Japanese Girl Names
382 japanese girl names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for boy names instead? Japanese Boy Names →
Japanese names are written before they are heard, and that is the part most American parents fall in love with once they understand it: the same three sounds can be spelled with different kanji and mean something entirely different, so the name is chosen twice. That layering is what gives Japanese girl names their quiet depth. Hana is the clearest example most families meet first, written with the character for flower. Aya is a single graceful breath, often written with a character tied to woven or colored silk. Emi and Mina are short, soft and effortless on an English-speaking tongue, and Akira, which carries the sense of bright or clear, is used for boys in Japan but has found a confident life as a girl name in the United States.
The second group here is a different story, and it deserves an honest label. Names like Amaya, Amayah, Kaiya and Kamiyah are hugely popular with American parents because of the sound — open vowels, a soft landing, nothing sharp — even though their paths into English are tangled and not purely Japanese. We would rather tell you that than hand you a tidy meaning we cannot source. Elsewhere the connection is firmer: Yuna and Kairi came into wide American awareness through Japanese games and animation, Nori is a crisp two-syllable choice, and Kiyomi, Kyomi, Kaya and Kimora round out the rhythm.
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 Girl Names — Page 2
Kyori#9909 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an echo of Kaori ('fragrance', Japanese) and a Ky- + -ori coinage; no ▶Miari#9985 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an echo of Mia/Amari or a Japanese Miari (compound of mi, 'beauty', + ▶Momo#9994 in the U.S.From the Japanese momo, 'a peach' (a symbol of longevity and beauty); also read as 'a hundred';▶Namine#10011 in the U.S.From the Japanese nami ('a wave') + ne ('a sound'), variously 'the sound of waves'; also a char▶Ozora#10051 in the U.S.Variously from the Hebrew Ozora ('strength of the Lord'; oz, 'strength') and the Japanese ozora▶Tamura#10265 in the U.S.Tamura is a common Japanese surname from ta, 'rice paddy,' and mura, 'village,' so 'rice-paddy ▶Yoshida#10266 in the U.S.Yoshida is one of the most common Japanese family names, written in plain roman letters here. I▶Akina#10277 in the U.S.From the Japanese Akina, variously 'bright; clear' or 'spring flower/vegetable' depending on th▶Aoki#10469 in the U.S.Aoki is a common Japanese surname written with characters meaning 'blue' or 'green' (ao) and 't▶Akita#10506 in the U.S.Akita is best explained as the Japanese place name Akita - a city and prefecture in northern Ja▶Takarra#10538 in the U.S.Takarra can be read two ways. As an elaboration of Takara it carries the Japanese takara, 'trea▶Kaizen#10624 in the U.S.From the Japanese kaizen, 'improvement; continuous change for the better' — a word famous in bu▶Kannon#10636 in the U.S.A K-spelling of the English surname Cannon (from 'canon,' a churchman, or the weapon); it also ▶Kimi#10668 in the U.S.From the Japanese Kimi ('upright; noble; sovereign'), a name and word element; also used as a s▶Kuromi#10679 in the U.S.Best known as a Sanrio character (a mischievous rabbit-like figure), whose name draws on the Ja▶Isana#10705 in the U.S.Two honest routes: an Old High German Isana, linked to isarn ('iron; strong-willed'), and separ▶Mayu#10763 in the U.S.A Japanese given name whose meaning shifts with the chosen kanji: elements can carry senses lik▶Tomika#10767 in the U.S.A name that surfaced as an African-American coinage in the 1970s, often paired with the -ika/-i▶Miku#10778 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name written with varied kanji, so its meaning shifts - common readings pair ▶Miyu#10787 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name written with varied kanji, so its meaning shifts - readings often join m▶Naori#10806 in the U.S.Naori may draw on Japanese elements (nao, 'honest; to mend, restore'), or read as a Hebrew-flav▶Rai#10867 in the U.S.A short name read across cultures - in Japanese Rai can mean 'trust; lightning; thunder' depend▶Miki#10876 in the U.S.A Japanese given name, romanized here. Its meaning depends entirely on which characters are use▶Riki#10886 in the U.S.A short name read across cultures - in Japanese Riki can mean 'strength; power' by the characte▶Rui#10896 in the U.S.A Japanese name Rui, whose meaning shifts with the characters - 'a kind of gem; lapis; tears; t▶Yukie#10901 in the U.S.Yukie is a Japanese feminine name. The element yuki is often written with characters meaning 'h▶Suna#10960 in the U.S.A short name with layered routes: Turkish Suna (a graceful bird; 'noble; lovely'), a Japanese e▶Taira#10972 in the U.S.A spelling that reads as Tyra (a Scandinavian name linked to the god Tyr, 'Tyr's warrior') and ▶Takara#10973 in the U.S.From the Japanese takara, 'treasure; a precious or valued thing.' A warm, cherished-sounding na▶Reiko#10977 in the U.S.Reiko is a Japanese given name ending in ko ('child'), a classic element in girls' names. The r▶Tora#10991 in the U.S.In Old Norse, Tora is a feminine name tied to the god Thor ('thunder'). Separately, in Japanese▶Tsunade#10998 in the U.S.A character name from the Naruto manga and anime — a legendary ninja and Hokage. The name is a ▶Yori#11036 in the U.S.A short Japanese name (and name element) tied to yori, 'trust; rely; depend on.' Also read as a▶Aomi#11164 in the U.S.A short modern name read variously as a respin of Naomi ('pleasantness; my delight') or an echo▶Ameyah#11240 in the U.S.Ameyah is a modern spelling of Amaya (or Amiah), a name with several routes: a Japanese reading▶Anri#11315 in the U.S.A Japanese girl's name whose meaning depends on the written characters (often 'apricot' plus 'p▶Miyoshi#11354 in the U.S.Miyoshi is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters used, commonly rendered as '▶Mitsuko#11516 in the U.S.Mitsuko is a Japanese given name formed with mitsu, often 'light' or 'shine', and the classic g▶Fumiko#11526 in the U.S.Fumiko is a Japanese feminine name commonly written with the element fumi ('writing, literature▶Jun#11552 in the U.S.A romanized East Asian given name — Chinese, Korean, and Japanese — whose meaning shifts with t▶Mako#11717 in the U.S.A Japanese name (often a short form of Makoto or Mako names), variously read 'true; truth' or '▶Mariko#11729 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name commonly written to mean 'true village child' (ma, 'true'; ri, 'village'▶Kiyori#11749 in the U.S.A Japanese-styled modern name. Japanese names of the Kiyo- family are often written with charac▶Miyoko#11780 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name often written to mean 'beautiful generations child' (mi, 'beauty'; yo, '▶Miyuri#11781 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name often written to combine mi ('beauty') with yuri ('lily'), for a sense o▶Mizuki#11782 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name written various ways — often 'beautiful moon' (mi 'beauty', zuki/tsuki '▶Narumi#11805 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name written various ways — often 'the sound of the sea' (naru 'to sound/beco▶Nozomi#11838 in the U.S.From the Japanese Nozomi, 'hope; wish; desire' — a warm, aspirational name written with charact▶Omi#11853 in the U.S.Omi is read a few ways — as a Japanese name (tied to 'large water; sea') and as a Hebrew name (▶Nagisa#11866 in the U.S.From the Japanese nagisa, 'shore, beach, the water's edge.' Japanese names are written with cha▶Rayden#11884 in the U.S.Rayden is a modern respelling of Raiden, tied to the Japanese thunder-and-lightning god (raijin▶Reika#11893 in the U.S.From the Japanese Reika, read (by the characters chosen) as 'lovely fragrance; beautiful flower▶Rini#11908 in the U.S.A short name used as a Japanese nickname and endearment and, separately, as a diminutive of Cor▶Saaya#11924 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name (variously written, often blending sa- with -ya, 'colorful; beautiful'),▶Saiyuri#11930 in the U.S.From the Japanese Sayuri (sa-, 'small,' + yuri, 'lily'), 'small lily.' The Saiyuri spelling is ▶Taka#11944 in the U.S.Taka works as a trim short form of longer Ta- names such as Takara or Takisha, and it also stan▶Yasuko#11949 in the U.S.Yasuko is a Japanese feminine name ending in -ko 'child'. The element yasu is most often writte▶Sumire#11992 in the U.S.From Japanese Sumire, meaning 'violet' — the small purple flower. A gentle nature name popular ▶Timiko#12036 in the U.S.Timiko reads two ways: as a respelling of a Japanese girls' name such as Tomiko (tomi 'wealth, ▶Tomeko#12069 in the U.S.Tomeko is a Japanese feminine name ending in ko, child, a very common suffix for girls of its e▶Toshiko#12072 in the U.S.Toshiko is a traditional Japanese girls' name formed from 'toshi' — which, by the characters ch▶Akiya#12174 in the U.S.Akiya sits in the Akia family, sometimes connected to the Japanese aki ('bright; autumn') plus ▶Yashira#12198 in the U.S.From the Arabic root yasir, 'to be at ease; ease,' and separately a Japanese name (character-de▶Ashiya#12272 in the U.S.Ashiya reads as a form of Aasiya ('one who tends the weak; consoler', an honored name in Islam)▶Azumi#12317 in the U.S.Azumi is a Japanese girl's name (and place/family name) whose meaning depends on the characters▶Ayami#12410 in the U.S.Ayami is a Japanese girl's name whose meaning depends entirely on the kanji chosen to write it ▶Chika#12515 in the U.S.Chika has two distinct roots. In Igbo, spoken in Nigeria, it means 'God is supreme' or 'God is ▶Aoi#12579 in the U.S.A Japanese given name. Written one way it means 'hollyhock', the flower; written another it mea▶Kanon#12730 in the U.S.Kanon is a Japanese unisex name (readings vary, sometimes linked to 'flower' and 'sound' or to ▶Kasumi#12777 in the U.S.A Japanese name most often written to mean 'mist; haze,' though the meaning depends on the char▶Eiko#12850 in the U.S.Eiko is a traditional Japanese woman's name written with the -ko ending, 'child,' after a first▶Kiyomii#12889 in the U.S.A respelling of the Japanese name Kiyomi. Japanese names are written with characters, and the m▶Maki#12915 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name whose meaning shifts with the written characters — common readings inclu▶Maaya#12926 in the U.S.A spelling of Maya. By its routes it can trace to the Sanskrit maya ('illusion; the world's app▶Masoka#12941 in the U.S.A name found in African (Malawi/Zambia, from Chichewa/Tumbuka roots, linked to 'gift; thanks') ▶Meisa#12964 in the U.S.Read as the Arabic Maisa/Maysa, 'a proud, graceful walk; the elegant sway of a beauty,' and sep▶Miko#12982 in the U.S.Miko is used as a Japanese girl's name whose sense depends on the characters chosen — 'beautifu▶Miori#12992 in the U.S.Miori is a Japanese girl's name whose meaning is set by the characters written — commonly built▶Kimie#13018 in the U.S.Kimie is a Japanese given name whose meaning is set by its kanji. A common writing pairs kimi (▶Rumina#13164 in the U.S.Rumina was a Roman goddess who watched over nursing mothers and infants, her name tied to ruma,▶Sanae#13187 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name, most often written with characters read as 'early rice seedling' (sanae▶Saki#13218 in the U.S.Saki is a Japanese given name written here in plain roman letters. Its meaning depends entirely▶Shuri#13233 in the U.S.Shuri is a Japanese name and place name (the historic Shuri castle district of Okinawa); as a p▶Tifa#13305 in the U.S.Tifa is chiefly known as the name of Tifa Lockhart, a central character in the video game Final▶Asako#13340 in the U.S.Asako is a traditional Japanese girl's name most often written to mean 'morning child', from as▶Aamya#13463 in the U.S.A modern spelling echoing Amaya (a Japanese/Spanish name variously read 'night rain' or 'the en▶Akane#13493 in the U.S.Akane is a Japanese given name meaning 'deep red' — the word names the madder plant, whose root▶Yukiko#13531 in the U.S.Yukiko is a Japanese given name written in romaji here. Its meaning depends on the kanji a fami▶Chieko#13566 in the U.S.Chieko is a Japanese given name for girls; the -ko ending means 'child,' and the chie- element ▶Amayia#13576 in the U.S.Amayia is a respelling of Amaya; Amaya is a Basque place and family name and the title of a wel▶Ame#13577 in the U.S.A very short name; it matches Japanese ame ('rain'; also 'candy') and reads elsewhere as a mode▶Asai#13620 in the U.S.A modern given name with no single documented route. It echoes acai (the Amazonian berry, from ▶Ayaka#13709 in the U.S.Ayaka is a Japanese girl's name written here in romaji only. Its meaning depends entirely on th▶Kimmora#13779 in the U.S.Kimmora is a variant of Kimora, a modern name brought to attention by the model and entrepreneu▶Dai#13823 in the U.S.Dai has several routes: a Welsh pet form of David ('beloved'); a Japanese element meaning 'grea▶Chihiro#13961 in the U.S.Chihiro is a Japanese name joining chi, 'thousand,' with hiro, a 'fathom' or measure of depth, ▶Haruka#14043 in the U.S.A Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the characters chosen: most commonly 'distant, f▶Hiroko#14057 in the U.S.Hiroko is a Japanese given name written in romaji, formed with hiro, meaning broad, generous, o▶Hinami#14071 in the U.S.A Japanese-style given name, most naturally read as hina (a common name element linked to the s▶Ima#14101 in the U.S.Ima is the ordinary Hebrew word for 'mother' (imma), used affectionately in Israel. Separately ▶Itani#14116 in the U.S.Itani is hard to place. It exists as a Japanese surname romanised as Itani, roughly 'well valle▶Hanabi#14192 in the U.S.From Japanese hanabi, 'fireworks,' formed from hana ('flower') and hi ('fire') - literally 'fir▶Kagome#14247 in the U.S.A Japanese word for the woven, hole-and-lattice pattern of a bamboo basket, and the name of a t▶Junko#14262 in the U.S.Junko is a traditional Japanese girl's name in which the final -ko means 'child.' Depending on ▶Kanae#14280 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name whose sense depends on the characters chosen — commonly read as 'fulfill▶Kimura#14329 in the U.S.Kimura is a common Japanese surname meaning 'tree village' (ki, 'tree' + mura, 'village'). As a▶Kirin#14373 in the U.S.Kirin is a modern unisex name with several readings. In Japanese, kirin is the name of the qili▶Kiyora#14376 in the U.S.Kiyora is a Japanese girl's name, most naturally read from the element kiyo, 'pure; clear; clea▶Mori#14605 in the U.S.Two honest routes: in Japanese, mori means 'forest, woods' and is common as a surname and name ▶Megumi#14616 in the U.S.A Japanese given name usually glossed 'blessing; grace; favor'. As with most Japanese names, th▶Michiko#14639 in the U.S.A Japanese given name, commonly glossed 'child of wisdom', 'child of beauty' or 'child of the p▶Minami#14655 in the U.S.Japanese Minami is most often read as 'south' (minami), a directional word used warmly as a giv▶Miura#14661 in the U.S.Miura is a well-known Japanese surname and place name, usually read as 'three bays' (mi, three,▶Miyuki#14664 in the U.S.Japanese Miyuki is commonly read as 'beautiful happiness' (mi, beauty, plus yuki, happiness or ▶Momoka#14752 in the U.S.Momoka is a Japanese girls' name, written here in romaji. A common reading joins momo, meaning ▶Tacarra#14780 in the U.S.Tacarra is a coined American name whose sound echoes Takara, a Japanese word meaning 'treasure'▶Sekai#14880 in the U.S.From the Shona (Zimbabwe) Sekai, 'laughter; joy' (from seka, 'to laugh'); separately a Japanese▶Saiori#14913 in the U.S.Read as a variant spelling of Japanese Saori or Shiori. Japanese names carry meaning through th▶Masako#14914 in the U.S.Masako is a traditional Japanese girls' name formed from 'masa' — which, depending on the chara▶Sakai#14915 in the U.S.From the Japanese surname and city name Sakai, most often written with characters read 'border;▶Seina#14942 in the U.S.Used in Japan as a girls' name, where the meaning turns on the kanji a family selects — sei can▶Sumi#14959 in the U.S.Best known as the Japanese Sumi, 'clear; refined; pure' (as in clear water or ink); it is also ▶Shiori#14971 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name whose sense depends entirely on the kanji chosen. Common writings give '▶Yuzuki#15024 in the U.S.A romanized Japanese given name; its meaning depends on the characters, often combining yuzu (t▶Tsunami#15056 in the U.S.From the Japanese tsunami, literally 'harbour wave' — the word for the great ocean waves set of▶Nishi#15088 in the U.S.Nishi has two heritage readings. In Sanskrit and modern Indian use nishi means night, a soft po▶Yuma#15176 in the U.S.A short name with several routes: it is a city in Arizona (from the Quechan people), and a Japa▶Yuriko#15178 in the U.S.Yuriko is a Japanese girl's name commonly read as 'lily child', from yuri, 'lily', and the trad▶Yuzu#15181 in the U.S.Yuzu is the Japanese name for a fragrant, knobbly citrus fruit widely used in Japanese and Kore▶Tamiko#15207 in the U.S.A Japanese girl's name, typically read with -ko, 'child,' and elements suggesting 'people' or '▶Akiko#15325 in the U.S.Akiko is a long-established Japanese girls' name. Japanese names are written with kanji chosen ▶Amiko#15387 in the U.S.In Esperanto, Amiko means 'friend.' It is also a Japanese girl's name whose meaning depends on ▶Yoshiko#15437 in the U.S.Yoshiko is a classic Japanese girl's name combining yoshi ('good, virtuous, fortunate') with th▶Jiyu#15467 in the U.S.A Korean name whose meaning depends on the hanja (Chinese characters) chosen, so it varies from▶Ayane#15504 in the U.S.A Japanese given name written with varying kanji. Common choices include aya ('colour, design')▶Sayaka#15622 in the U.S.Sayaka is a traditional Japanese girl's name written here in plain roman letters. It often join▶Yurico#15778 in the U.S.Yurico is a rare feminine name whose sound echoes the Japanese Yuriko, commonly read as 'lily c▶Eimi#15827 in the U.S.A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the written characters (kanji), so it cannot be fixed ▶Amayha#15835 in the U.S.A respelling of Amaya — read as 'night rain' in Japanese and as a Basque place-name (roughly 't▶Ayako#15864 in the U.S.Ayako is a Japanese feminine given name (romaji) commonly read with the sense 'colorful child' ▶Hanae#16037 in the U.S.A Japanese name commonly tied to 'blossom; flower' (hana, 'flower') though the meaning depends ▶Hanami#16038 in the U.S.From the Japanese hanami, 'flower viewing' - the beloved spring custom of admiring cherry bloss▶Hara#16106 in the U.S.Routes vary. In Sanskrit, Hara is an epithet of the god Shiva, usually read as 'the seizer, the▶Hiromy#16137 in the U.S.Hiromy is a modern respelling of the Japanese name Hiromi, whose meaning depends on the charact▶Inori#16245 in the U.S.Inori is the Japanese word for 'prayer', used as a given name. Japanese names are written in ch▶Kasai#16340 in the U.S.Two genuine and unrelated routes. The Kasai is a major tributary of the Congo River, flowing th▶Kameko#16411 in the U.S.Kameko is a Japanese girls' name joining kame, 'tortoise,' with the common girls' suffix ko, 'c▶Kisara#16492 in the U.S.A Japanese-styled coined name, best known as an anime character name; it has no single document▶Minori#16813 in the U.S.A Japanese given name, romanized here. Written one way it carries the sense of minori, 'harvest▶Misaki#16853 in the U.S.Misaki is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the characters used - commonly 'beautiful bl▶Mitsuki#16854 in the U.S.A Japanese name commonly written to mean 'beautiful moon' (mi, 'beauty' + tsuki, 'moon') or 'fu▶Natsumi#16915 in the U.S.A Japanese girls' name most often written with the characters for 'summer' and 'beauty,' giving▶Mieko#16926 in the U.S.A Japanese girl's name (Mieko), often written with the ending -ko ('child') and varied first ch▶Chisa#17007 in the U.S.Chisa is a rare name whose American use from the late nineteen-seventies looks like a compact s▶Oyuki#17053 in the U.S.Oyuki is a Japanese feminine name joining the polite honorific prefix O- to Yuki; Yuki most oft▶Rika#17095 in the U.S.Rika serves two roots: in Western use it is a short form of Erika or Frederika ('ever-ruler' / ▶Kawaii#17140 in the U.S.From the Japanese kawaii, 'cute; adorable; lovable' — the everyday word behind Japan's culture ▶San#17204 in the U.S.A crisp one-syllable name. San is the wolf-raised heroine of the film Princess Mononoke, and in▶Sachiko#17228 in the U.S.Sachiko is a Japanese feminine name commonly written with characters read sachi, 'happiness', '▶Sayumi#17228 in the U.S.A Japanese name (Sayumi) whose meaning depends on the kanji chosen — elements can include sa ('▶Suzu#17342 in the U.S.From the Japanese suzu, most often 'bell' — a small round bell — though the meaning depends on ▶Tani#17494 in the U.S.A short form of Tania/Tanya (ultimately from Tatiana), and separately a Japanese word tani ('va▶Yuka#17522 in the U.S.Yuka is a Japanese girl's name written with varied characters, so its meaning shifts with the w▶Yoko#17567 in the U.S.Yoko is a Japanese given name for girls in which -ko means 'child.' The yo- element depends on ▶Yukina#17681 in the U.S.A Japanese given name (here romanized), often built on yuki ('snow'; also 'happiness') — though▶Tomiko#17786 in the U.S.Tomiko is a Japanese feminine name commonly written with tomi ('wealth, riches', or with kanji ▶Tahara#17856 in the U.S.Tahara means purity and cleanliness in Arabic, where taharah is a revered idea of spiritual and▶Mao#17886 in the U.S.Mao is a single-syllable given name that can arise from more than one tradition. In Chinese it ▶Haruko#17981 in the U.S.Haruko is a Japanese girls' name, most commonly written to mean 'spring child' — 'haru' (spring▶Michi#18258 in the U.S.Michi is a Japanese given name whose meaning depends on its kanji. Written with the character f▶Tanaka#18534 in the U.S.Tanaka is best known as a very common Japanese surname meaning 'dweller in the middle of the ri▶Sumiko#19240 in the U.S.Sumiko is a traditional Japanese girl's name, usually read 'child of clarity' or 'child of puri▶AhkariA modern name echoing the Japanese Akari ('light; brightness') and the popular Amari; no single▶AmaterasuFrom the Japanese Amaterasu, 'shining in heaven; that which illuminates heaven' (ama, 'heaven',▶BentenFrom the Japanese Benten (short for Benzaiten), the goddess of music, eloquence, and flowing th▶EllamaiA joined name pairing Ella ('light; fairy maiden') with Mai (a name of layered roots — English ▶HiyoriA Japanese name, romanized here, commonly tied to hiyori, 'good weather; a fine clear day' - th▶IzanamiFrom the Japanese Izanami, traditionally 'she who invites'; the Shinto creator-goddess who, wit▶KhiyomiKhiyomi echoes the Japanese Kiyomi ('pure beauty; clear'), reworked with a modern Kh- spelling.▶KyomiiKyomii is a modern respelling-style coinage whose nearest echo is the Japanese name Kiyomi, oft▶SayomiA modern name echoing the Japanese element sayo ('night; evening') and the -mi ('beauty') endin▶SuzumeFrom the Japanese suzume, 'sparrow' — the small, lively bird. Widely known from Makoto Shinkai'▶
Explore More
Frequently Asked
What are popular Japanese girl names in the U.S.?
Amaya, Mina, Hana, Kairi and Akira are among the most-used on American birth certificates. Note that U.S. popularity and Japanese popularity are two very different lists.
What Japanese girl name means flower?
Hana is the one, written with the kanji for flower. It is worth knowing that Hana also exists independently in Arabic, Czech and Hebrew naming, which is part of why it travels so well.
Why can one Japanese name have several meanings?
Because meaning lives in the written characters, not the sound. Parents in Japan choose kanji to go with the pronunciation, so two girls named the same thing may carry completely different written meanings.