Japanese Names

mapleleaf | Jun 17, 2010 |

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Japanese first names are growing in popularity in the Americas and worldwide, mostly for their unique sound and meanings. Modern full names in Japan are somewhat like names in China, Vietnam, Korea, and other [arts of south east Asia in that the surname is followed by the given name. Japanese names do not typically contain a middle name. A normal Japanese name is written in kanji though some girl names are written only in hiragana (e.g. Sakura). Kanji is Chinese in origin but has a unique Japanese pronunciation. Some parents choose not to name their newborn in kanji but instead might use hiragana though this is a rare occurrence.

It's estimated that there are over 100,000 variations of names in Japan. Japanese last names are often derived from the geographical region or characteristic of the family's origin. For example the surname Tanaka literally means "middle rice field" and Nakamura means "in a village".

A usual male name in Japan often ends in "ro," which means "son." Another variation that is seen is "ta" or the name might contain "ichi", "kazu," "ji," or "dai." Female names are similar and end in "ko," "mi," "ka," or "na."

Names ending in "ka," "na," or "mi" have becoming increasingly popular since 1980. Some of the top trending names from 1994 to 2003 were Ai, Aya, Chihiro, Miho, Nanako, Riko, and Yuuka. Also, unlike western countries, where names tend to be in use for centuries, Japanese names tend to cycle out of existence in just a few generations. Also, you may have noted that very few names begin with B, D, G, J and Z. Those consonants are uncivilized in the Japanese culture. This holds true not just for personal names, but names for all things.

The royal-family in Japan also plays a role in Japanese naming trends. As time moves forward, it's hard to predict the naming trend that might be next. One thing is for sure though, naming a newborn baby in Japan isn't just about being trendy, but rather, the name itself will date your child over the years and will often represent what your hopes and aspirations are for them.

Just like any other name, if you decide on a Japanese name for your child be sure to choose carefully so the name for your newborn means something special to you.