List of Japanese Names

A Japanese full name is family name first, then given name. On forms and in Japan, Suzuki Haruto (鈴木晴人) keeps that order, while many English sites flip it to Haruto Suzuki. The family name is one word shared by relatives; the given name is the part parents choose for the child. Surnames such as Tanaka (田中), Yamamoto (山本) and Sato (佐藤) are usually two kanji with a fixed reading. Given names range from one kanji, such as Yui (唯) or Tadashi (忠), to four beats, such as Shinsaku (晋作). Honorifics such as -san, -kun and -chan attach in conversation; they are not part of the legal name.

In Japanese names, one pronunciation can be written with different kanji, and the choice changes the image without changing how people say the name. Kazuko (和子) harmony child and Kazuko (一子) one child share the sound かずこ; Riko (莉子) and Riko (李子) are both りこ but swap the first kanji; Mao (真央) and Mao (真桜) both read まお. Sho (翔) soar and Sho (勝) victory are the same しょう in romaji but not the same name in kanji. When kanji are used, keep the characters and the kana reading together; romaji alone is ambiguous. A name may also be written in hiragana or katakana, which keeps the sound and drops the kanji picture.

Gender on a Japanese given name is convention, not law, but endings and kanji patterns still send a strong signal. Kazuko (和子), Aiko (愛子) and Tomoko (智子) end in -ko with the kanji 子; in Japan that pattern now sounds traditional rather than trendy on girls. Endings in -mi often read feminine when paired with beauty kanji, as in Natsumi (夏美). Boys' names frequently end in -to, as in Haruto (晴人), or use a single firm kanji, such as Shin (信) or Takumi (巧). Unisex names such as Yu (悠), Asahi (朝陽) and Mizuki (瑞希) stay neutral in sound until you see the kanji. The last mora plus the final kanji usually tell you more than romaji alone.

A flat list of Japanese names is hard to scan until you pick a lens. Gender lists separate female Japanese names, male Japanese names and unisex Japanese names. Style lists group names that share a feel, such as cute Japanese names, cool Japanese names or beautiful Japanese names, plus short or long forms when length matters. Meaning lists collect names built around one idea, for example names linked to stars, fire or flowers. Lists by first letter in romaji help when you already know the sound you want, such as starting with A or starting with Y. Each filter is a starting point: lock in the kanji and kana for the name you keep.

These twelve names show how much range sits inside an ordinary Japanese name list. Yui (唯), Ai (愛) and Yuki (雪) are one kanji and two beats; Kazuko (和子) and Aiko (愛子) pair a meaning kanji with the classic 子 ending. Haruto (晴人) and Sho (翔) are compact boys' names, while Shinsaku (晋作) uses four beats in the reading. Chihiro (千尋) and Misaki (美咲) split the difference with three beats and two kanji that spell a picture. Yu (悠) sits in the middle as a short unisex option.