Roda Nama Jepang — 285+ nama, kanji & arti

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."

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."

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.

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.