Most Popular Girls & Boys Japanese Names
*pronunciation⇒forvo *Japanese name?⇒wiki
Haruto has been among the top 3 names given to boys since 2004.
And it has been the most popular name for boys in Japan in the past 10 years.
Origin:haru[spring(春), sunny(晴), far/outlook for the future(遥) ,etc. ]+ to[man(人), climb(登), sound(音),city(都), etc.]
Pronunciation:Yūto
Yuto has been among the top 3 names given to boys since 2006.
Origin:Yu[tender/excellent(優), evening(夕), far・leisurely(悠), help(佑,祐), rich(裕), manly(雄),etc. ]+to[man(人), climb(登), sound(音), city(都), etc.]
Big name:Yuto Nagatomo/長友佑都(Football player),Yuto Nakajima/中島裕翔(a member of Japanese idol group Hey! Say! JUMP)
Pronunciation:Sōta
Souta has been among the top 3 names given to boys since 2012.
Origin:sou[wise(聡),vigor(壮), the head of family(宗), leader(総), dark green(蒼(cord:#007655)), etc. ]+ta[first/big(太),many(多), separate/rinse(汰), etc.]
*“太” means first in English. So it is often used as the name of the first son.
Big name:Souta Fukushi/福士蒼汰(actor), Souta Fujii/藤井聡太(Professional shogi player)
Meaning:minato(湊)=port/harbor
It has been among the top 10 names given to boys since 2004.
Origin:haru[spring(春), sunny(晴), far/outlook for the future(遥)] +ki[big tree(樹), rare/hope(希),season/last(季),strong(毅),shine(輝), base(基), etc.]
*“季” means last. So it is sometimes used as the name of the last-born of the family.
Big name:Haruki Murakami/村上春樹(novelist/writer),Haruki kadokawa/角川春樹(publisher,film producer,director and screenwriter)
*Modern boy’s name
Riku has been among the top 10 names given to boys since 2013.
Meaning:Riku(陸)=land or Riku(六)=six
*Originally female name⇒rare these days(for female name)
Big name:“Riku/りく”(born 1669-died 1736) -Yoshio Ooishi(bushi)’s wife
Riku Onda/恩田陸(woman writer) (*Riku=Pseudonym)
Pronunciation:Kōki
Origin:kou[high(高), go up(昂), launch(興), navigation(航) etc.] + ki[big tree(樹), rare/hope(希),season/last(季),strong(毅),shine(輝), base(基) ,etc.]
*“季” means last. So it is often used as the name of the last-born.
Big name:Koki Uchiyama/内山昂輝(voice actor),Koki Tanaka/田中聖(singer),Koki Kameda/亀田興毅(professional boxer)
*Modern name
Origin:yui[tie/bond(結) or only(唯) ] + to[man(人), climb(登), sound(音), 都(city), etc.]
*Modern name
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:hinata(日向)=in the sun
Pronunciation:Sōsuké
origin:sou[wise(聡),vigor(壮), the head of family(宗), leader(総), dark green(蒼(cord:#007655)), etc. ] +suké[help/Japanese ancient officer’s position(輔,介,助,etc.)]
Big name:Sousuke Uno/宇野宗佑(47th Prime Minister of Japan)
Meaning:Hayato(隼人/勇人)=brave man
*隼 means peregrine falcon. “隼人” means a man is brave like a peregrine falcon.
The ancient Japanese men live in South Kyushu region were called “隼人”.
And “勇” means brave, “人” means man. So 勇人 means brave man.
Big name:Hayato Ikeda/池田勇人(38th Prime Minister of Japan),Hayato Sakamoto/坂本勇人(baseball player)
*Modern name
Origin:lotus(蓮),ripple(漣),integrity(廉),polish(錬), etc.
Big name:Ren Osugi/大杉漣(actor)(*Ren=Stage name)
*Modern name
Origin:kai[sea(海), paddle(櫂), pleasant(快), chief(魁), boundary(界) ,etc.]+[to=man(人), climb(登), sound(音), city(都), etc.]
Big name:Kaito Ishikawa/石川界人(voice actor)
Pronunciation:A-O-TO
the same as “a” in “apple”.
the same as “o” in “own”.
the same as “to” in “tost”.
*Modern name
Origin:ao[blue(青) or emerald green(碧) or dark green(蒼)]+ to[man(人) ,climb(登) , sound(音) ,city(都), etc.]
*color sample⇒青(cord:#0000CD),碧(cord:#007f89),蒼(cord:#007655)
“Ao” or “aoi” means blue in English. And “midori” means green in English. But the Japanese sometimes call green “ao”or “aoi”. *青 is rarely used for name.
Origin:hiro[wide(広),extend(宏),tender(寛),enlighten(啓),diffuse(博),etc.] + to[man (人),climb(登), sound(音) ,city(都), etc.]
Big name:“Hiroto Saigusa/三枝博音” Japanese philosopher(born 1892-died 1963)
pronunciation:You_say
Origin:Yu[tender/excellent(優), evening(夕), far・leisurely(悠), help(佑,祐), rich(裕), manly(雄), etc. ] + [star(星), saint(聖), live(生), honest(誠), realize(惺), etc]
big name:Yusei Kikuchi/菊池雄星(baseball player)
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:asahi(旭/朝日)=the morning sun
Big name:Asahi Inoue(news anchorwoman)
*Modern name
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:Sora(空)=sky
big name:“Sora Kawai” haiku poet(born 1649-died 1710?) (*Sora=Pseudonym)
Pronunciation:A-O-I
the same as “a” in “apple”.
the same as “o” in “own”.
the same as “i” in “is”.
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:aoi=blue(青) /emerald green(碧) /dark green(蒼)
or hollyhock/Mallow/Malvaceae(葵)
*color sample⇒青(cord:#0000CD),碧(cord:#007f89),蒼(cord:#007655)
“Ao” or “aoi” means blue in English. And “midori” means green in English. But the Japanese sometimes call green “ao”or “aoi”. *青 is rarely used for name.
Big name:Aoi Nakamura/中村蒼(actor)
Pronunciation:I-TSU-KI
the same as “i” in “is”.
the same as “tsu” in “cats”.
the same as “ki” in “key”.
Meaning:itsuki(斎)=perform ritual ablutions and serve the God(refer to Japanese religion;“Shinto”) or itsuki(樹)=big tree
It has been among the top 10 names given to girls since 2004, and was the most popular name for girls in 2007,2008,2011,2012,2013.
Meaning:Yui(結)=tie/bond or Yui(唯)=only
Big name:Yui Aragaki/新垣結衣(actress)、Yui Yokoyama/横山由依(a member of Japanese idol group AKB48)
Meaning:Akari(明かり)=light
Big name:Akari Hayami/早見あかり(actress)
Meaning:hana(花/華)=flower
Big name:Hana Matsushima/松島花(model)
Big name:Mei Nagano/永野芽郁(actress)
Meaning:Mei(芽生)=sprout ,etc
*Modern name
Meaning:é[picture(絵), mercy(恵) ,light of jewel(瑛) ,excellent/flower(英) ,etc. ]+ ma[truth(真) ,hemp(麻), etc.]
Meaning:sakura(桜)=cherry blossom
Cherry blossoms have been loved by the Japanese.
Big name:Sakura Ando/安藤サクラ(actress),Sakura Miyawaki/宮脇咲良(a member of Japanese idol group HKT48/IZ*ONE),Sakura Yokomine/横峯さくら(Professional golfer)
Pronunciation:A-O-I
the same as “a” in “apple”.
the same as “o” in “own”.
the same as “i” in “is”.
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:aoi=blue(青) /emerald green(碧) /dark green(蒼)
or hollyhock/Mallow/Malvaceae(葵)
*color sample⇒青(cord:#0000CD),碧(cord:#007f89),蒼(cord:#007655)
“Ao” or “aoi” means blue in English. And “midori” means green in English. But the Japanese sometimes call green “ao”or “aoi”. *青 is rarely used for name.
Big name:Aoi Teshima/手嶌葵(singer), Aoi Miyazaki/宮崎あおい(actress), Aoi Yūki/悠木碧(voice actress)
Meaning:honoka(仄か)=dim/faint
*Modern name/Unique name
Meaning:unknown
meaning:Koharu(小春)=October(in luni-solar calendar)
“Koharu Biyori(小春日和)” means warm early winter day like spring.
origin:sa[Sa/Sha(紗-Japanese kimono for summer), sand(沙) ,help(佐), etc.]+ na[Chinese quince(奈), name(名), many(那),etc.]
Big name:“Sana Chiba/千葉佐奈?” master Naginata and Ryoma Sakamoto’s fiancé(born 1838-died 1896)
Meaning:the sky is the limit(未央),waterway(澪),beauty+connect(美緒) ,etc.
Big name:Mio Matsumura/松村未央(news anchorwoman)
*Gender-Neutral
Meaning:Ri[reason(理), plum(李), countryside/provincial(里), pear(梨) etc.] +o[connect(緒), middle/stop(央) ,etc.]
Big name:Rio Uchida/内田理央(fashion model),Rio Hirai/平井理央(news anchorwoman)
Meaning:Sara(沙羅)=sal-tree
Big name:Sara Takanashi/高梨沙羅(Ski jumper)
origin:
ichi[first(一) or city(市)] + ka[beauty(佳), perfume(香), summer(夏), flower(花/華),plus(加) ,etc.]
or i[clothes(衣) , depend(依) ,etc.]+chika[love(愛/慈) ,etc. ]
*modern name
Big name:Yua Shinkawa/新川優愛(actress/model)
Origin:Yu[tender/excellent(優), evening(夕), far・leisurely(悠), help(佑,祐), rich(裕),etc. ]+A[second(亜),beauty(娃),etc.]
Origin:Yu[tender/excellent(優), evening(夕), far・leisurely(悠), help(佑,祐), rich(裕),etc. ]+tsuki[月(moon)]
*tsuki⇒zuki euphony(sound change)
Origin:momo[one hundred(百) or peach tree(桃)]+ ka[beauty(佳), perfume(香), summer(夏),flower(花/華),plus(加) ,etc.]
Peach blossoms have been loved by the Japanese.
On March 3rd, Japan celebrates Hina-matsuri(=peach festival/doll festival), a festival celebrating girls. (It is now held one month later in some regions.*On March 3rd = about on April 3rd(luni-solar calendar) )
Origin:Ri[reason(理), plum(李), countryside/provincial(里), pear(梨) etc.] +ko[child(子)]
Big name:Riko Narumi/成海璃子(actress),Riko Higashio/東尾理子(Professional golfer)
Origin:ethics(倫), bell(鈴), cool/dignified(凛/凜), approach(臨),clear jewel/clear voice(琳)
reference:https://www.meijiyasuda.co.jp/enjoy/ranking/