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Names by origin
Japanese baby names
Clean sounds, nature imagery, and meanings that shift with the written character 鈥?Japanese names offer a minimalist elegance that travels remarkably well.
One sound, many meanings
Unlike most Western names, a Japanese name's meaning depends on its kanji (written characters), not just its sound. Yuki can mean 鈥渟now鈥?(闆? or 鈥渉appiness鈥?(骞?; Haru can be 鈥渟pring鈥?(鏄? or 鈥渟unlight鈥?(闄?. If you're naming outside Japan, the romanized name carries all those meanings at once 鈥?pick the story you love and note it for your child.
Japanese girl names
Hana鈥淔lower鈥?鈥?soft, international, two syllables
Sakura鈥淐herry blossom鈥?鈥?Japan's signature flower
Hikari鈥淟ight, radiance鈥?/span>
Emi鈥淏eautiful blessing; smile鈥?/span>
Mio鈥淏eautiful cherry blossom; waterway鈥?/span>
Aiko鈥淐hild of love鈥?/span>
Mirai鈥淔uture鈥?鈥?hope-forward modern pick
Yua鈥淏inding love鈥?鈥?popular in Japan right now
Japanese boy names
Haruki鈥淪hining brightly; spring radiance鈥?(think Murakami)
Kaito鈥淥cean + soar鈥?鈥?sea and sky in one name
Kenji鈥淪trong and vigorous; wise second son鈥?/span>
Riku鈥淟and鈥?鈥?grounded, two crisp syllables
Ren鈥淟otus; love鈥?鈥?top boy name in Japan, unisex abroad
Hiro鈥淕enerous; abundant鈥?鈥?instantly friendly
Sota鈥淪wift, sudden sound of wind鈥?鈥?modern favorite
Yuto鈥淕entleness; superiority鈥?鈥?soft-strong balance
Unisex & nature picks
Sora鈥淪ky鈥?鈥?truly unisex, celestial
Haru鈥淪pring; sunlight鈥?鈥?season name for any child
Yuki鈥淪now; happiness鈥?鈥?winter baby favorite
Akira鈥淏right, clear; intelligent鈥?鈥?film-famous
Kai鈥淪ea; shell鈥?in Japanese 鈥?global crossover star
Nao鈥淗onest, straight鈥?鈥?micro-minimalist
Cross-cultural naming, done respectfully
Japanese names are widely used in multicultural families and are generally received warmly 鈥?but do the homework: confirm the meaning you intend actually attaches to a common kanji spelling, check the name isn't slang in your own language, and practice the Japanese pronunciation even if daily use will differ. If you have Japanese heritage, a grandparent's name or its modern form is the most meaningful path of all.
Related: Nature baby names 路 Short baby names 路 Names that mean light