Interesting facts about popular Japanese baby names

Names all have challenges and gifts and popular Japanese baby names are no different. What is important is how one chooses to demonstrate the qualities in his/her name as the same qualities can be used differently. Within every single culture the construction of names have cultural idiosyncrasies.

The popular Japanese baby names never put two consonant sounds together. Thus, the Japanese would not have any consonant clusters in their names to consider. Conflicts arising out of a difference of opinions would be reduced as consonants represent attitudes. Perhaps they just seem reduced compared to some other cultures as Japanese names indicate great restraint.

Most popular Japanese baby name meanings

The most popular Japanese Baby names meanings show traditional values. We can do the traditional interpretations, which are on this page, or we can interpret the individual characteristics that a name represents. For example, the name Akane traditionally means a deep, brilliant red color. However, when we use Neimology™ Science to interpret the qualities associated with the name, we know that Akane is a person who is either being a workaholic or totally lazy. She flips between the two modes. She is observant and very little gets past her. She has natural leadership abilities and wants all of the people around her to do well. Her desire is to improve the world around her, thus she is generous with her time. She shares easily and is dedicated to those around her. She often self-sacrifices for the good of the group. You can order our in-depth name analysis on our product page.

Japanese names starting with A

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH A

Ai- Love, affection, indigo

Aika- Love song

Aiko- Love, affection, child of love, little loved one

Aimi- Beautiful love, affection, dedicated to God

Aina- Love, affection, loves vegetables, is one with the earth

Airi- Love, affection, loves jasmine and pear

Akane- Deep, brilliant red

Akemi- Bright, beautiful

Aki- Bright autumn, sparkle

Akihiro- Great brightness

Akiko- Bright, sparkles, beautiful person

Akio- Bright man or bright boy; one who reasons well, hero

Akira- Bright and clear

Amarante- Flower that never fades

Amaterasu- Shining heaven, destined for early demise

Amaya- Night rain, rejoicing

Ami- Asia is beautiful

Amiri-Second child, Asia, Faithful

Aneko- Older sister

Aoi- Blue, showy, useful

Asa- Born at dawn

Asami- Morning beauty

Asuka- Tomorrow

Atsuko- "Warm" "kind, cordial" "honest" combined with "child"

Atsushi- Industrious director

Aya- Unexpected, colorful

Ayaka- Colorful flower

Ayako- Colorful child, lots of personality, child as interesting as a kimono

Ayame- Iris

Ayane- Beautiful iris or flower

Ayano- My color and design

Ayumu- Walk

Japanese names starting with B, C and D

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH B

Bon-hwa- Glorious

JAPANESE NAMES STARTING WITH C

Chika- Scatter flowers nearby

Chiharu- One thousand Springs

Chieko- Child of intelligence, wisdom

Chie- Wisdom, intellect

Chikako- Child of a thousand perfumes

Chin- Precious

Chin-Hwa - The most wealthy

Chin-Mae - Truth

Chinatsu- One thousand summers

Chung-Ho - Righteous

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH D

Dai- Great, large

Daichi- Great land

Daiki- Great glory/ great nobility

Daisuke- Great help

Dak-Ho- Deep lake

Dalila- Gentle

Dano- Field gathering Surname

Japanese names starting with E, F, G and H

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH E

Eiji- Eternity order

Eiko- Child of splendor

Emi- Beautiful blessing

Emiko- Blessed, beautiful child

Eri- Blessed prize

Eriko- Child with a collar

Etsuko- Child of joy

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH F

Fumiko- Child of abundant beauty

Fumio- Literature, scholarly hero

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH G

Gen- Spring

Gin- Silvery

Goro- Fifth son

Gorou- Son

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH H

Hachiro- Eighth son

Hajime- Beginning

Haku- White

Hanako- Flower child

Haru- Pure, born in the Spring, sun, sunlight

Haruka- Spring flower, far off, distant

Haruki- Shining brightly, radiant, shining life, sunny

Haruko- Spring child

Haruko- First born

Haruna- Spring vegetables

Haruo- Man of spring

Haruto- Sun flying

Hayate- Smooth

Hayato- Falcon person

Hibiki- Echo, sound

Hide- Excellent

Hideaki- Excellent

Hideki- Excellent timber trees

Hideo- Excellent husband, man

Hideyoshi- Excellence good

Hikari- Light, radiance, needs attention

Hikaru- Light, radiance, wants to be noticed

Hina- Sun vegetables

Hinata- Sunflower

Hiraku- Expand, open, pioneer

Hiro- Generous

Hiroaki- Bright, wide, spacious light

Hiroki- Vast timber trees

Hiroko- Generous child

Hiroko- Magnanimous

Hiromi- Generous beauty

Hironori- Chronicle of command, esteem

Hiroshi- Tolerant, generous

Hiroto- Great, large flying

Hiroyuki- Great journey

Hisako- Child of long life, prosperous

Hisano- Open Plain

Hisao- Long living man, husband

Hisashi- Long time director, ruler

Hisoka- Cautious, reserved

Hitomi- Pupil of the eye

Hitoshi- Motivated person

Honoka- Harmony flower

Hoshi- Star

Hoshiko- Star child

Hotaka- Grain

Hotaka- Tall grain

Hotaru- Firefly

Japanese names starting with I, J, and K

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH I

Ichiro- Happy first son

Inari- Shrimp

Ino- Pig, boar

Itsuki- Tree

Izumi-Fountain, spring

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH J

Jin- Tenderness

Jiro- Second son

Jun- Truthful, obedient, graceful

Jirou- Two

Joben- Enjoy cleanness

Jomei- Spread light

Junichi- Obedient first son

Junko- Pure, genuine child

Juro- Tenth son

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH K

Kado- Gateway

Kaede- Maple

Kaemon- Joyful

Kagami- Mirror, best wishes

Kagiso- Peace

Kaiba- Baby dragon

Kaida- Little dragon

Kainda- daughter

Kaito- Soar, fly

Kaiya- Forgiveness, likable

Kaiyo- Forgiveness, rememberable

Kameko- Child of the tortoise

Kami-Lord

Kamiko- Superior child

Kamin- Joyful

Kana- Powerful

Kanako- Child of Fragrant Nara child

Kanika-Black cloth

Kannon- Buddhist deity of mercy

Kano- One's masculine power

Kanon- Flower

Kaori- Capable, smell's frangrant, perfume, a man's strength

Kaori- Add a man's strength

Kaoru- Frangrant, sensitive to sound, wants to be remembered

Kaoru- Fragrance

Kasumi- MistKata- Worthy

Katashi- Firm, hard

Katsu- Victory

Katsumi- Victorious beauty

Katsuo- Victorious, heroic man

Katsuro- Victorious, son

Kaya- Adds a place of resting

Kazue- First blessing

Kazuhiko- Great harmonious energy in a boy

Kazuki- Harmony hope

Kazuko- Child of harmony

Kazumi- Harmonious beauty

Kazuo- Man of peace and harmony

Kei- Respectful, reverent

Keiji- Lead cautiously

Keiji- Governs with discretion

Keiko- Blessed child/ respected child

Keitaro- Blessed, beautiful child

Ken- Healthy, strong

Ken'ichi- Healthy, strong combined with one

Kenji- Study

Kenshin- Modest

Kenta- Large strong, healthy

Kentaro- Big Boy

Kichiro- Lucky son

Kiko- Chronicle child

Kiku- Chrysanthemum

Kimi- Noble, she who has no equal

Kimiko- Empress child

Kin- Gold

Kioko- Meets the world with happiness

Kioko- Happy child

Kioshi- Quiet

Kiyoko- Pure, clean child

Kiyomi- Pure beauty

Kiyoshi- Purity

Kiyoshi- Quiet child

Kohaku- Amber

Kohaku- Amber

Kohana- Little flower

Koko- Stork

Kokoro- Heart, spirit

Koto- Harp

Kotone- Harp, lute

Kouki- light, happiness, hope, radiant, shining

Kouta- Peace

Kozue- Tree Branches

Kuma- Bear

Kumi- Braid

Kumiko- Long time companion, childlike energy

Kuniko- Child from the country

Kunio- Country man

Kura- Treasure house, beautiful, drawing together

Kurayami- Darkness

Kuri- Chestnut

Kuro- Ninth son

Kyo- Cooperation

Kyoko- Respectful child, mirror

Kyou- Cooperation

Japanese names starting with L and M

The most popular Japanese name starting with L is Leiko which traditionally means arrogant. Leiko is a person who is born with self confidence, is a reluctant leader and wants to do something for which Leiko will be remembered. There are few popular Japanese names that start with L. In Neimology™Science the L at the start of a name means born with self-confidence. So, do the Japanese have more of a learning curve in their self-confidence? Or, is this a mute issue as self-confidence is expected from everyone?

This is especially interesting considering the plethora of popular Japanese names that start with M.

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH M

Machiko- Fortunate one, linen robe

Madoka- Circle, round

Maeko- Truthful child

Maemi- Honest child

Mai- Dance, Brightness

Maiko- Child of dance

Makoto- Good, sincere, honest

Mami- Real, true, beautiful

Mamoru- Protector, guard

Manabu- Study, learn

Manami- love, affection and beautiful

Mareo- Rare

Mariko- Circle, true village child

Marise- Infinite

Maro- Myself

Masa- Just and true

Masaaki- Pleasing brightness, endless

Masahiko- Righteous boy, great prosperity

Masaki- Great timber tree

Masako- Justice

Masami- Become beautiful

Masanori- Model of righteousness, justice

Masao- Righteous man

Masaru- Victory

Masashi- Righteous aspiration

Masato- Righteous person

Masayoshi- Righteous, honorable

Masayuki- Righteous blessing

Masumi- True clarity

Masuyo- Benefit world

Matsu- Pine

Matsuko- Pine tree child

Megumi- Blessing

Mei- Sprouting life, plum, beautiful

Mi- Beautiful

Michi- Path or pathway, righteous way

Michie- Gateway

Michiko- beautiful, wise child, gracefully drooping flower

Michio- Man on a journey with the strength of three thousand

Midori- Green

Mieko- Beautiful blessed child, already prosperous

Miho- Protected, guaranteed beauty

Miki- Flower stalk, beautiful chronicle

Mikio- Tree trunk man

Miku- Beautiful sky

Mina- South

Minako- Beautiful child

Minori- Truth

Minoru- Bear fruit

Mio- Beautiful cherry blossom

Misaki- Beautiful blossom

Misuro- Satisfy, full

Mitsu- Light

Mitsuko- light child

Mitsuo- Shining hero

Miu- Beautiful feather

Miwa- Beautiful harmony, peace

Miya- Sacred House

Miyako- Beautiful night child

Miyo- Beautiful Child

Miyoko- Beautiful child of the generations

Miyu- Beautiful gentle

Miyuki- Beautiful blessing

Mizuki- Beautiful moon

Moe- Bud, sprouting, lots of potential

Momoe- One hundred blessings

Momoka- Peach tree flower

Momoko- Peach tree child

Moriko- Child who loves the forest

Mura- Village

Japanese names starting with N, O, P and Q

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH N

Nakami- Inner Beauty

Nami- Wave

Nana- Seven, vegetables, green

Nanami- Seven seas

Nao- Honest

Naoki- Honest timber tree

Naoko- Honest, straight

Naoko- Honest child

Naomi- Honest, straight

Nariko- Thunder

Natsu- Born in summer

Natsuki- Summer hope

Natsuko- Summer child

Natsumi- Summer beautiful

Nishi- West

Noa- possessive love, my love

Nobio- Faithful, trustworthy man

Noboru- Rise, ascend

Nobu- Prolong, stretch

Nobuko- Faithful, trustworthy child

Noburu- Expand

Nobuyuki- noble, truthful, happy

Nori- Rule, ceremony, belief in traditions

Noriko- child who follows rules and law

Norio- Lawful man

Nyoko- Gem

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH O

The most popular Japanese names that start with O are:

Oki- Centered, or in the middle of the ocean

Osamu-Discipline, study

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH P AND Q

Japanese names normally do not start with P or Q. If you have a Japanese name that starts with P or Q, please send it to us. Thank you.

Japanese names starting with R

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH R

Rai- Trust, lightning

Raidon- The thunder God

Ran- Orchid

Rei- Bell, lovely

Reiko- Lovely child

Reizo- Calm, cool, with-it

Ren- Lotus, romance, love, arranger

Renjiro- Clean, upright

Rie- True blessing

Rika- True fragrance

Riko- Jasmine child, truthful child

Riku- Land

Rikuto- Person of land

Rin- Dignified, severe, cold

Rina- Jasmine

Ringo- Apple

Rio- Village cherry blossom

Roka- White crest of the wave

Rokuro- Sixth son

Ryoichi- Good first son

Ryoko- Refreshing child

Ryota- Great refreshment

Ryou- Cool, refreshing, distant

Ryouichi- Good and clear one

Ryu- Dragon

Ryuu- Fradon

Ryuu- Drangon, imperial

Ryuu- Drangon, imperial

Ryuunosuke- Nobleman's predecessor

Japanese Names starting with S and T

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH S

Saburou- Third son

Sachi- Girl child of bliss

Sachi- Blessed

Sachiko- Happiness child

Sachio- Fortunately born

Sada- Pure one

Sadao- Righteous hero

Saki- Blossom of hope

Saku- Remembrance of the Lord

Sakura- Cherry blossom

Sakurako- Cherry blossom child

Saniiro- Praise, admirable

Sanyu- Happiness

Satoko- Wise child

Satomi- Wise and beautiful

Satoru- Wise, fast learner

Satoshi- Wise, fast learner

Satu- Fairytale

Sayuri- Small lily

Seiichi- Refined, pure first son

Seiji- Refined, second son, lawful, manages affairs of state

Seiko- Force, truth

Setsuko- Melody child, period, occasion

Shichiro- Seventh son

Shichirou- Seven son

Shigeko- Growing child

Shigeo- Heavy man

Shigeru- Luxuriant, well grown

Shika- Gentle deer

Shin- Real, truth

Shinichi- True first son

Shinju- Pearl

Shino- Stem of bamboo

Shinobu- Endurance

Shiori- Bookmark, a poem or to weave

Shizuka- Quiet summer

Shizuko- Quiet child

Sho- To fly

Shoichi- Flying first son

Shoji- Flying second son

Shou- Soar, fly

Shouta- Big flying

Shuichi- Disciplined, studious first son

Shuichi- Disciplined, studious first son, water child

Shuji- Disciplined, studious second son

Shun- Fast, talented, does things quickly, with speed

Sora- Sky

Souta- Large sudden

Suki- Beloved

Sumi- Elegant and clear

Sumiko- Clear child

Susumu- Advance, proceed

Suzu- Bell

Suzu- Long-lived, crane

Suzuki- Bell tree

Suzume- Sparrow

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH T

Tadao- Complacent, satisfied

Taji- Silver and yellow color

Takahiro- Of great value, nobility

Takako- Noble child

Takao- Nobleman

Takara- Treasure

Takashi- Prosperous, noble

Takeo- Strong like bamboo

Takeshi- Military, warrior

Takuma- Expand, open pioneer, truthful, really true

Takumi- Artisan, skilled

Tama- Whole, perfect

Tamasine- Twin

Tamiko- beautiful child, prosperous

Tamotsu- Protector, keeper

Tanaka- Dweller

Tanjiro- High-valued second son

Taree- Bending branch

Taro- Large son

Tatsuo- Dragon, imperial hero

Taura- Many lakes and rivers

Taya- Valley field

Teruko- Shining child

Tetsuya- Philosophy, clear

Toki- Time of opportunity

Tomeo- Cautious man

Toshiko- Clever child

Toshio- Genious leader, hero

Toshiro- Talented and intelligent

Toshiyuki- Of wisdom

Toya- House door or door into the valley

Tsubaki- Camellia flower

Tsubame- Swallow, bird

Tsubasa- Wing

Tsukiko- Moon child

Tsuneo- Consistent hero

Tsutomu- Diligence

Tsuyoshi- Strong

Japanese Names starting with U, V, and W

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH U

Ume- Plum

Umeko- Plum blossom child

Usagi- Rabbit

Uta- Poem

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH V

It is rare to find a Japanese name that starts with V and so none are listed here. If your name is Japanese and starts with V, please send it to us and we will add it to this list.

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH W

Wakana- harmony, play music, complete

Washi- Eagle

Wattan- From the homeland

Japanese Names starting with X, Y and Z

Rarely do Japanese names start with the letter X or Z.

POPULAR JAPANESE BABY NAMES STARTING WITH Y

Yachi- Eight thousand

Yama- Mountain

Yamato- Great harmony

Yasu- Level, peace

Yasuko- Child of peace

Yasuo- Man of peace, or peaceful one

Yasuo- Peaceful one

Yasushi- Peaceful

Yo- Cultivating

Yoichi- Sunshine, positive first son

Yoko- Child of sunlight,goodness and positivity

Yori- Reliable and trustworthy

Yoshe- Beauty

Yoshi- Fortunate, righteous

Yoshiaki- Righteousness shining

Yoshie- Beautiful stream

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