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Nov 13, 2025

Japanese names you love?

I blogged yesterday about this year's top baby names in Japan, and there was quite a focus on nature and calmness in the most popular picks. I was wondering if there are any Japanese names you love for the meaning behind them. Maybe you have a friend, coworker, or even family member with a beautiful name. I'd be happy to hear what it is, and why you like it so much!

genkidesu

genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).

6 Answers



Best Answer

  • TonetoEdo

    on Nov 13

    I've taught a handful of boys called Hugo and Rui (Louis), and girls called Arisa (Alisa) and Kairi (Kylie). All of them are written in kanji. Some of the kids have foreign roots, so they know the meaning and origin of the other-language versions of their names. In the last five years, I've taught three boys named Shin - simply the kanji for heart. I think this is a cool name for boys.

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  • helloalissa

    on Nov 13

    @TonetoEdo Hah, the name I use in Japan is Arisa, for ease of pronunciation, plus it was easier when kanji was chosen for me. You also reminded me of a student I had Years ago named Jyoji because the English teacher always called him George. The overlap of Japanese names that sound (at least vaguely) like foreign names is fun.

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  • TonetoEdo

    on Nov 13

    @helloalissa One of my sempais has the aspirational name, Jyoji! His parents wanted him to be "international," and he rose to the occasion. He's acquired a General American English accent under the tutelage of missionaries and doesn't miss a beat when talking to English speakers.

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  • helloalissa

    on Nov 13

    I knew someone whose daughter's name was sweet - Cocoa. If I remember correctly the way it was written in kanji is 心愛.

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  • BigfamJapan

    on Nov 14

    I love my Japanese husband's surname for the meaning behind it. You might remember what it is, but for privacy reasons I don't want to write the pronunciation of it here, but it means "belief in one's country". Other than that, there are a couple of names I like for their sound rather than their meaning, but the only one I can think of right now is "Sousuke" and generally names that end in "suke". I'd never call my own kids that, but I do like the sound of it.

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  • BigfamJapan

    on Nov 14

    @TonetoEdo my son has a friend called Kairi, a boy, I quite like that name for a boy!

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