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Kaname

♂ Boy

Pronounced kah-NAH-meh /kɑːˈnɑː.meɪ/Medium

Meaning: Japanese Kaname, from the word for the rivet at the base of a folding fan — hence 'pivot; linchpin; the vital point; the essential thing'. As with all Japanese names, the exact meaning depends on the characters chosen, so we give the common reading and note the honest limit.Low

In 30 seconds: A name for the piece that holds it all together: Kaname is Japanese for 'pivot; linchpin' (said 'kah-NAH-meh').

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Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningJapanese Kaname, from the word for the rivet at the base of a folding fan — hence 'pivot; linchpin; the vital point; the essential thing'. As with all Japanese names, the exact meaning depends on the characters chosen, so we give the common reading and note the honest limit.

U.S. rank (2024)#13201 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 16

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

Kaname comes from Japanese, where the word names the rivet of a folding fan and, by extension, 'the pivot; the linchpin; the vital point'. Japanese given names take their sense from the characters a family chooses, so readings vary — we give the common one and note that limit plainly. Romanized here (said 'kah-NAH-meh').

In the U.S. it appears only rarely for boys. Rare, spare, and quietly strong.

Did you know? Kaname is the word for the little rivet at the base of a folding fan — the tiny pin that holds every blade in place. From there it came to mean 'the essential thing', and it makes a quietly strong name.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Kaname — Japanese 'pivot; linchpin'; meaning varies by characters

Variations

KanamiKanata

Nicknames

KanaKan

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kaname…

Kenji— a like Japanese boy's name in the U.S.

Hiroshi— a like Japanese pick with open vowels

Kai— a short cousin in sound and feel

Kiari— shares Kaname's Japanese roots

Killua— a fellow Japanese choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kaname mean?

Kaname is Japanese for 'pivot; linchpin; the essential thing', from the rivet of a folding fan. The exact sense depends on the characters used.

How do you pronounce Kaname?

It's said kah-NAH-meh /kɑːˈnɑː.meɪ/ — three syllables, with the final one sounded.

Is Kaname a boy or girl name?

Kaname is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Kaname?

Kaname is a rare name for boys in the U.S.