200+ Cool Japanese Names People Actually Use with Their Meanings

There are so many cool Japanese names, and we compiled a list of more than 200 of them and some of their meanings. All of the names on our list are either currently popular names or have been popular in the past, meaning that you’re likely to meet someone with these names in Japan!

Table of Contents

1. 70 Cool Japanese Gender Neutral Names (and their meanings)
2. 75 Cool Japanese Girl Names (and their meanings)
3. 75 Cool Japanese Boy Names (and their meanings)

This article focuses on names that are actually used a lot in Japan. For kira-kira names (rare and unique names like Pikachu), a more in depth explanation of how Japanese names work and a list of the most recent popular Japanese names, check out our article Popular Japanese Names and Their Meaning (2022~2023 Ranking). However, that article only lists about 20 names, so if you want more options, please keep reading!

The same Japanese name can be written so many different ways thanks to the many kanji characters that have the same sound. Some parents choose names based on the sound, then choose the characters first, or they choose the character or meaning and create a name from there. Thus, the same name can have many different meanings - as parents choose the meaning out of what they hope for their child’s future. 

For example, the name Haruki can be written 悠樹, 春輝, 遥希, 陽輝, 遥輝, 春樹, 晴輝 - to list just a few!

For the sake of our article, we simply included the hiragana (basic alphabet) of the name and listed the meanings for some of the most popular ways the names are written. 

70 Cool Japanese Gender Neutral Names (and their meanings)

There are so many more gender neutral names in Japan now, thanks to parents being creative with the characters and meanings. In the near future, more names in the boys and girls list may end up on this list instead! Some of these gender neutral names still lean towards mostly boys or mostly girls, but as the number of parents using them for either is growing, we decided to list them here. 

1. Aki あき：autumn, bright, cheerful, hope

2. Akira あきら：bright, cheerful

3. Aoba あおば：lively, fresh, strong-willed

4. Aoi あおい：flower, sky, blue (color)

5. Asahi あさひ：sun, sunrise, sunshine

6. Asuka あすか：bright future, fly to great heights

7. Ayumu あゆむ：positive, going towards your dreams

8. Chiaki ちあき：thousand autumns, 

9. Haru はる：spring, warmth, clear skies

10. Haruhi はるひ：spring day, warmth
     

11. Haruka はるか：future, free, potential

12. Hikari ひかり：light, shine

13. Hikaru ひかる：light, shine

14. Hinata ひなた：sunflower, facing the sun, bright, positive

15. Iku いく：smart, cultured, versatile

16. Itsuki いつき：strong, reliable

17. Izumi いずみ：pure, beautiful, healthy

18. Jun じゅん：pure

19. Juri じゅり：generous, strong, dignified

20. Kaede かえで：maple, autumn born, vibrant, generous
     

21. Kairi かいり：gentle, accepting, righteous

22. Kaname かなめ：important, precious, need

23. Kaoru かおる：sophisticated, nice sound 

24. Kazuki かずき：pure, autumn moon

25. Kei けい：treasure, smart, kind, bright

26. Kou こう：light, blessing, health

27. Mahiro まひろ：generous, connects people

28. Makoto まこと：truth

29. Megumi めぐみ：grace

30. Michiru みちる：fulfill, be content, energetic
     

31. Minami みなみ：south, sun, beauty, fruitful

32. Minato みなと：harbor

33. Mirai みらい：future, hope

34. Misaki みさき：cape (literal), good omen, bloom beautifully

35. Mitsuki みつき：light, fresh, vibrant

36. Mitsuru みつる：fulfill, be content, energetic

37. Miyabi みやび：smart, noble

38. Mizuki みずき：fresh, vibrant

39. Nagisa なぎさ：peace, calm, protection, water's edge, beach
     

40. Nao なお：honest, direct

41. Narumi なるみ：beauty, 

42. Natsuki なつき：summer, bright, moonlight

43. Noa のあ：love and hope, blessing

44. Nozomi のぞみ：hope

45. Oto おと：sound, voice, music, attentive

46. Rei れい：flowers, serene, pathway

47. Rin りん：courage, bell, dignified

48. Rio りお：to shine, refined, loved, clever

49. Rion りおん：lion, strength, righteous

50. Ritsu りつ：righteous, disciplined
     

51. Rui るい：to challenge, active, cute 

52. Ruka るか：treasure, sophisticated, hope

53. Ryo りょう：dragon, strong, great, kind 

54. Satsuki さつき：born in May, May flower, strong

55. Sena せな：pure, clear, fresh, spiritual, aim for / shine like stars

56. Shinobu しのぶ：patient, enduring, strong against hardships

57. Shion しおん：autumn flower, patience, daintiness, love, gratitude

58. Shizuku しずく：droplet, beautiful, helpful

59. Sora そら：sky, heaven

60. Sui すい：considerate, smart, chic, understanding
     

61. Tamaki たまき：meet, travel, gem, connection

62. Toa とあ：forever

63. Tomo とも：friend

64. Toru (Tohru) とおる：transparent, eloquent, pure, refreshing

65. Tsubasa つばさ：fly to great heights, wings, protect

66. Yoshimi よしみ：friendly, good-natured, attractive

67. Yu (Yuu) ゆう：kind, smart, saves people

68. Yuki ゆき：snow, pure

69. Yuuki ゆうき：courage, strong, hope

70. Yuuri ゆうり：kind, smart

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75 Cool Japanese Girl Names (and their meanings)

While in the past, a common suffix for girls was -ko, that has shifted and more girls' names end with -ka, -ha, and -na. Flowers are still a popular choice to include in a girl’s name, but so is choosing names by sound and using characters to match the sound. 

1. Ai あい：love

2. Aimi あいみ：love, beauty

3. Aina あいな：love, born in spring, name given out of love 

4. Airi あいり：lovely, autumn, smart, 

5. Akane あかね：sophisticated, maroon, artistic

6. Akari あかり：light, positive, hope

7. Akie あきえ：light, wisdom, autumn

8. Amane あまね：prepared, see things through

9. Aya あや：adorn, add color to, colorful

10. Azusa あずさ：strong, determined
     

11. Chika ちか：great love (thousand love)

12. Chinatsu ちなつ：bright and passionate (a thousand summers)

13. Chise ちせ：cute, smart, sincere

14. Ema えま：grace, kind, loved

15. Fuuka ふうか：vibrant, generous, autumn flower, fragrant wind

16. Hana はな：flower

17. Hasumi はすみ：beautiful lotus

18. Hazuki はずき：moonlit leaves (literal), summer moon 

19. Himari ひまり：sun, sunflower, bright, positive

20. Hina ひな：sun, bright, positive, princess
     

21. Hiyori ひより：sun, harmony

22. Honoka ほのか：autumn beauty, autumn flower, summer, 

23. Ichika いちか：most splendid, strawberry flower (literal) 

24. Ikumi いずみ：smart, cultured, versatile

25. Iroha いろは：colorful, vibrant

26. Kaho かほ：summer, to set sail

27. Kanna かんな：friendly, beloved, live confidently

28. Kanon かのん：the sound/music of flowers (literal), to fulfill hopes

29. Kasumiかすみ：baby's breath (flower), fragrant, pure

30. Kazuha かずは：to grow strong and healthy
     

31. Kiho きほ：hope

32. Kiyoka きよか：pure

33. Koharu こはる ：small spring (literal), warmth, hope

34. Kotoha ことは：charming, beautiful like the traditional Japanese instrument koto

35. Kureha くれは：red maple, autumn born, vibrant, strong

36. Mana まな：sincere, beautiful

37. Mei めい：grow healthily and beloved

38. Midori みどり：green, fresh, grow healthily 

39. Mikoto みこと：sophisticated, beautiful koto (literal) 

40. Miku みく：future, potential, hope
     

41. Mio みお：gentle beauty, beautiful sakura, 

42. Mirei みれい：beautiful treasure, serene

43. Misato みさと：beautiful home

44. Misora みそら：beautiful sky

45. Miyu みゆ：beautiful connection (between people)

46. Mizuha みずは：youthful, new life

47. Nami なみ：beauty

48. Ouka おうか：sakura flower, spring in full bloom

49. Raika らいか：arrival of flowers/summer/joy/vibrance

50. Ran らん：orchid
     

51. Reina れいな：treasure, beautiful, sophisticated

52. Riko りこ：smart, sophisticated

53. Rinka りんか：dignified / sophisticated flower

54. Rino りの：bright, shining, treasure

55. Riona りおな：to shine, refined, loved, clever

56. Riora りおら：to shine, refined, loved, clever

57. Ruri るり：blue gem, jewel

58. Sae さえ：silk cloth (literal), wrapped in love

59. Sakura さくら：cherry blossom, blooming

60. Sana さな：healthy, gentle, beautiful
     

61. Seira せいら：spiritual, pure, 

62. Shiori しおり：gentle like the evening sea, poem

63. Shizuka しずか：calming fragrance

64. Suzu すず：bell, calm

65. Tao たお：phoenix, brave, many connections (with people)

66. Tsubaki つばき：camellia

67. Tsumugi つむぎ：soft thin cloth woven from raw silk (literal), humble and healthy

68. Umi うみ：ocean

69. Uta うた：song, music, poem

70. Wakana わかな：youthful, beautiful
     

71. Yua ゆあ：gentle and beloved/loving

72. Yui ゆい：to connect (people), only one (unique)

73. Yuka ゆか：attractive, gentle

74. Yuko (Yuuko) ゆうこ：gentle child

75. Yuzuki ゆずき：positive, moonlight, kind

75 Cool Japanese Boy Names (and their meanings)

Popular suffixes for boy names include -to,-ki (and in more older generations, -suke and -taro), shorter names have also become popular. 

1. Aito あいと：love

2. Akiharu あきはる：rising sun, autumn sun, spring sun

3. Akito あきと：bright, cheerful

4. Ao あお：blue (color), sky

5. Aoto あおと：blue (color), sky

6. Arata あらた：new

7. Daigo だいご：have great enlightenment/revelations

8. Daiki だいき：high hopes, shine greatly, great and strong like a tree 

9. Eito えいと：gem, distinguished

10. Fuma (Fuuma) ふうま：refined and sincere
     

11. Fumiya ふみや：smart and strong

12. Haruki はるき：spring, warm

13. Haruto はると：spring, calm, sun

14. Hayato はやと：autumn, courageous, falcon 

15. Hibiki ひびき：influence, sound

16. Hideaki ひであき：sincere and bright, excellent 

17. Hiro ひろ：hero, energetic, generous, accepting, versatile

18. Hiroto ひろと：hero, energetic, generous, accepting, versatile

19. Hokuto ほくと：the Big Dipper

20. Ibuki いぶき：arrival of spring, fresh wind
     

21. Iori いおり：simple, modest, reliable 

22. Isamu いさむ：courage, strength, encourage

23. Jin じん：considerate, benevolent, fast, prompt 

24. Kai かい：ocean

25. Kaito かいと：ocean

26. Kakeru かける：fly (to great heights)

27. Kanata かなた：future, potential

28. Kazuhiko かずひこ：knowledge, wisdom

29. Kazuma かずま：harmony and sincerity, one truth

30. Kazuya かずや：knowledge, wisdom
     

31. Kenshiro けんしろう：smart, humble, strong and healthy

32. Kento けんと：smart, humble, strong and healthy

33. Koga (Kouga) こうが：shining grace, shining river

34. Koji こうじ：constant, calm

35. Kotaro (Koutaro) こうたろう：clever, pious, kind

36. Kyohei きょうへい：reflective, enjoyment

37. Masahiro まさひろ：great truth, genuine

38. Masaki まさき：lead to hope, shine, leader 

39. Minato みなと：harbor, home

40. Musashi むさし：strong
     

41. Naoto なおと：honest and straightforward

42. Nobu のぶ：grow, attract, welcome, strong 

43. Otoya おとや：sound, voice, music, attentive

44. Ouji おうじ：prince

45. Raito らいと：light

46. Ren れん：lotus, sportsmanship

47. Reo れお：lion

48. Rihito りひと：do what's right, justice

49. Riku りく：land (literal) - be strong, support others

50. Ryosuke りょうすけ：cool, support, straightforward, honest
     

51. Ryunosuke りゅうのすけ：dragon, prosper, fly high

52. Ryusei りゅうせい：shooting star

53. Saku さく：bloom

54. Satoshi さとし：smart and considerate

55. Seito せいと：smart, pure

56. Shin しん：sincere, strong heart, new

57. Shoki (Shouki) しょうき：support, encourage, shine

58. Shun しゅん：fast, falcon, moment

59. Sogo (Sougo) そうご：prosper, strong

60. Soma (Souma) そうま：refined and sincere
     

61. Sorato そらと：sky

62. Sou そう：thoughtful, refined, cool and refreshing 

63. Subaru すばる：Pleiades (constellation)

64. Taiga たいが：tiger

65. Taisei たいせい：large sun/sincerity, capable, live fully 

66. Takumi たくみ：talented at a trade, do well in endeavors, to build 

67. Tomohiro ともひろ：smart, friendly

68. Torao とらお：tiger

69. Toshiyuki としゆき：sharp, clever

70. Tsukasa つかさ：government office (literal) - person who can lead
     

71. Wataru わたる：to cross or travel, positive, going towards your dreams

72. Yamato やまと：generous, harmonious, strong

73. Yugo (Yuugo) ゆうご：kind, distinct, capable

74. Yuma (Yuuma) ゆうま：responsible, leader

75. Yuto (Yuuto) ゆうと：kind, distinct, capable

To Close

There’s hundreds if not thousands of names out there thanks to the ability to write the same sound multiple ways and the seemingly endless combinations one can choose for the same name.

What’s important in choosing a Japanese name is to find a sound you like and a meaning that reflects the kind of person you hope your child grows up to be.