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Japanese Baby Names

Japanese baby names are Romanized translations of kanji — the characters used in the Japanese language. Japanese names can be written in multiple combinations of kanji —sometimes hundreds — and the meaning of a name changes depending on which characters are used. The name Kenzo, for example, has meanings related to wisdom, health, or humility when written in different kanji permutations.

Along with Kenzo, other Japanese baby names in the US Top 1000 include Amaya, Kane, Raiden, Asa, Kairi, Koda, Hana, Tori, and Kai. Uncommon Japanese names you may want to consider include Hiro, Naoko, Suki, and Ren — a popular name for boys in Japan.

Japanese baby names are only beginning to be used in the West, as the world becomes smaller and international names become more accepted in most countries. Some Japanese baby names that translate easily to Western culture and language include the following.

Japanese Baby Names

Aya

Meaning: colorful, bird, sign

Origin:Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic
320
Rumi

Meaning: beauty, flow, lapis lazuli

Origin:Japanese
594
Hana

Meaning: grace, work, glow, flower

Origin:Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, Japanese
783
Sakura

Meaning: cherry blossom

Origin:Japanese
879
Kiki

Meaning: double happiness

Origin:French nickname and Japanese
240
Suki

Meaning: loved one

Origin:Japanese
331
Kai

Meaning: sea

Origin:Hawaiian
22
Amaya

Meaning: mother city; the end; night rain

Origin:Spanish version of Amaia or Japanese
148
Rio

Meaning: river

Origin:Spanish
1096
Kenji

Meaning: second son

Origin:Japanese
920
Kenzo

Meaning: strong and healthy

Origin:Japanese
292
Asa

Meaning: healer; born in the morning

Origin:Hebrew; Japanese
204
Aki

Meaning: born in the autumn, ancestor

Origin:Japanese, Finnish; "born in the autumn, ancestor"
1961
Mika

Meaning: beautiful fragrance

Origin:Japanese
296
Kane

Meaning: warrior

Origin:Celtic
223
Hiro

Meaning: broad, widespread

Origin:Japanese
515
Koda

Meaning: friend

Origin:Japanese, Sioux
328
Zen

Meaning: meditation

Origin:Japanese
647
Kaori

Meaning: smell, fragrance

Origin:Japanese
1429
Nami

Meaning: ocean wave

Origin:Japanese
1432