How Japanese names work
A Japanese name has a family name (myōji) and a given name (namae). In Japanese the family name always comes first: 田中 陽翔 is Tanaka Haruto, where Tanaka is the family name. In English, many Japanese people write it the Western way, Haruto Tanaka, so the generator shows both orders.
Names are usually written in kanji, and parents choose the kanji for their meaning as much as for their sound. 陽翔 (Haruto) combines 陽 "sun" and 翔 "soar". The same sound can be written with different kanji: Haruto can also be 春人 ("spring" + "person"), so you cannot always tell the kanji from the sound alone.
Family names are much older and often describe a place: 山田 (Yamada) is "mountain" + "rice field", 松本 (Matsumoto) is "pine tree" + "base". Many of the most common ones include 田 (rice field), 山 (mountain), 川 (river) or 藤 (wisteria).
Popular Japanese boy names today
These names have been popular with parents in Japan in recent years. Short, soft-sounding names and kanji about the sun, sky and nature are especially popular.
| Name | Romaji | Kanji meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 蓮 | Ren | 蓮 lotus |
| 陽翔 | Haruto | 陽 sun, 翔 soar |
| 湊 | Minato | 湊 harbor |
| 蒼 | Aoi | 蒼 deep blue, lush green |
| 樹 | Itsuki | 樹 tree |
| 大翔 | Hiroto | 大 big, 翔 soar |
| 悠真 | Yuma | 悠 calm, everlasting, 真 truth |
| 朝陽 | Asahi | 朝 morning, 陽 sun |
| 律 | Ritsu | 律 rhythm, rule |
| 陽向 | Hinata | 陽 sun, 向 facing toward |
| 大和 | Yamato | 大 great, 和 harmony |
| 翔 | Sho | 翔 soar |
| 颯太 | Sota | 颯 brisk wind, 太 big, thick |
| 海斗 | Kaito | 海 sea, 斗 the Big Dipper |
| 陸 | Riku | 陸 land |
| 翼 | Tsubasa | 翼 wings |
| 拓海 | Takumi | 拓 open up, pioneer, 海 sea |
| 大輝 | Daiki | 大 big, 輝 shine |
| 悠人 | Yuto | 悠 calm, everlasting, 人 person |
| 大地 | Daichi | 大 big, 地 earth |
| 新 | Arata | 新 new |
| 瑛太 | Eita | 瑛 sparkle of a gem, 太 big, thick |
Popular Japanese girl names today
Flowers, nature and kanji such as 陽 (sun), 結 (bond) and 心 (heart) are popular in girl names. Many names end in a sound like -na, -ri or -a.
| Name | Romaji | Kanji meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 陽葵 | Himari | 陽 sun, 葵 hollyhock |
| 凛 | Rin | 凛 dignified, crisp |
| 紬 | Tsumugi | 紬 hand-spun silk |
| 澪 | Mio | 澪 water channel |
| 結愛 | Yua | 結 tie, bond, 愛 love |
| 芽依 | Mei | 芽 bud, sprout, 依 rely on |
| 葵 | Aoi | 葵 hollyhock |
| 心春 | Koharu | 心 heart, 春 spring |
| 結衣 | Yui | 結 tie, bond, 衣 clothing |
| 陽菜 | Hina | 陽 sun, 菜 greens |
| 咲良 | Sakura | 咲 bloom, 良 good |
| 莉子 | Riko | 莉 jasmine, 子 child |
| 美羽 | Miu | 美 beauty, 羽 feather |
| 心 | Kokoro | 心 heart |
| 楓 | Kaede | 楓 maple |
| 杏 | An | 杏 apricot |
| 七海 | Nanami | 七 seven, 海 sea |
| 美月 | Mizuki | 美 beauty, 月 moon |
| 彩 | Aya | 彩 color |
| 琴音 | Kotone | 琴 koto (harp), 音 sound |
| 真央 | Mao | 真 truth, 央 center |
| 光 | Hikari | 光 light |
| 花 | Hana | 花 flower |
| 雪菜 | Yukina | 雪 snow, 菜 greens |
| 朱里 | Akari | 朱 vermilion, 里 village |
| 結菜 | Yuina | 結 tie, bond, 菜 greens |
Classic Japanese names
Names that were common for the parents and grandparents of today's children. Girl names ending in 子 -ko ("child"), like 幸子 Sachiko, and boy names ending in 郎 -rō ("son") or 也 -ya, are typical of this style.
| Name | Romaji | Kanji meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 龍之介 | Ryunosuke | 龍 dragon, 之 of, 介 helper |
| 健太 | Kenta | 健 healthy, 太 big, thick |
| 翔太 | Shota | 翔 soar, 太 big, thick |
| 拓也 | Takuya | 拓 open up, pioneer, 也 (name ending) |
| 直樹 | Naoki | 直 honest, 樹 tree |
| 達也 | Tatsuya | 達 reach, achieve, 也 (name ending) |
| 和也 | Kazuya | 和 harmony, 也 (name ending) |
| 一輝 | Kazuki | 一 one, 輝 shine |
| 春樹 | Haruki | 春 spring, 樹 tree |
| 誠 | Makoto | 誠 sincerity |
| 健 | Ken | 健 healthy, strong |
| 剛 | Tsuyoshi | 剛 strong, sturdy |
| 明 | Akira | 明 bright |
| 浩 | Hiroshi | 浩 vast, abundant |
| 隆 | Takashi | 隆 prosperous, noble |
| 修 | Osamu | 修 study, discipline |
| 清 | Kiyoshi | 清 pure, clear |
| 実 | Minoru | 実 fruit, truth |
| 正 | Tadashi | 正 right, just |
| 一郎 | Ichiro | 一 first, 郎 son |
| 健二 | Kenji | 健 healthy, 二 second |
| 智也 | Tomoya | 智 wisdom, 也 (name ending) |
| 雄大 | Yudai | 雄 heroic, 大 big, great |
| 勇気 | Yuki | 勇 brave, 気 spirit |
| 光 | Hikaru | 光 light |
| Name | Romaji | Kanji meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 桜 | Sakura | 桜 cherry blossom |
| 愛 | Ai | 愛 love |
| 美咲 | Misaki | 美 beauty, 咲 bloom |
| 優花 | Yuka | 優 gentle, 花 flower |
| 千尋 | Chihiro | 千 thousand, 尋 fathom (depth) |
| 由美 | Yumi | 由 reason, cause, 美 beauty |
| 恵 | Megumi | 恵 blessing |
| 遥 | Haruka | 遥 far away |
| 舞 | Mai | 舞 dance |
| 詩織 | Shiori | 詩 poem, 織 weave |
| 葉月 | Hazuki | 葉 leaf, 月 moon, month |
| 明日香 | Asuka | 明 bright, 日 day, 香 fragrance |
| 夏美 | Natsumi | 夏 summer, 美 beauty |
| 千夏 | Chinatsu | 千 thousand, 夏 summer |
| 美穂 | Miho | 美 beauty, 穂 ear of grain |
| 智子 | Tomoko | 智 wisdom, 子 child |
| 幸子 | Sachiko | 幸 happiness, 子 child |
| 洋子 | Yoko | 洋 ocean, 子 child |
| 久美子 | Kumiko | 久 long-lasting, 美 beauty, 子 child |
| 花子 | Hanako | 花 flower, 子 child |
Common Japanese family names
佐藤 (Sato), 鈴木 (Suzuki), 高橋 (Takahashi) and 田中 (Tanaka) are among the most common family names in Japan. Here are 20 common family names and what their kanji mean.
| Family name | Romaji | Kanji meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 佐藤 | Sato | 佐 help, 藤 wisteria |
| 鈴木 | Suzuki | 鈴 bell, 木 tree |
| 高橋 | Takahashi | 高 high, 橋 bridge |
| 田中 | Tanaka | 田 rice field, 中 middle |
| 伊藤 | Ito | 伊 Ise (old province), 藤 wisteria |
| 渡辺 | Watanabe | 渡 cross over, 辺 area, side |
| 山本 | Yamamoto | 山 mountain, 本 base, origin |
| 中村 | Nakamura | 中 middle, 村 village |
| 小林 | Kobayashi | 小 small, 林 grove |
| 加藤 | Kato | 加 add, 藤 wisteria |
| 吉田 | Yoshida | 吉 good luck, 田 rice field |
| 山田 | Yamada | 山 mountain, 田 rice field |
| 山口 | Yamaguchi | 山 mountain, 口 mouth, entrance |
| 松本 | Matsumoto | 松 pine tree, 本 base, origin |
| 井上 | Inoue | 井 well, 上 above |
| 木村 | Kimura | 木 tree, 村 village |
| 林 | Hayashi | 林 grove, woods |
| 清水 | Shimizu | 清 pure, 水 water |
| 山崎 | Yamazaki | 山 mountain, 崎 cape |
| 森 | Mori | 森 forest |
Tips for choosing a Japanese name
- Check the meaning of each kanji, not just the sound. The generator shows the meaning of every kanji in the name.
- For a story or a game character, match the style to the age of the character: "popular today" names for a teenager, classic names for a parent or teacher.
- If you want your own name in Japanese, foreign names are written in katakana, not kanji. Try the name in Japanese converter.
- Romaji spelling: long vowels are often dropped in passports and on business cards, so 佐藤 (さとう) is written Sato rather than Satou or Satō.
FAQ
- Are these real Japanese names?
- Yes. Every family name in the generator is a common family name in Japan, and every given name is a name used in Japan. The combinations are random, so a full name may or may not belong to a real person.
- Which comes first in a Japanese name?
- The family name. 田中 陽翔 is Tanaka (family name) Haruto (given name). In English, Japanese people often write it in Western order, Haruto Tanaka.
- What is the most common Japanese family name?
- Sato (佐藤) is generally listed as the most common family name in Japan, followed by Suzuki (鈴木) and Takahashi (高橋).
- Can I use a generated name for my character or game?
- Yes. Names themselves are not owned by anyone. Just remember that a real person may have the same name.
- How do I write my English name in Japanese?
- Foreign names are written in katakana by sound, so John becomes ジョン (Jon). Use the name in Japanese converter on this site to see yours.