Amai

♂ Boy

Pronounced ah-MY /ɑːˈmaɪ/Medium

Meaning: In Japanese, amai (甘い) means 'sweet' or 'gentle'. As an African name (particularly Shona/Zimbabwean), it means 'mother' or refers to a nurturing qualityMedium

In 30 seconds: Amai carries meaning in both Japanese and African traditions. In Japanese it means sweet or gentle; in Shona it means mother. As a boy's name it is rare, appealing to parents drawn to its soft sound and multicultural resonance.

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Origin MediumJapanese, African

MeaningIn Japanese, amai (甘い) means 'sweet' or 'gentle'. As an African name (particularly Shona/Zimbabwean), it means 'mother' or refers to a nurturing quality

U.S. rank (2025)#5870 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births15 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 63

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Amai as a Japanese word is written with the kanji 甘, meaning sweet or mild. As a given name it is unusual in Japan but not unknown, sometimes used for girls. In Zimbabwe and among Shona-speaking peoples, Amai means mother and is a respectful term of address for elder women. Its use as a masculine given name in the West is rare and likely stems from its appealing phonetics.

In the broader African diaspora and in multicultural naming contexts, Amai has been used as a boy's name in the 21st century. Its dual cultural resonance — Japanese sweetness and African matriarchal warmth — gives it an appealing cross-cultural character. It remains a very rare name in all official records.

Did you know? In Japanese, the word amai (甘い) is used both literally — to describe sweet food — and figuratively, for a person who is gentle, lenient, or easily swayed. It is a common compliment and a somewhat unexpected name choice for a boy.

Overall data confidence 78%

Japanese-English Dictionary — amai (甘い) — Definition: sweet, gentle, mildShona Language Reference — Amai — Meaning: mother, respectful term

Variations

AmayAmoiAma

Nicknames

AmiMie

Famous Bearers

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If you like Amai…

Amos— shares the Am- prefix and similar concise, gentle quality

Amara— shares the Am- opening and multicultural appeal

Amari— fellow short multicultural boys name with similar sound

Kai— short, multicultural boys name with a similarly clean, open sound

Explore names like Amai

By themetwo-syllable rare japanese gentle african multicultural shona

By meaningGentle / Kind

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Amai mean?

Amai means sweet or gentle in Japanese, and mother or nurturing in Shona (Zimbabwe), making it a name with rich multicultural meaning.

How do you pronounce Amai?

It is said ah-MY, with two syllables and stress on the second.

Is Amai a boy or girl name?

Amai is used as a boy's name in multicultural contexts, though in Japanese it is more often a girl's name element.

How popular is Amai?

Amai is very rare as a given name in Western records.