Free · No sign-up · Kanji, romaji and meaning

Japanese Name Generator

Get Japanese names with kanji, romaji and meaning. Type your name to see names that start like yours, then copy any name in one tap.

Haruto Sato Haruto = sun + soar · Sato = help + wisteria
Sakura Suzuki Sakura = cherry blossom · Suzuki = bell + tree
Ren Takahashi Ren = lotus · Takahashi = tall + bridge
Hina Tanaka Hina = sun + greens (sunny, fresh) · Tanaka = rice field + middle
Riku Yamamoto Riku = land · Yamamoto = mountain + base
Yui Nakamura Yui = bond, tie · Nakamura = middle + village
Kaito Kobayashi Kaito = sea + big dipper · Kobayashi = small + forest
Aoi Kato Aoi = hollyhock · Kato = add + wisteria
Takumi Yoshida Takumi = artisan · Yoshida = lucky + rice field
Mio Hayashi Mio = waterway, channel · Hayashi = woods
Sota Matsumoto Sota = blue + strong · Matsumoto = pine + base
Akari Shimizu Akari = bright + village · Shimizu = clear + water

Kanji, romaji and meaning for every name
Female, male, first or family names
Names that start like yours

How to use the Japanese name generator

Type your name (optional)

Enter your own name to get Japanese names that start with the same letters. Leave it empty for a random mix.

Pick a type and gender

Choose a full name with the given name first or the family name first, first names only, or family names only. Then pick female, male or any.

Copy the romaji or the kanji

Press Copy to copy the name in English letters, or tap the kanji to copy the Japanese characters. Press Generate more for a fresh batch.

How Japanese names work

A Japanese name has two parts: a family name and a given name. In Japan the family name comes first, so the writer Haruki Murakami is Murakami Haruki at home. Outside Japan the order is usually flipped, which is why this tool lets you choose either order.

Names are written in kanji, characters that each carry a meaning. The same sound can be written with different kanji, so Haruto can mean “sun and soar” or something else entirely depending on the characters. Romaji is the same name written in English letters so it is easy to read and pronounce.

Many girls’ names from older generations end in -ko, which means “child”, like Hanako or Yoko. Newer names are often shorter and softer, like Hina, Mio or Rin. People also add endings such as -san after a name to be polite.

Popular Japanese names and their meanings

These first names are common in Japan today. Press the tool above to see many more.

Female names

Name	Kanji	Meaning
Sakura	桜	cherry blossom
Hana	花	flower
Yui	結衣	bond, tie
Aoi	葵	hollyhock
Rin	凛	dignified, cool and clear
Mio	澪	waterway, channel
Yuki	雪	snow
Akari	明里	bright + village

Male names

Name	Kanji	Meaning
Haruto	陽翔	sun + soar
Ren	蓮	lotus
Riku	陸	land
Minato	湊	harbor
Takumi	匠	artisan
Kaito	海斗	sea + big dipper
Daiki	大輝	great + radiance
Hayato	隼人	falcon + person

Common Japanese last names

Sato and Suzuki are among the most common family names in Japan, followed by Takahashi and Tanaka. Many family names come from places and nature, such as rice fields, mountains, rivers and bridges.

Family name	Kanji	Meaning
Sato	佐藤	help + wisteria
Suzuki	鈴木	bell + tree
Takahashi	高橋	tall + bridge
Tanaka	田中	rice field + middle
Watanabe	渡辺	cross over + edge
Yamamoto	山本	mountain + base
Nakamura	中村	middle + village
Kobayashi	小林	small + forest
Kato	加藤	add + wisteria
Yoshida	吉田	lucky + rice field

How to get a Japanese name from your English name

There is no single correct translation of a name, so there are two common ways to do it. The first is by sound: Japanese writes foreign names in katakana, so Emily becomes エミリー. The generator uses this idea when you type your name, and shows Japanese names that start with the same letters.

The second way is by meaning. Look at the meanings under each result and pick the one that suits you, like Sakura for cherry blossom or Ren for lotus. Choose the name you like, not the one that sounds closest.

If you want to use a name for something permanent, such as a tattoo or a legal document, ask a native Japanese speaker to check the kanji and the reading first.

Tips for choosing a Japanese name

Pick by meaning. The meaning line under each name tells you what the kanji stand for.
Say it out loud. Japanese names are easy to pronounce, with each syllable said clearly.
Mind the order. Use family name first for a Japanese-style name, or given name first for English-style writing.
Match the setting. Older-style names ending in -ko suit a historical story, while short names like Rin and Ren feel modern.
Check before you commit. For tattoos or official use, have a native speaker confirm the kanji.

What people use Japanese names for

Use	How it helps
Anime and manga characters	Name an original character with a real Japanese name and a meaning that fits their personality.
Writing and fiction	Give characters believable names for stories set in Japan, with the correct family-name-first order.
Games and roleplay	Pick a name for a tabletop or online character, or for a clan or guild.
Learning Japanese	See how kanji, romaji and meaning fit together, and practice reading names.
Usernames and nicknames	Use a short Japanese name as a handle, or turn it into a gamertag.

More name generators

Need other kinds of names? Try our Random Name Generator for US names, the Last Name Generator for surnames, the Username Generator for handles, or the Nickname Generator for cute and funny nicknames.

Want a nickname to go with it?

The nickname generator gives you cute, cool and funny nicknames in one click, or builds them around your own name.

Try the nickname generator

Frequently asked questions

Is the Japanese name generator free?

Yes. It is 100% free, with no sign-up and no limit on how many names you generate.

How do I get a Japanese name from my English name?

Type your name into the box and press Generate. The tool shows Japanese names that start with the same letters, with the kanji and meaning for each one. You can also pick any name you like by its meaning.

Are these real Japanese names?

Yes. The first names and family names are real, commonly used Japanese names. The full names are random combinations, so a match with a real person is a coincidence.

Which comes first in a Japanese name, the family name or the given name?

In Japan the family name comes first, then the given name. Use the Name type menu to choose family name first or given name first.

What does the kanji mean?

Kanji are Japanese characters that each carry a meaning. The line under each name shows what its kanji stand for. The same sound can be written with different kanji, so one reading can have several meanings.

Can I use these names for a tattoo?

We do not recommend it without checking first. Ask a native Japanese speaker to confirm that the kanji and the reading are right before you make anything permanent.

Does it work for boys and girls?

Yes. Use the Gender menu to choose female or male names, or leave it on Any for a mix.

Do you save the names I type?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to our server.