Spin the wheel for a random Japanese name with 1/N probability — a free Japanese name generator with no sign-up. The default 30-name list mixes the most popular modern boys and girls names (Haruto, Himari, Sōta, Tsumugi, …). Tap any category below to load that full list: popular boys (40), popular girls (40), traditional (35), nature & kanji-meaning (35), unisex (25), common surnames (50), samurai & historical (30), or anime / character-style (30). Every entry shows its kanji (漢字) and one-line English meaning, so you can pick a name by sound or by meaning.
The 40 boys names most given in Japan in recent years. Haruto, Sōta, and Yūto have topped the rankings through the 2010s and 2020s. Most pair a nature or light kanji with a strength kanji — 陽 (sun), 翔 (to soar), 大 (big), 真 (truth) — so the written form carries as much meaning as the sound.
Haruto (陽翔) – "sunlight" + "to soar"; one of Japan's most-given boys names of the past decade.
Sōta (颯太) – "swift wind" + "great, thick"; energetic and modern.
Yūto (悠人) – "calm, eternal" + "person."
Riku (陸) – "land, dry ground"; short and strong.
Haruki (春樹) – "spring" + "tree"; shared by novelist Haruki Murakami.
Ren (蓮) – "lotus"; a single-kanji name symbolizing purity.
Itsuki (樹) – "standing tree, timber."
Hinata (陽向) – "facing the sun"; a sunny, warm name.
Sora (空) – "sky."
Yamato (大和) – "great harmony"; the classical name for Japan itself.
Kaito (海斗) – "sea" + "dipper (the Big Dipper)."
Yuma (悠真) – "calm, distant" + "truth."
Asahi (朝陽) – "morning sun."
Takumi (匠) – "artisan, skilled craftsman."
Minato (湊) – "harbor, port."
Hayato (隼人) – "falcon" + "person."
Daiki (大輝) – "big" + "radiance, shine."
Sōsuke (宗介) – "origin, religion" + "to mediate, help."
Tsubasa (翼) – "wing"; evokes flight and freedom.
Shō (翔) – "to soar, to fly."
Yūki (優希) – "gentleness, superiority" + "hope."
Kōki (光輝) – "light" + "shine."
Ryōta (涼太) – "refreshing, cool" + "great."
Kenta (健太) – "healthy, strong" + "great."
Sōma (颯真) – "swift wind" + "truth."
Aoto (碧斗) – "blue, jade-green" + "dipper."
Yūsei (悠生) – "eternal" + "life."
Haru (陽) – "sun, light, warmth."
Kanata (彼方) – "the far distance, beyond."
Naoki (直樹) – "honest, straight" + "tree."
Kazuki (一輝) – "one" + "radiance."
Takeru (武) – "warrior, military, valor."
Mahiro (真大) – "truth" + "big, vast."
Yuito (結人) – "to tie, connect" + "person."
Ryūsei (流星) – "shooting star, meteor."
Eita (瑛太) – "sparkle of crystal" + "great."
Sōki (蒼空) – "blue sky."
Akira (明) – "bright, clear."
Tatsuki (竜希) – "dragon" + "hope."
Hiroto (大翔) – "big" + "to soar."
The 40 girls names most given in Japan in recent years. Himari, Tsumugi, and Yui lead the modern charts. Flower, light, and weaving kanji dominate — 陽 (sun), 結 (to tie/bind), 花 (flower), 桜 (cherry blossom) — often chosen for both their delicate sound and their auspicious meaning.
Himari (陽葵) – "sun" + "hollyhock"; a recent #1 girls name.
Tsumugi (紬) – "pongee silk; to spin thread."
Sara (紗良) – "thin silk gauze" + "good."
Yui (結衣) – "to tie" + "clothing."
Mei (芽依) – "sprout, bud" + "to rely on."
Aoi (葵) – "hollyhock"; calm and natural.
Rin (凛) – "dignified, cold and clear beauty."
Hina (陽菜) – "sun" + "greens, vegetable."
Ema (絵茉) – "picture" + "jasmine."
Sakura (桜) – "cherry blossom"; the iconic Japanese flower.
Yuna (結菜) – "to tie" + "greens."
Koharu (心春) – "heart" + "spring"; also a warm spell in late autumn.
Mio (澪) – "waterway, channel."
Ichika (一花) – "one" + "flower."
Akari (明里) – "bright" + "village, home."
Yuzuki (結月) – "to tie" + "moon."
Riko (莉子) – "jasmine" + "child."
Hana (花) – "flower."
Honoka (穂香) – "ear of grain" + "fragrance."
Nanami (七海) – "seven seas."
Yua (結愛) – "to tie" + "love."
Saki (咲希) – "to bloom" + "hope."
Misaki (美咲) – "beauty" + "blossom."
Wakana (若菜) – "young greens."
Yumi (由美) – "reason, cause" + "beauty."
Kaede (楓) – "maple tree."
Suzu (鈴) – "small bell."
Hiyori (日和) – "fine, sunny weather."
Momoka (桃花) – "peach blossom."
Aika (愛佳) – "love" + "excellent."
Rio (莉緒) – "jasmine" + "thread, beginning."
Mizuki (美月) – "beautiful moon."
Kanon (花音) – "flower" + "sound."
Sumire (菫) – "violet (flower)."
Tsubaki (椿) – "camellia."
Reina (玲奈) – "tinkling of jade" + a phonetic kanji.
Ayaka (彩花) – "color" + "flower."
Nao (菜緒) – "greens" + "thread, cord."
Emi (恵美) – "blessing, favor" + "beauty."
Ririka (莉々花) – "jasmine" repeated + "flower."
Classic names common among earlier generations. Boys names often end in -rō (郎, 'son': Tarō, Jirō, Saburō) or -shi/-o; girls names overwhelmingly end in -ko (子, 'child': Hanako, Akiko, Keiko). These were the standard for most of the 20th century and now carry a dignified, retro character.
Tarō (太郎) – "eldest son"; the archetypal traditional boys name.
Jirō (次郎) – "second son."
Saburō (三郎) – "third son."
Hiroshi (寛) – "tolerant, generous, broad-minded."
Takeshi (武) – "military, warrior, fierce."
Makoto (誠) – "sincerity, truth."
Osamu (治) – "to govern, to bring order."
Kenji (健二) – "healthy, strong" + "second (son)."
Akio (昭夫) – "bright, shining" + "man."
Masao (正男) – "righteous, correct" + "man."
Kazuo (一夫) – "first, one" + "man."
Isamu (勇) – "courage, bravery."
Noboru (昇) – "to rise, to ascend."
Susumu (進) – "to advance, to progress."
Tadashi (正) – "righteous, just, correct."
Minoru (実) – "to bear fruit, truth."
Shigeru (茂) – "to flourish, luxuriant growth."
Tsutomu (勉) – "diligence, effort."
Yutaka (豊) – "abundant, prosperous."
Mamoru (守) – "to protect, to defend."
Hideki (秀樹) – "excellent" + "tree."
Hanako (花子) – "flower child"; the classic everywoman's name.
Akiko (明子) – "bright, clear child."
Yoshiko (良子) – "good, virtuous child."
Keiko (恵子) – "blessed, favored child."
Yumiko (由美子) – "reason-beauty child."
Sachiko (幸子) – "happy, fortunate child."
Michiko (美智子) – "beauty-wisdom child"; borne by Empress Michiko.
Noriko (紀子) – "order, chronicle child."
Kazuko (和子) – "harmony, peace child."
Hiroko (裕子) – "abundant, generous child."
Junko (順子) – "obedient, in-order child."
Reiko (礼子) – "courtesy, propriety child."
Tomoko (智子) – "wisdom, intellect child."
Naoko (直子) – "honest, frank child."
Names built directly from a single nature kanji, where the meaning is the name. Sky (空), snow (雪), light (光), moon (月), and flowers like cherry (桜), lotus (蓮), and camellia (椿). These short, evocative names are popular precisely because their meaning is transparent at a glance.
Sora (空) – "sky"; open and boundless.
Hana (花) – "flower."
Yuki (雪) – "snow."
Hikari (光) – "light, radiance."
Tsuki (月) – "moon."
Hoshi (星) – "star."
Umi (海) – "sea, ocean."
Mori (森) – "forest, woods."
Kaede (楓) – "maple tree."
Sakura (桜) – "cherry blossom."
Hotaru (蛍) – "firefly."
Kasumi (霞) – "mist, haze."
Sumire (菫) – "violet flower."
Ren (蓮) – "lotus."
Aoi (葵) – "hollyhock."
Tsubaki (椿) – "camellia."
Botan (牡丹) – "peony."
Ayame (菖蒲) – "iris."
Ran (蘭) – "orchid."
Yuri (百合) – "lily."
Momo (桃) – "peach."
Ume (梅) – "plum blossom."
Kiku (菊) – "chrysanthemum"; the imperial flower.
Suzu (鈴) – "bell."
Nagi (凪) – "calm, a lull in the sea wind."
Arashi (嵐) – "storm, tempest."
Shion (紫苑) – "aster flower; deep violet."
Koharu (小春) – "little spring; an Indian-summer warm spell."
Natsumi (夏美) – "summer" + "beauty."
Akira (明) – "bright, dawning light."
Yuzu (柚) – "yuzu citron."
Kaze (風) – "wind."
Niji (虹) – "rainbow."
Wakaba (若葉) – "young, fresh leaves."
Konoha (木の葉) – "leaves of a tree."
Names worn comfortably by any gender in Japan. Hikaru (light), Kaoru (fragrance), Makoto (sincerity), and Nao (honest) read as masculine or feminine depending on the kanji chosen and the person. Many are single-kanji virtue or nature words.
Hikaru (光) – "light, radiance"; used for any gender.
Kaoru (薫) – "fragrance, perfume."
Makoto (誠) – "sincerity, truth."
Akira (晶) – "sparkle, crystal-clear."
Hinata (陽向) – "sunward, sunny place."
Aoi (葵) – "hollyhock."
Ren (蓮) – "lotus."
Itsuki (樹) – "standing tree."
Tsubasa (翼) – "wings."
Nao (直) – "honest, frank, straightforward."
Rei (玲) – "the tinkling sound of jade."
Yū (優) – "gentleness, excellence, tenderness."
Riku (陸) – "land."
Haru (春) – "spring."
Sora (空) – "sky."
Jun (純) – "pure, genuine."
Kei (慶) – "celebration, joy."
Mahiro (真宙) – "true" + "sky, space."
Chiaki (千秋) – "a thousand autumns."
Asahi (朝日) – "morning sun."
Towa (永遠) – "eternity, forever."
Tsumugi (紬) – "to spin thread, woven silk."
Michi (道) – "path, way, the Way."
Shinobu (忍) – "endurance, perseverance, stealth."
Izumi (泉) – "spring, fountain, water source."
The most frequent family names in Japan. Satō, Suzuki, Takahashi, and Tanaka top the list, together held by millions. Most describe a place or landscape — 山 (mountain), 田 (rice field), 川 (river), 本 (base/origin) — or contain 藤 (wisteria), a marker of descent from the ancient Fujiwara clan.
Satō (佐藤) – "to assist" + "wisteria"; the single most common surname in Japan.
Suzuki (鈴木) – "bell" + "tree"; the second most common.
Takahashi (高橋) – "tall bridge."
Tanaka (田中) – "in the middle of the rice field."
Watanabe (渡辺) – "crossing, ferry" + "vicinity."
Itō (伊藤) – "that one" + "wisteria."
Yamamoto (山本) – "base of the mountain."
Nakamura (中村) – "central village."
Kobayashi (小林) – "small forest, grove."
Katō (加藤) – "to add, increase" + "wisteria."
Yoshida (吉田) – "lucky, auspicious rice field."
Yamada (山田) – "mountain rice field."
Sasaki (佐々木) – "assist" (repeated) + "tree."
Yamaguchi (山口) – "mountain entrance, mouth of the mountain."
Saitō (斎藤) – "purification, worship" + "wisteria."
Matsumoto (松本) – "base of the pine."
Inoue (井上) – "above the well."
Kimura (木村) – "tree village."
Hayashi (林) – "woods, grove."
Shimizu (清水) – "clear, pure water."
Yamazaki (山崎) – "mountain promontory."
Mori (森) – "forest."
Abe (阿部) – an ancient clan name ("nook, corner" + clan).
Ikeda (池田) – "pond rice field."
Hashimoto (橋本) – "base of the bridge."
Yamashita (山下) – "below the mountain."
Ishikawa (石川) – "stone river."
Nakajima (中島) – "island in the middle."
Maeda (前田) – "rice field in front."
Fujita (藤田) – "wisteria field."
Ogawa (小川) – "small river, stream."
Gotō (後藤) – "behind, after" + "wisteria."
Okada (岡田) – "hill rice field."
Hasegawa (長谷川) – "long valley river."
Murakami (村上) – "above the village."
Kondō (近藤) – "near" + "wisteria."
Ishii (石井) – "stone well."
Sakamoto (坂本) – "base of the slope."
Endō (遠藤) – "distant" + "wisteria."
Aoki (青木) – "green, blue tree."
Fujii (藤井) – "wisteria well."
Nishimura (西村) – "west village."
Fukuda (福田) – "fortune, good-luck rice field."
Ōta (太田) – "big rice field."
Miura (三浦) – "three bays, three inlets."
Okamoto (岡本) – "base of the hill."
Matsuda (松田) – "pine rice field."
Nakagawa (中川) – "river in the middle."
Harada (原田) – "field, plain" + "rice paddy."
Kaneko (金子) – "gold" + "child."
Real warlords, swordsmen, and warriors from Japanese history, written family-name-first as in Japanese. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the country; Miyamoto Musashi and the Shinsengumi captains became legends of the blade. Useful for history fans and for naming period-drama characters.
Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) – the warlord (1534–1582) who launched Japan's reunification.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) – the peasant-born unifier who succeeded Nobunaga.
Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) – founder of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603.
Date Masamune (伊達政宗) – the "one-eyed dragon" daimyō of Ōshū.
Takeda Shingen (武田信玄) – the "Tiger of Kai."
Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信) – the "Dragon of Echigo," Shingen's great rival.
Sanada Yukimura (真田幸村) – celebrated hero of the Siege of Osaka.
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵) – legendary swordsman, author of "The Book of Five Rings."
Sasaki Kojirō (佐々木小次郎) – the master swordsman who duelled Musashi.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経) – tragic hero general of the Genpei War.
Taira no Kiyomori (平清盛) – head of the Taira clan at its height.
Tokugawa Yoshinobu (徳川慶喜) – the fifteenth and last shogun.
Saigō Takamori (西郷隆盛) – the "last true samurai" of the Satsuma Rebellion.
Sakamoto Ryōma (坂本龍馬) – reformer who helped end the shogunate.
Hijikata Toshizō (土方歳三) – vice-commander of the Shinsengumi.
Okita Sōji (沖田総司) – prodigious Shinsengumi captain.
Kondō Isami (近藤勇) – commander of the Shinsengumi.
Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀) – the general who betrayed Nobunaga at Honnō-ji.
Ishida Mitsunari (石田三成) – led the Western army at Sekigahara.
Maeda Toshiie (前田利家) – one of Nobunaga's foremost generals.
Hattori Hanzō (服部半蔵) – famed ninja in service of the Tokugawa.
Yagyū Munenori (柳生宗矩) – swordmaster and tutor to the shoguns.
Honda Tadakatsu (本多忠勝) – one of Ieyasu's "Four Heavenly Kings."
Naoe Kanetsugu (直江兼続) – retainer famed for the "Love" (愛) helmet crest.
Mōri Motonari (毛利元就) – cunning strategist of the Chūgoku region.
Hōjō Sōun (北条早雲) – pioneering early Sengoku daimyō.
Imagawa Yoshimoto (今川義元) – defeated by Nobunaga at Okehazama.
Kusunoki Masashige (楠木正成) – the enduring ideal of samurai loyalty.
Tomoe Gozen (巴御前) – legendary female warrior (onna-musha).
Yamamoto Kansuke (山本勘助) – the master strategist serving Takeda Shingen.
Striking, evocative names suited to original characters in anime, manga, novels, and games — drawn from dramatic kanji and Japanese mythology. Akatsuki (dawn), Raiden (thunder), and the Four Symbols Suzaku, Byakko, Seiryū, and Genbu work well for heroes, rivals, and fantasy beings.
Reika (麗華) – "elegant" + "flower"; a graceful heroine name.
Kurō (九郎) – "ninth son"; a classic warrior-hero name.
Rei (零) – "zero"; cool and minimal.
Kira (輝) – "sparkle, brilliance."
Tsukasa (司) – "to administer, director."
Ryūji (竜司) – "dragon" + "ruler."
Shion (紫苑) – "aster; deep violet."
Yami (闇) – "darkness"; a striking antagonist name.
Akatsuki (暁) – "dawn, daybreak."
Yukito (雪人) – "snow" + "person."
Raiden (雷電) – "thunder and lightning."
Kurenai (紅) – "crimson, deep red."
Hayate (颯) – "the sound of swift wind, a sudden gust."
Kaname (要) – "the pivot, the vital point."
Subaru (昴) – "the Pleiades star cluster."
Asuka (飛鳥) – "flying bird"; also a classical historical era.
Reiji (怜治) – "wise" + "to govern."
Shū (柊) – "holly (the tree)."
Kaguya (輝夜) – "shining night"; the moon princess of the Bamboo Cutter tale.
Yoru (夜) – "night."
Tsukuyomi (月読) – the Shinto god of the moon.
Suzaku (朱雀) – the Vermilion Phoenix, guardian of the south.
Byakko (白虎) – the White Tiger, guardian of the west.
Seiryū (青龍) – the Azure Dragon, guardian of the east.
Genbu (玄武) – the Black Tortoise, guardian of the north.
Kaoru (馨) – "fragrant, sweet-smelling."
Mikoto (尊) – "life; an honorific title for a deity."
Izanami (伊邪那美) – the Shinto creator goddess.
Amaterasu (天照) – the Shinto sun goddess.
Susanoo (須佐之男) – the Shinto god of storms and the sea.
Yes. Every one of the 285+ entries is annotated with its kanji (漢字) and a one-line English meaning — for example Haruto (陽翔, 'sunlight + to soar') or Satō (佐藤, 'assist + wisteria'). The romaji is what spins on the wheel; the kanji and meaning are listed in each category below so you can choose by sound or by meaning.
Yes — that is exactly what this wheel does. Load any category, optionally shuffle, then spin. Each remaining entry has 1/N probability of being selected via uniform random distribution on an HTML5 Canvas wheel with a 3,500 ms easeOutQuart deceleration. It works as a free Japanese name generator for stories, games, pets, usernames, or just curiosity.
In Japanese, the family name (surname) comes first and the given name second — Satō Haruto, not Haruto Satō. The samurai category is written family-name-first to match this convention. Most modern given names use one to three kanji; surnames usually use two and typically describe a place or landscape (mountain, rice field, river).
Yes. The Anime / Character-Style category collects dramatic names drawn from bold kanji and Japanese mythology — Akatsuki (暁, 'dawn'), Raiden (雷電, 'thunder and lightning'), and the Four Symbols Suzaku, Byakko, Seiryū, and Genbu. The nature, unisex, and samurai categories also suit original characters. Spin to break a naming block instantly.
Popular names (Haruto, Himari) are today's most-given baby names. Traditional names (Tarō, Hanako, Keiko) were the 20th-century standard — boys often ending in -rō (郎) and girls in -ko (子) — and now read as classic or retro. Nature names (Sora, Yuki, Sakura) are single kanji whose meaning IS the name. All three include full kanji and meaning for every entry.
