Japanese Girl Names
Japanese female given names are formed from kanji compounds, with meanings determined by the characters selected. Common feminine endings include -ko (child, now mostly traditional), -mi (beauty), -ka (often using 花 or 香), -na (菜 or 奈), and -ri (often 梨 or 里). Themes frequently seen in girls’ names include flowers, seasons, and positive qualities, and the same pronunciation can be written with different kanji.
Since the late 20th century, -ko names have declined, while shorter names and endings like -a, -na, and -ri have risen; some girls’ names are written in hiragana. Examples include Ai, Aiko, Aika, Aina, Airi, Akane, Akari, Anzu, Asami, and Arisa.
Showing 50
of 593 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaya | Basque: "the end" or "completion". Japanese: various kanji, often rendered as "night rain" or "heavenly valley." | Basque, Japanese, Spanish | Girl | 18,146 #1 | |
| Aya | Varies by language - Arabic: "verse, sign, miracle"; Japanese: meanings depend on kanji, commonly "color, design, weave, beautiful"; Hebrew: "hawk/raptor, bird". | Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, Turkish | Girl | 10,089 #2 | |
| Kira | Multiple: 'dark-haired' (Irish); 'lady/noble' (Greek/Russian); 'ray/beam of light' (Sanskrit); 'shining/sparkling' (Japanese). | Greek, Hindi, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Sanskrit | Girl | 7,641 #3 | |
| Mina | Varies by origin: Persian 'azure/enamel', Sanskrit 'fish', Arabic 'harbor/port', or a diminutive of Wilhelmina meaning 'will/protection'. | Arabic, Germanic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Sanskrit, Scandinavian | Girl | 5,771 #4 | |
| Hana | Varies by language: 'grace' or 'favor' (Hebrew), 'flower' (Japanese), 'happiness/bliss' (Arabic), 'one' (Korean). | Arabic, Czech, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Slavic | Girl | 5,618 #5 | |
| Miya | Varies by origin: commonly 'beloved' (from Mia/Maria); in Japanese the meaning depends on the kanji - possible senses include 'beautiful', 'night', or 'shrine/temple'. | English, Japanese | Girl | 3,553 #6 | |
| Yuna | Varies by language and characters; commonly conveys ideas like 'gentle/superior', 'reason/origin', or combinations such as 'bind/tie' + 'love' depending on kanji/hanja. | Japanese, Korean | Girl | 3,353 #7 | |
| Kairi | Commonly interpreted as "sea village" (海里) or "sea + jasmine" (海莉), meaning varies with kanji | Japanese | Girl | 3,235 #8 | |
| Ayana | Varies by language: in Amharic/Oromo often rendered as 'beautiful' or 'beautiful flower'; in Sanskrit 'ayana' means 'path, journey, arrival'; in Japanese the meaning depends on the kanji but commonly combines elements like 'aya' (color/design) and 'na' (greens/vegetables/child). | Japanese, Sanskrit | Girl | 2,859 #9 | |
| Sana | Radiance, brilliance; also 'praise' (Arabic/Urdu); various meanings in Japanese depending on kanji; 'word' in Finnish. | Arabic, Finnish, Hindi, Japanese, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu | Girl | 2,736 #10 | |
| Tori | Victory; bird | English, Japanese, Latin | Girl | 2,700 #11 | |
| Kaiya | Often interpreted as 'sea' (from Hawaiian kai) or as a variant of Kaia meaning 'pure'; meanings vary by origin. | Hawaiian, Japanese | Girl | 2,647 #12 | |
| Amiya | In Sanskrit/Hindi contexts: "nectar", "delight" or "sweetness"; in Japanese the meaning varies by kanji. | Hindi, Indian, Japanese, Sanskrit | Girl | 2,439 #13 | |
| Ema | From Emma: "whole" or "universal" (Old German). In Japanese, unrelated - can refer to a votive "picture-horse" (絵馬) or have meanings depending on kanji. | Germanic, Japanese, Slavic | Girl | 2,361 #14 | |
| Yuri | Lily; varies by kanji | Japanese | Girl | 2,091 #15 | |
| Emi | In Japanese often written with kanji meaning 'beautiful blessing', 'beautiful smile', or 'smiling beauty'. As an English diminutive, tied to Emily (rival) or Amelia (work). | English, Japanese | Girl | 1,838 #16 | |
| Taya | Multi-origin name with no single established meaning; often used as a diminutive of Tatiana or as a modern standalone name. Specific meanings vary by language and source. | English, Hebrew, Japanese, Slavic | Girl | 1,331 #17 | |
| Sora | Sky; conch shell | Japanese, Korean | Girl | 1,243 #18 | |
| Mari | Variant of Mary/Maria - linked to Hebrew Miryam; often interpreted as 'bitter', 'beloved' or 'wished-for child'; in Japanese meaning varies by kanji (e.g., 'truth', 'jasmine'). | Basque, Estonian, Finnish, Georgian, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin | Girl | 1,190 #19 | |
| Rumi | Japanese: meaning varies by kanji (commonly 'beauty', 'lapis', 'flow', etc.); Persian/Turkic/Arabic: 'from Rūm' (of Anatolia/Byzantine lands) | Arabic, Japanese, Persian | Girl | 1,141 #20 | |
| Akari | Light; brightness; illumination (meaning varies with kanji) | Japanese | Girl | 1,124 #21 | |
| Aina | Varies by culture - Malagasy: "life"; Japanese: depends on kanji (commonly 'ai' = love + 'na' = greens/child/place); Scandinavian/Catalan: used as a form of Aino/Anna (meanings related to 'the only one' or 'grace'). | Catalan, Japanese, Scandinavian | Girl | 1,118 #22 | |
| Aira | Varies by origin. In Japanese contexts often associated with 愛 (ai, 'love') and interpreted as 'beloved' or 'love + (second kanji)'. In other usages it is a modern given name without a single traditional meaning. | Finnish, Japanese | Girl | 839 #23 | |
| Nami | In Japanese commonly 'wave' (波) or meanings such as 'beautiful' when written with kanji like 奈美; in Korean the meaning varies depending on the Hanja characters used. | Japanese, Korean | Girl | 821 #24 | |
| Aiko | Beloved child (ai 'love' + ko 'child') | Japanese | Girl | 688 #25 | |
| Rina | Hebrew: "joy, joyful song, melody." Also used in Japanese with varied kanji meanings (often floral or pleasant meanings such as "jasmine"), and as a short form of names like Caterina/Marina. | Hebrew, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Sanskrit, Spanish | Girl | 682 #26 | |
| Kanon | Often written as 花音 meaning "flower sound"; can also mean "fragrant sound," "song sound," or similar depending on the kanji used. | Japanese | Girl | 662 #27 | |
| Kaori | Fragrance; scent (commonly associated with the kanji 香) | Japanese | Girl | 642 #28 | |
| Mai | Varies by language - Vietnamese: 'apricot/plum blossom'; Japanese: meaning depends on kanji (e.g., 'dance', 'true garment'); Chinese (surname): 'wheat'; English/Arabic: often treated as a form of 'May' (the month) or similar-sounding names. | Arabic, Chinese, English, Japanese, Vietnamese | Girl | 617 #29 | |
| Sakura | Cherry blossom | Japanese | Girl | 609 #30 | |
| Mao | {'Japanese': "Varies by kanji; common senses include 'true center' (真央), 'dance/center' (舞央), 'jasmine center' (茉央). Generally a feminine name with delicate/positive connotations.", 'Chinese': "As a surname (毛) meaning 'hair/fur'. As a given name it can be written with different characters conveying meanings such as 'flourishing/luxuriant' (茂), 'reed/thatched grass' (茅), or 'exemplary/esteemed' (懋).", 'Vietnamese': "Mão denotes the Rabbit in the Vietnamese zodiac (the earthly branch 'Mão')."} | Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese | Girl | 535 #31 | |
| Hina | Henna; chick; sunlight | Arabic, Japanese, Polynesian, Urdu | Girl | 498 #32 | |
| Runa | From Old Norse rún meaning "secret" or "rune"; in Japanese used phonetically and often associated with Luna (moon). | Japanese, Norse, Scandinavian | Girl | 475 #33 | |
| Yumi | Meaning varies by kanji in Japanese - common senses include 'bow' (弓) or combinations conveying 'beauty' (e.g., 由美, 裕美, 優美). In Korean, meanings depend on hanja and often pair a syllable meaning like 'reason/will/gentle' with 'beauty'. | Japanese | Girl | 475 #34 | |
| Saya | Varies by language and kanji. In Japanese it can mean 'scabbard' (鞘) or be written with kanji such as 沙 ('sand'), 紗 ('gauze/silk'), 矢 ('arrow'), producing gentle/clear imagery depending on characters used. | Japanese | Girl | 469 #35 | |
| Nao | Varies by kanji; common meanings include "honest/straight" (直), "esteem/respect" (尚), or combinations such as 奈央 (phonetic components) or 菜央 ("greens/vegetable" + "center"). | Japanese | Girl | 468 #36 | |
| Emiko | Beautiful child (can also be interpreted as smiling or blessed child depending on the kanji) | Japanese | Girl | 467 #37 | |
| Nara | Person; country | Japanese, Korean, Sanskrit | Girl | 449 #38 | |
| Saori | Meaning varies by kanji; commonly written 沙織 ('sand' + 'weave') or 紗織 ('fine silk' + 'weave'), often interpreted as 'beautiful weave'. | Japanese | Girl | 449 #39 | |
| Maho | Varies by kanji; commonly combines 'ma' (true/genuine) with 'ho' (sail, ear of grain, step) - e.g. 'true sail' or 'true ear (grain)'. | Japanese | Girl | 445 #40 | |
| Ayane | Varies by kanji; commonly "colorful sound" or "design/pattern + sound" (e.g., 彩音, 綾音). | Japanese | Girl | 437 #41 | |
| Erina | Varies by language - commonly associated with 'peace' (from Greek Irene/Eirene); in Japanese the meaning depends on the kanji used (e.g., 'blessing', 'village', 'pear/pear tree' elements). | English, Greek, Irish, Japanese | Girl | 427 #42 | |
| Juna | Most commonly linked to the month of June or the Roman goddess Juno (queen/protector) - broadly 'youthful' or 'born in June'. In some traditions or spellings it can be associated with meanings like 'harvest' or 'paradise' (via Jana/Junnah). | Arabic, English, Japanese, Korean, Latin | Girl | 412 #43 | |
| Sayuri | Small lily | Japanese | Girl | 392 #44 | |
| Hira | Commonly 'diamond' in South Asian languages; linked to the Cave of Hira in Islamic tradition; in Japanese from 平 meaning 'flat/level/peace'. | Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Persian, Urdu | Girl | 340 #45 | |
| Arissa | Likely "best/excellent" (Greek) or related to "lion" (Hebrew); Japanese forms have variable meanings depending on kanji. | Greek, Hebrew, Japanese | Girl | 320 #46 | |
| Maika | Varies by origin: in Japanese meanings depend on kanji (commonly 'dance' + 'fragrance'); in Basque/Spanish a pet form of Maria (Mary); in Hawaiian a form of Michael ('Who is like God'). | Basque, Hawaiian, Japanese, Spanish | Girl | 303 #47 | |
| Inari | Finnish/Sámi: 'of/from Inari' (a place in northern Finland). Japanese: the Shinto deity Inari, associated with rice, fertility, prosperity and foxes. | Finnish, Japanese | Girl | 299 #48 | |
| Nari | Korean: "lily"; Sanskrit/Hindi: "woman"; Japanese: meaning varies by kanji | Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Sanskrit | Girl | 284 #49 | |
| Kaida | Varies by origin and spelling. In Japanese the meaning depends on the kanji (examples: 海田 “sea + field”, 佳田 “good/beautiful + field”); as a variant of Arabic Qaida (قاعدة) it can imply “base/rule/foundation”. | Japanese | Girl | 271 #50 |
Japanese Girls name popularity over time
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Japanese-origin name in our dataset.
593
Names in this origin
10
With data in 2025
0
Births 2025
21,874
Peak year 0