100 Japanese Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

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.

Choosing a Japanese Name for Your Baby

Here are a few of our favorite Japanese baby names.

Ai
Asahi
Chiyo
Daiki
Emiko
Hana
Hiroko
Hiroshi
Isamu
Keiko
Kenzo
Mai
Makoto
Sakura
Yuki

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.

2 Sources

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