban legend of a Japanese woman who goes searching for the ransom money buried in the snow in the movie "Fargo."

Kyouko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Respectful child, today's child, apricot child, capital city child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 協子, 京子, 郷子, 杏子, Kyoko
  • Famous Namesakes: Kyoko Chan Cox (daughter of Yoko Ono and her second husband Anthony Cox)
  • Peak Popularity: Kyouko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Mai

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Dance, linen robe, real love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 舞, 麻衣, 真愛
  • Famous Namesakes: Marathon runner Mai Ito
  • Peak Popularity: Mai was in the top 1,000 names in the U.S. from 1983 to 1994.

Mami

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: True beauty
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 真美, 麻美
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Mami Kawada
  • Peak Popularity: Mami has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Manami

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 愛美
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actress and singer Manami Numakura
  • Peak Popularity: Manami has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Mayumi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Elegant, bow or truth, reason, beauty
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 雅弓, 真由美, まゆみ, マユミ
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Mayumi Tanaka
  • Peak Popularity: Mayumi has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Megumi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Blessing or love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 恵, 愛, めぐみ
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actress Megumi Hayashibara
  • Peak Popularity: Megumi has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Mio

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful cherry blossom, or waterway
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美桜
  • Famous Namesakes: Wrestler Mio Shirai
  • Peak Popularity: Mio has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Mirai

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Future
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 未来
  • Famous Namesakes: Figure skater Mirai Nagasu
  • Peak Popularity: Mirai has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: In 2018 Mirai Nagasu became the first American figure skater to land a triple axel at the Olympics.

Misaki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful blossom
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美咲,ミサキ
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Misaki Ito
  • Peak Popularity: Misaki has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Mitsuki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful moon
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美月, Mitzuki
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actress and singer Mitsuki Saiga
  • Peak Popularity: Mitsuki has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Miyoko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Beautiful generation child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 美代子
  • Famous Namesakes: Artist Miyoko Ito
  • Peak Popularity: Miyoko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Nanami

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Seven sea
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 七海
  • Famous Namesakes: Author Nanami Shiono
  • Peak Popularity: Nanami has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Natsuki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Vegetables or summer and moon or hope
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 菜月, 夏希
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Natsuki Takaya
  • Peak Popularity: Natsuki has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Nozomi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Several, including hopeful truth or hopeful heart
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 希実, 希心
  • Famous Namesakes: Author Nanami Shiono
  • Peak Popularity: Nozomi has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S. In Japan, it was the most popular name for girls in 2017.

Rin

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Dignified
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 凜 (kanji), リン
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Rin Takanashi, manga artist Rin Saito
  • Peak Popularity: Rin has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Sachiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Happy child, lucky child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 幸子
  • Famous Namesakes: Sachiko, Princess Hisa (daughter of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun)
  • Peak Popularity: Sachiko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Sakura

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Cherry blossom
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 桜, サクラ、ハル
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Sakura Miyawaki
  • Peak Popularity: Sakura has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Sakura Haruno is a fictional character who became the female lead of the "Naruto" manga and anime.

Setsuko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Melody
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 節子
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Setsuko Hara, Nuclear disarmament campaigner Setsuko Thurlow, Setsuko, Princess Chichibu (aunt of Emperor Akihito)
  • Peak Popularity: Setsuko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Setsuko Thurlow survived the Hiroshima nuclear blast although she was only a little over a mile from the center of the explosion. She was a founding member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and accepted the organization's 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

Shizuko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Quiet child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 静子 
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Shizuko Hoshi, Peruvian politician Susana Shizuko Higuchi Miyagawa (former wife of Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori)
  • Peak Popularity: Shizuko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Tomoko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Friendly child, wise child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 智子, 朋子
  • Famous Namesakes: Photographer Tomoko Sawada
  • Peak Popularity: Tomoko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yoshiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Virtuous child, beautiful child, joyous child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 良子, 芳子, 悦子
  • Famous Namesakes: Textile artist Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, spy Yoshiko Kawashima
  • Peak Popularity: Yoshiko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Yoshiko Kawashima was Manchu princess known as the "Eastern Mata Hari" for her exploits of spying for the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Youko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Sunshine child, beautiful child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陽子, 洋子, Yoko, Yohko
  • Famous Namesakes: Musician and artist Yoko Ono
  • Peak Popularity: Youko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Japanese-American artist Yoko Ono reached worldwide celebrity in her marriage to John Lennon of the Beatles. In recent decades she is known for her promotion of human rights and peace.

Yua

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Tie and love
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 結愛 (kanji), ユア、 ユイナ、ユナ、ユメ
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress and singer Yua Mikami
  • Peak Popularity: Yua has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yui

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Tie and clothing
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 結衣, ユイ
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer Yui
  • Peak Popularity: Yui has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yuina

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Tie and vegetables or greens
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 結菜 (kanji), ユナ、ユイナ、ユウナ, Yuna, Yuuna
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Yuna Aoi, figure skater Yuna Kim
  • Peak Popularity: Yuina has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yumiko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Archery bow child, cause beautiful child
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 弓子, 由美子
  • Famous Namesakes: Professional wrestler Yumiko Hotta
  • Peak Popularity: Yumiko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yuuka

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Excellent flower
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 優花
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Yuuka Yano
  • Peak Popularity: Yuuka has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yuuko

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Excellent flower
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 優花
  • Famous Namesakes: Actress Yuuka Yano
  • Peak Popularity: Yuuko has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Yuzuki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Grapefruit, hope
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 結月
  • Peak Popularity: Yuzuki has not been in the top 1,000 names for girls in the U.S.

Popular Japanese Baby Names for Boys

These names have been popular for boys in Japan both historically and in recent years.

Asahi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Morning sun, rising sun
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 朝陽, アサヒ
  • Famous Namesakes: Volleyball player and politician Kentaro Asahi
  • Peak Popularity: Asahi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Asahi is also the name of a brewing company and several other companies in Japan.

Daiki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Large tree or shining brightly
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 大樹, 大輝
  • Famous Namesakes: Judoka Daiki Kamikawa, fashion designer Daiki Suzuki
  • Peak Popularity: Daiki has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Daiksuke

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Great help
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 大輔
  • Famous Namesakes: Baseball player Daisuke Matsuzaka, Olympic figure skater Daisuke Takahashi
  • Peak Popularity: Daisuke has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Haru

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Light, spring, clear weather
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陽, 春, 晴, はる
  • Peak Popularity: Haru has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Haru is a unisex name in Japan.

Haruto

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Light, soaring
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陽翔, はると
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Haruto Umezawa
  • Peak Popularity: Haruto has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Hayato

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Falcon person
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 隼人
  • Famous Namesakes: Former Japanese Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda
  • Peak Popularity: Hayato has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: The Hayato were an ancient people in Japan who resisted being ruled by the Yamato. The samurai used their name as a title, hayato no suke.

Hinata

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Toward the sun
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陽向, ヒナタ、ハルタ, Haruta
  • Peak Popularity: Hinata has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Hinata is also a female name in Japan and is the name of many female characters in manga.

Hiroshi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Generous or prosperous
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 寛, 浩, Hirosi
  • Famous Namesakes: Astronomer Hiroshi Abe, Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi
  • Peak Popularity: Hiroshi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Hiroshi Yamauchi transformed Nintendo from a card game company into a video game empire. In 2008 he was regarded as Japan's wealthiest person.

Hiroto

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Great person
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 大翔,ヒロト、ハルト、ヤマト、ソラ、タイガ、タイト
  • Famous Namesakes: Businessman Hiroto Sakawa (CEO of Nissan)
  • Peak Popularity: Hiroto has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Isamu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Brave
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 勇
  • Famous Namesakes: Japanese admiral and diplomat Isamu Takeshita, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Isamu Akasaki, artist Isamu Noguchi
  • Peak Popularity: Isamu has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Isamu Akasaki received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing the blue LED, which made possible energy-saving white light sources.

Itsuki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Spring trees
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 樹, いつき
  • Peak Popularity: Itsuki has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Jirou

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Second son
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 二郎, Jiro
  • Famous Namesakes: Sushi master Jiro Ono, tennis player Jiro Sato
  • Peak Popularity: Jirou has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Documentary film "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" explores the 85-year-old sushi master and his 10-seat restaurant that has three Michelin stars.

Kaito

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Sea and soaring, going through and beyond
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 海斗, 海翔, 介渡, かいと
  • Famous Namesakes: Voice actor Kaito Ishikawa
  • Peak Popularity: Kaito has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Katsutoshi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Victory bright,
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 勝敏
  • Famous Namesakes: Japanese admiral Katsutoshi Kawano
  • Peak Popularity: Katsutoshi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Kazuya

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: to be one, to be in harmony
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 一也, 和也
  • Famous Namesakes: Mathematician Kazuya Kato
  • Peak Popularity: Kazuya has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Kenta

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Healthy and strong
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 健太
  • Famous Namesakes: Baseball player Kenta Maeda
  • Peak Popularity: Kenta has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Kenzo

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Wise, three
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 賢三
  • Famous Namesakes: Designer Kenzo Takada
  • Peak Popularity: Kenzo ranked at 544 in the U.S. in 2020.

Kiyoshi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Pure
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 清, 淳, Kiyosi
  • Famous Namesakes: Filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa, mathematician Kiyosi Ito
  • Peak Popularity: Kiyoshi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Makoto

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Sincerity or truth
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 誠, 真
  • Famous Namesakes: Obstacle course "ninja" racer Makoto Nagano, animator Makoto Shinkai
  • Peak Popularity: Makoto has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Manabu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Learn
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 学
  • Famous Namesakes: Author Manabu Miyazaki
  • Peak Popularity: Manabu has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Masao

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Just man
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 正雄
  • Famous Namesakes: Religious studies author Masao Abe, analytical technology developer Masao Horiba
  • Peak Popularity: Masao has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Masaru

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Victory, excellence
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 勝, 優
  • Famous Namesakes: Co-founder of Sony Masaru Ibuka, Governor of the Bank of Japan Masaru Hayami
  • Peak Popularity: Masaru has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Minato

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Unknown meaning
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 湊, ミナト、カナデ、ソウ
  • Peak Popularity: Minato has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Minoru

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: To bear fruit
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 実
  • Famous Namesakes: Architect Minoru Yamasaki
  • Peak Popularity: Minoru has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Minoru Yamasaki designed the World Trade Center in New York City. He was born in Seattle, Washington and put himself through college with money earned working at a salmon cannery.

Naoki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Straight tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 直樹
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Naoki Urasawa
  • Peak Popularity: Naoki has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Osamu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Discipline, study
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 修
  • Famous Namesakes: Animator Osamu Tezuka, author Osamu Dazai
  • Peak Popularity: Osamu has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Osamu Tezuka is regarded as the Japanese Walt Disney and the father of manga. A museum of his works was built in Takarazuka.

Ren

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Lotus
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 蓮, レン
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor Ren Osugi
  • Peak Popularity: Ren has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Reo

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Smart, clever
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 伶, れお
  • Peak Popularity: Reo has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Riku

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Land
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陸, リク
  • Famous Namesakes: Author Riku Onda, manga writer Riku Sanjo
  • Peak Popularity: Riku has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Riku is also a popular masculine Finnish name, the Finnish form of Richard.

Ryuu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Dragon
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:竜, 龍, Ryusei
  • Famous Namesakes: Painter Ryusei Kishida
  • Peak Popularity: Ryuu has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Saburou

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Third son
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 三郎, Saburo, Saburō
  • Famous Namesakes: World War II Japanese naval flying ace Saburō Sakai, diplomat Saburō Kurusu
  • Peak Popularity: Saburou has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Saburō Kurusu was the special envoy from Japan negotiating peace talks with the U.S. when his government bombed Pearl Harbor. He maintained throughout life that he was unaware of the plans for the bombing.

Shigeru

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Distant, leisurely person
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 悠人, ユウト、ハルト
  • Famous Namesakes: Scenario writer Yuto Tonokawa
  • Peak Popularity: Shigeru has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Sho

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Soaring
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 翔, Shou
  • Famous Namesakes: Singer and newscaster Sho Sakurai, physician Sho Timothy Yano
  • Peak Popularity: Sho has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Sho Yano has been called a "real-life Doogie Howser." The child prodigy from Portland, Oregon entered college at age 9, earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology at age 18, and graduated from medical school at age 21. His residency was in pediatric neurology.

Shota

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Soaring strongly
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 翔太, Shouta
  • Famous Namesakes: Olympic sprinter Shota Iizuka
  • Peak Popularity: Shota has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Shun

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Fast
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 駿, シュン、ハヤト
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor and voice actor Shun Yashiro
  • Peak Popularity: Shun has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Sora

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Sky
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 空, 昊, そら
  • Famous Namesakes: Scenario writer Yuto Tonokawa
  • Peak Popularity: Sora has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Sora is a unisex name in Japan.

Sota

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Strong sound of the wind
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 颯太, Souta
  • Peak Popularity: Sota has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Susumu

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Advance
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 進
  • Famous Namesakes: Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Susumu Tonegawa, actor Susumu Fujita
  • Peak Popularity: Susumu has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Tadashi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Just, correct, right
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 正
  • Famous Namesakes: Businessman Tadashi Yanai, fashion designer Tadashi Shoji
  • Peak Popularity: Tadashi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Founder of the company Fast Retailing, Tadashi Yahai was ranked the richest man in Japan and the 35th richest in the world by Forbes in 2019.

Takumi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Artisan, skillful, or support combined with ocean or truth
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 匠, 巧, 拓海, 拓実
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor and singer Takumi Kitamura
  • Peak Popularity: Takumi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Takashi

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Filial piety, noble, prosperous, esteem, honor
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 孝, 隆, 崇, 尊
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor Takashi Shimura, artist Takashi Murakami
  • Peak Popularity: Takashi has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: There may soon be a Saint Takashi. A radiologist and convert to Catholicism, during World War II he treated air raid victims and survived the atomic bomb detonation in Nagasaki. He has been designated a "Servant of God," the first step towards canonization by the Catholic Church.

Takuya

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Pioneering land
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 拓也
  • Famous Namesakes: Actor and singer Takuya Kimura
  • Peak Popularity: Takuya has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Tetsuya

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: To be a philosopher, to be devoted, to be iron
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 哲也, 徹也, 鉄也
  • Famous Namesakes: Print artist Tetsuya Noda, record producer and songwriter Tetsuya Komuro
  • Peak Popularity: Tetsuya has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Tsubasa

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Wings
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 翼
  • Famous Namesakes: Manga artist Tsubasa Fukuchi
  • Peak Popularity: Tsubasa has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Tsubasa Oozora is the main character in the "Captain Tsubasa" manga series. Following the life of an aspiring soccer player, the character is so popular that there are statues in his honor in Katsushika, Japan.

Youta

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Big man
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 陽太, ヒナタ、ヨウタ、ハル タ, Yota
  • Famous Namesakes: Wrestler Yota Tsuji
  • Peak Popularity: Youta has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Yuki

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Happiness, snow, create value
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 幸, 雪, 由貴, 由紀
  • Famous Namesakes: Marathon runner Yuki Kawauchi
  • Peak Popularity: Yuki has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Yutaka

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Rich, relaxation, fertile
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 豊, 寛, 穣
  • Famous Namesakes: Musician Yutaka Ozaki
  • Peak Popularity: Yutaka has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Yuuma

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Distant, leisurely and genuine
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 悠真, ユウマ、ハルマ, Haruma
  • Peak Popularity: Yuuma has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.

Yuuto

  • Origin: Japanese
  • Meaning: Distant, leisurely person
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: 悠人, ユウト、ハルト, Yuto
  • Famous Namesakes: Scenario writer Yuto Tonokawa
  • Peak Popularity: Yuuto has not been in the top 1,000 names for boys in the U.S.
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2 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Japan-guide.com. Japanese names.

  2. Social Security Administration. Top 10 baby names of 2020.

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