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.
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 Baby Names
Popular 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
Also Read: 467 Japanese Girl Names with Meanings
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
Popular 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
Also Read: 433 Japanese Boy Names with Meanings
Japanese baby 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 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 NAMES STARTING WITH U
Ume- Plum
Umeko- Plum blossom child
Usagi- Rabbit
Uta- Poem
POPULAR JAPANESE 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