Japanese Baby Names
Regardless of language or culture, baby names are often chosen because they sound nice or have a special meaning; Japanese baby names are no exception.
You don’t have to be Japanese or speak the language fluently to appreciate how beautiful or unique some of the popular baby names are.
There are some Japanese baby names that sound very similar to English names or are easier to pronounce for people who don’t speak fluent Japanese.
Many Japanese words, phrases, and even names have been loosely derived from English and other languages; these words are known as katakana. They are often pronounced very similarly to the original word.
Japanese baby names that are similar to American English are also popular among those with mixed heritage.
This is referred to as hafu in Japanese; a person who is hafu is half Japanese and half another ethnicity. These names allow families to honor both cultures when choosing a name for their child.
Japanese Baby Names For Girls That Sound Like English
There are a plethora of names for girls that are beautiful and easily understood in both languages. A lot of names often given to girls in Japan sound almost exactly like the English version.
The main differences seen are either spelling or slight pronunciation differences due to accents.
Some simple examples of names that are extremely similar include:
- Hana; similar to Hannah
- Mari; similar to Mary or Marie
- Ema; similar to Emma
- Sara; similar to Sarah or Sara
- Jun; similar to June
- Karin; similar to Karen (also sometimes spelled like Karen in Japan)
- Maya; similar to Mya or Maya
- Erika; similar to Erica or Erika
Because the letter L is often pronounced like the letter R in Japanese accents, many of the names used for Japanese girls sound similar to typical English names.
This includes names like Rina, which is nice the way it is but sounds similar to Lena. Other examples include Arisa, Kairi, Emiri, and Eimi.
Some more unique names that can work in Japanese and English include Mika, Risa, Eri, Riria, and Rin. While these names have English equivalents, they are also stunning names when you honor the Japanese pronunciation. This list includes Megumi (Meg for short), Marisa, and Seira.
Japanese Baby Names For Boys That Sound Like English
One name given to many Japanese boys is Aran. It is pronounced very similarly to Aaron, but it can also be seen as a version of Alan.
Ren and Ken are two other names for Japanese boys that work in English as well. Noa is one more that Japan loves, sounding similar to Noah, which is a favorite of many English-speaking countries as well.
While Niko isn’t seen much in English countries, the name still translates very well. The same can be said for Yugo, which can be interpreted as Hugo or pronounced the same way in English as it is in Japan; you-go. Additionally, Jou and Jouji are similar names to Joe or George, though the pronunciation could take some time to get used to.
Mashu is another name that sounds very close to Matthew, making it a unique choice for a child. Jin is another; it is similar to either Jean or Jim, depending on how it’s pronounced.
Other names that are similar to English names but aren’t quite exact include:
- Isaku; similar to Isaac
- Miki; similar to Mike or Mikey
- Jiei; similar to Jei
- Toroi; similar to Troy
- Yugin; similar to Eugene
- Shimon; similar to Simon
- Riki; similar to Ricky
These names are not too difficult to pronounce, even if they sound slightly different than American English, so they can easily be used outside of Japan.
Gender Neutral Japanese Baby Names That Sound Like English
Rei is a name that Japan has used for both boys and girls, with Rei also being a short form for some longer female names like Reina.
This name is starting to be used more in English countries, though it may sometimes be spelled differently. Rei may be seen as a more feminine spelling, while Ray is considered more masculine.
Two names that are very alike are Keiko and Aiko, which both have a couple of nice ways to pronounce them. These two names can work well for any gender as well and are easy to sound out regardless of where you’re from.
Popular Japanese Baby Names In Japanese And English
Naomi has risen in popularity with the rise of Naomi Osaki, a world-famous tennis player who is of Japanese and Haitian descent.
Anna is another popular Japanese name that is often seen in English-speaking countries, though sometimes you will see it spelled Ana in Japan.
Mei is a name that has not only been chosen a lot in Japan but has been donned by popular Japanese characters in popular culture. As such, the name has spread worldwide, including in English countries. It may either be spelled like Mei, Mae, or May.
Ami is another example of a name that is often chosen in Japan, and although it’s not pronounced exactly like Amy, it looks very similar. In Japan, this name sounds like uh-mee, which is a gorgeous way of saying the name that also works well in American English.
Popular Japanese Baby Names With Special Meanings
Some names in Japan will remain sought-after because of the special meanings associated with them.
Sakura is one example of a lovely name that not only sounds pretty but means cherry blossom, an important cultural symbol for Japan. The name Aimi, mentioned before, translates to love or beauty.
Kimiko is another name that is special in Japan, also meaning either beautiful or valuable. The same is true of Natsumi, which means beautiful summer.
Amida is a name given to any gender and is a very sacred name as it was the name of a Buddha. Daichi is a name given to the firstborn son in a family, as that is what the name means.
