Japanese Boy Names
308 japanese boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for girl names instead? Japanese Girl Names →
Some names arrive with a stance already built in. That is the appeal of Japanese boy names for a lot of American families right now: they are short, they land hard on the consonant, and several of them carry a genuine idea rather than just a nice sound. Kai is the gateway — one syllable, globally portable, and independently at home in Hawaiian and Scandinavian naming too. Kaizen comes straight from the Japanese term for continuous improvement, a philosophy of getting a little better every day, which is a genuinely lovely thing to hand a son. Ronin was the word for a samurai without a master, and it has become the modern shorthand for independence. Raiden pulls from thunder and lightning, and it sounds exactly like it means.
Push past the obvious picks and the list turns quieter and more considered. Ren and Zen are the minimalists, three letters that stay calm in a loud room. Kenji and Kenzo are the two most authentically Japanese-in-Japan names on this page, one traditional and one carried worldwide by fashion. Kannon borrows from the Buddhist figure associated with compassion, and Jiraiya comes from a folk-tale hero that a generation of parents met again through animation. Kobe shares its name with a Japanese port city, and Koda, Kasai, Kaisen, Aizen and Akari fill out the sound without repeating it.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Japanese Boy Names — Page 2
Keiko#10375 in the U.S.From the Japanese Keiko, variously 'blessed/happy child; respectful child' (kei, 'blessing/resp▶Keita#10377 in the U.S.From the Japanese Keita, variously 'respectful; big/thick' (by hanja); also the Mandinka Keita,▶Kiyo#10385 in the U.S.A Japanese name element most often written with a character meaning 'pure, clean'. Because Japa▶Kenzin#10395 in the U.S.A modern given name blending a Ken- element with a -zin ending, echoing the Japanese Kenshin ('▶Kiai#10408 in the U.S.From the Japanese kiai, 'a spirited/focused shout' (ki, 'energy/spirit', + ai, 'to unite'), use▶Kiko#10412 in the U.S.A Spanish pet form of Francisco ('free man; Frenchman'); also a Japanese name (variously 'chron▶Kino#10414 in the U.S.A Japanese name (variously 'chronicle; tree') and a Spanish short form (as of Joaquin); also th▶Mio#10422 in the U.S.In Japanese, Mio is a name whose sense depends on its written characters (often tied to 'beauti▶Kobey#10423 in the U.S.A spelling of Kobe, variously a Japanese place-name ('god's door') and a form of Jacob ('suppla▶Kazuo#10458 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters; it often reads 'first son'▶Maki#10495 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning shifts with the kanji — often built on ma ('true; genuine') plus ▶Meiko#10517 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning shifts with the kanji — often built on mei ('bright; clear') plus▶Raijin#10536 in the U.S.From the Japanese Raijin, 'thunder god' (rai, 'thunder', + jin, 'god/deity'); the Shinto god of▶Oshin#10605 in the U.S.A modern spelling read variously as a form of Ocean (the sea), or as a name found in Japanese a▶Raidan#10630 in the U.S.A modern spelling near Raiden — the Japanese god of thunder ('thunder and lightning') — and the▶Reiden#10640 in the U.S.A modern spelling near Raiden — the Japanese thunder god ('thunder and lightning') — and the po▶Umi#10718 in the U.S.A Swahili name Umi, linked to 'life' and to 'mother' (umi/mama); separately the Japanese word u▶Sota#10726 in the U.S.A Japanese boy's name whose meaning shifts with the kanji chosen — commonly elements read 'sudd▶Yuta#10742 in the U.S.Yuta is a common Japanese masculine name given here in romaji, its Latin-letter spelling. Its m▶Takeo#10747 in the U.S.A Japanese boy's name whose meaning depends on the kanji, commonly 'warrior, strong, brave man'▶Takumi#10748 in the U.S.A Japanese boy's name meaning 'artisan' or 'skilled craftsman,' evoking mastery and careful wor▶Tanjiro#10752 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese boy's name whose meaning shifts with the kanji; the -jiro element often ▶Akihiro#10814 in the U.S.A Japanese name commonly written to mean 'bright; clear' (aki) plus 'vast; broad' (hiro) - 'gre▶Yuito#10854 in the U.S.Yuito is a popular modern Japanese boys' name; readings vary by kanji, often pairing yui ('bind▶Anri#11000 in the U.S.Anri is often a Japanese rendering of the French Henri (Henry, 'home ruler'), and is also writt▶Aoto#11006 in the U.S.Aoto is a Japanese boy's name, commonly written with characters for 'ao' ('blue, green') plus '▶Gin#11351 in the U.S.Gin reads as a short modern name or a clip of longer names (Virgin-adjacent, or Eugene/Ginny-st▶Goku#11355 in the U.S.Goku is the name of the hero Son Goku from the anime/manga Dragon Ball — a Japanese reading (Go▶Isamu#11363 in the U.S.Isamu is a Japanese men's name most often meaning 'courage', 'bravery', or 'vigor', from a verb▶Hikaru#11374 in the U.S.A Japanese name commonly read as 'light; to shine; radiance,' though the exact meaning depends ▶Kenichi#11494 in the U.S.Kenichi is a romanized Japanese name, usually written to pair a "ken" element (health or streng▶Kaori#11520 in the U.S.From the Japanese Kaori, most often 'fragrance; aroma' (character-dependent). It is usually a g▶Jiraya#11542 in the U.S.A spelling of Jiraiya, the shapeshifting toad-sage hero of Japanese folklore and a beloved char▶Kazuma#11550 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters used; the Kazu- element commonly carrie▶Kazuya#11551 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters used; the Kazu- element commonly carrie▶Kaizan#11596 in the U.S.A modern coinage seeming to echo the Japanese kaizen ('continuous improvement; change for the b▶Kaneki#11606 in the U.S.A Japanese surname best known from Ken Kaneki, the protagonist of the anime and manga Tokyo Gho▶Keito#11647 in the U.S.A Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen (elements can carry senses such▶Kiori#11691 in the U.S.A modern given name that also echoes Japanese names such as Kaori/Kiori (whose meaning depends ▶Machi#11781 in the U.S.Machi is a Japanese name; as a word machi means 'town' or 'street,' and as a given-name element▶Maiko#11786 in the U.S.Maiko is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen; common readings include mai▶Nami#11865 in the U.S.A Japanese name most often meaning 'wave' (nami), though it can also be a short form of longer ▶Raydin#11983 in the U.S.A modern respelling near Raiden/Rayden; by the Raiden route it evokes the Japanese thunder god ▶Riko#12003 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning varies by kanji (often 'reason; logic' or 'village child'); separ▶Rito#12005 in the U.S.A short form of Spanish names ending in -rito (such as Margarito), and separately a Japanese gi▶Ritsu#12006 in the U.S.A Japanese given name whose meaning varies by kanji, often 'law; order; rule' or 'rhythm; melod▶Sensei#12008 in the U.S.Sensei is a Japanese word and honorific meaning 'teacher, master' - literally 'one born before'▶Yoshio#12090 in the U.S.Yoshio is a Japanese boy's name most often written with characters meaning 'good' or 'righteous▶Shion#12094 in the U.S.From Japanese, Shion most often names the shion, the aster flower (a purple, star-shaped autumn▶Tosh#12100 in the U.S.Tosh is a short, one-syllable name with a couple of honest roots. It can be a clipped form of t▶Sosuke#12111 in the U.S.Sosuke is a Japanese boys' name whose meaning shifts with the kanji chosen — the '-suke' elemen▶Soran#12112 in the U.S.A name read two ways: Soran is a Kurdish region and dialect (of Iraqi Kurdistan), and separatel▶Takashi#12136 in the U.S.A Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen but commonly reads as 'noble; e▶Taro#12144 in the U.S.Taro is a classic Japanese boys' name traditionally meaning 'eldest son' or 'first-born son,' o▶Tatsuki#12147 in the U.S.Tatsuki is a Japanese boys' name whose meaning shifts with the characters used, often combining▶Toshio#12165 in the U.S.Toshio is a Japanese masculine name, written with varying kanji but commonly reading 'talented ▶Tomi#12173 in the U.S.A short form of Thomas ('twin'), and separately a Yoruba name (as in Oluwatomi) and a Japanese ▶Yasuke#12179 in the U.S.The name given in Japan to Yasuke, an African man who served the warlord Oda Nobunaga and is re▶Yasuo#12180 in the U.S.Yasuo joins yasu, peaceful or calm, with the masculine ending o, man, giving it a meaning close▶Yuuki#12284 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning depends on its kanji — common writings give 'courage; bravery' or▶Atari#12475 in the U.S.Atari is a Japanese term from the board game Go, marking a stone one move from capture; it beca▶Iori#12855 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters chosen, which we note honestly; reading▶Isao#12961 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese masculine name commonly associated with merit, achievement, or distingui▶Inari#12971 in the U.S.From the Japanese Inari, 'carrying rice; rice load' (ina, 'rice', + ri, linked to 'to carry'); ▶Issei#12986 in the U.S.Issei is a Japanese given name commonly written with characters for 'one' and 'generation' or '▶Hiroto#13046 in the U.S.Hiroto is a Japanese given name written with different character combinations, so its sense var▶Jukai#13156 in the U.S.A Japanese-derived name, romanized as Jukai. In Japanese, meaning depends entirely on the writt▶Kentaro#13173 in the U.S.Kentaro is a Japanese boy's name usually built from kanji read 'ken,' meaning 'healthy' or 'str▶Kaname#13201 in the U.S.Japanese Kaname, from the word for the rivet at the base of a folding fan — hence 'pivot; linch▶Kanata#13202 in the U.S.As a Japanese given name, Kanata is often read as 'distant; far away' — a horizon word — though▶Kazuki#13240 in the U.S.A Japanese given name written with a range of kanji, so its meaning depends on the characters a▶Kenjiro#13240 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters; it often reads 'second son▶Laiku#13259 in the U.S.Laiku is a modern coinage that echoes the Japanese 'haiku' (the short poem). As a personal name▶Kenshin#13264 in the U.S.A Japanese name written with varying kanji, so the meaning depends on the characters; elements ▶Masato#13360 in the U.S.Masato is a Japanese masculine name written in romaji here. Its meaning depends entirely on the▶Kito#13375 in the U.S.Kito is a Swahili name meaning 'jewel' or 'precious child,' a warm term of endearment. The same▶Masao#13420 in the U.S.Masao is a Japanese boys' name, commonly written to mean 'righteous man' or 'correct man' (masa▶Koichi#13508 in the U.S.Koichi is a Japanese masculine name whose meaning depends on the written characters chosen for ▶Mirio#13526 in the U.S.Mirio is a Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the characters used; in the U.S. it is ▶Naru#13581 in the U.S.A Japanese given name or short form. The sound naru can be written with characters carrying sen▶Raidon#13683 in the U.S.Raidon has two honest routes. It closely echoes Raiden, an English rendering tied to the Japane▶Ran#13727 in the U.S.Ran has two well-attested routes. In Japanese it is usually written with the character for 'orc▶Mareo#13759 in the U.S.Mareo can be read as a respelling of Mario, from the Roman family name Marius, or as a Japanese▶Ryoma#13784 in the U.S.Ryoma is a Japanese given name (romanized), best known from Sakamoto Ryoma, a key figure of Jap▶Satoshi#13821 in the U.S.Satoshi is a Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen; common characters r▶Taiki#13830 in the U.S.Taiki is a Japanese boy's name whose meaning is set by the kanji chosen to write it. Common rea▶Samurai#13834 in the U.S.From Japanese samurai, from a verb meaning 'to serve' — literally 'one who serves'. It names th▶Sen#13859 in the U.S.Sen has more than one home. In Japanese it can render a word meaning 'thousand' (and other sens▶Shiro#13868 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese masculine name; one common written form marks a fourth son, while other ▶Subaru#13869 in the U.S.The Japanese Subaru, 'the Pleiades' — the cluster of stars also called the Seven Sisters. It is▶Shota#13870 in the U.S.A Georgian name, famously the medieval poet Shota Rustaveli, and separately a Japanese name who▶Shun#13872 in the U.S.Shun is most often a Japanese boy's name, read with meanings such as 'fast, quick' or 'talented▶Wataru#13938 in the U.S.Wataru is a Japanese boy's name built on the verb wataru, 'to cross over' or 'to ferry across,'▶Takeshi#13956 in the U.S.A Japanese given name usually read from characters meaning 'warrior; fierce; military; strong'.▶Tokyo#13986 in the U.S.A place name given as a first name: Tokyo, the capital of Japan, whose own name means 'eastern ▶Toki#14005 in the U.S.Toki romanizes a Japanese word meaning 'time,' also used for the Japanese crested ibis. Its mod▶Towa#14010 in the U.S.Towa romanizes a Japanese name usually read as 'eternity, forever' — though in Japanese the sen▶Yuga#14170 in the U.S.From Sanskrit yuga, 'an age; an epoch' — in Hindu cosmology one of the four great world-ages, s▶Yusuke#14175 in the U.S.A Japanese given name written in romaji. Meaning depends on the characters chosen: the -suke el▶AraiArai reads as a Japanese family name — by common characters 'new well' — carried into given-nam▶FujinFrom the Japanese Fujin, 'wind god' (fu, 'wind', + jin, 'god/deity'); the Shinto god of the win▶IruA short name with more than one route: in Yoruba (Nigeria) iru is a fermented locust-bean seaso▶IzanagiFrom the Japanese Izanagi, traditionally 'he who invites'; the Shinto creator-god who, with Iza▶KaizoKaizo is a Japanese given name, historically used for boys, whose meaning depends on the kanji ▶KohakuFrom the Japanese Kohaku (romanized), meaning 'amber.' Also known as the river spirit character▶KyomiA Japanese name (romanized), most often a girl's, frequently read with elements like 'pure' and▶SusanooFrom the Japanese Susanoo, of uncertain meaning (traditionally 'the impetuous male'); the Shint▶TsukuyomiFrom the Japanese Tsukuyomi, 'moon reader; moon counter' (tsuku, 'moon', + yomi, 'reading/count▶
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Frequently Asked
What are the most popular Japanese boy names in America?
Kai is far and away the leader, followed by Koda, Raiden, Ronin and Kaizen, which has climbed sharply in recent years.
What does Kaizen mean?
Kaizen is the Japanese term for continuous improvement, the practice of small steady changes over time. Kaizen moved from business vocabulary into use as a given name in the United States.
Is Ronin a real Japanese name?
Ronin is a real Japanese word rather than a traditional Japanese given name. It described a samurai with no lord to serve, and Ronin is used as a first name almost entirely outside Japan.