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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

Keiko

Meaning: happy child

Origin:Japanese
1508
Aiko

Meaning: beloved child

Origin:Japanese
1780
Ino This name is of Greek as well as Japanese or...
Origin:Greek; Japanese
2249
Umeko

Meaning: plum-blossom child, patient

Origin:Japanese
2255
Sachiko

Meaning: child of joy

Origin:Japanese
4961
Raiden

Meaning: thunder and lightning

Origin:Japanese
1394
Nori

Meaning: doctrine or seaweed

Origin:Japanese
1367
Kokoro

Meaning: heart; mind; soul

Origin:Japanese
8888
Tori

Meaning: victory; bird

Origin:Diminutive of Victoria or Japanese
1223
Sayuri

Meaning: small lily

Origin:Japanese
5285
Yuki

Meaning: snow

Origin:Japanese
2024
Aina

Meaning: always; grace; lover of green; sight; mirror; delivery had complications [umbilical cord twisted around neck]

Origin:Scandinavian and Finnish variation of Aino, Catalan variation of Anna, Japanese, Latvian, Kazakh, Yoruba
2422
Sora

Meaning: sky; conch shell

Origin:Japanese or Korean
1440
Kairi

Meaning: sea

Origin:Japanese
1726
Takashi

Meaning: noble; prosperous; venerable

Origin:Japanese
2160
Sanji

Meaning: praise

Origin:Japanese
2552
Naoki

Meaning: straight tree; honest

Origin:Japanese
2896
Sanjiro

Meaning: admired, praised

Origin:Japanese
2755
Kubo Kubo is a given name from Japan, usually use...
Origin:Japanese
3674
Hanzo Hanzo has a few different possible meanings ...
Origin:Japanese
1221