455 Japanese Baby Unisex Names With Meanings

Let your baby blossom with a name that honors tradition, resilience, and hard work.

Written by Praggya Joshi, MA, BEd Specialty: Child education & activitiesExperience: 2 years

Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been ... more

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Fact-checked by Angela Alex, MA Specialty: Baby NamesExperience: 2 years

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• Sep 5, 2023

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Naming customs in Japan have a rich historical, cultural, and traditional significance, with each name carrying layers of meaning and reflecting societal values.

Traditionally, Japanese names consist of kanji characters, logographic symbols borrowed from Chinese characters. These characters carry specific meanings and can be combined to form unique names. Japanese names often have profound meanings rooted in nature, seasons, virtues, or desirable qualities.

In Japan, it is common for names to be written in hiragana, which is a syllabary used in the Japanese writing system. Unlike alphabets, hiragana characters represent syllables rather than individual sounds or whole words. Additionally, for foreign names, katakana, another syllabary in Japanese, may be used. The naming convention in Japan follows the East Asian style, where the family name is placed before the given name. For instance, in the name Suzuki Hiroshi, "Suzuki" is the family name followed by "Hiroshi," the given name (1).

The names given in Japan carry immense cultural importance, serving as a reflection of a person's character and values. Each name embodies ancient Japanese beliefs, as well as artistic and creative practices like gardening, architecture, haiku poetry, and the noble traditions of the Samurai Bushido Code. Furthermore, these names often provide insights into a person's birth order, exemplified by names like 'Taro,' which signifies the status of being the first-born male.

The Enamdict dictionary, a comprehensive compilation of Japanese Proper Names, documents a vast collection of over 138,000 Japanese family names. Similar to many countries, certain family names exhibit higher concentrations in specific regions within Japan. For instance, names like Chinen (知念) and Shimabukuro (島袋) are frequently encountered in Okinawa, but their prevalence in other parts of Japan is comparatively lower (1).

Naming practices in Japan encompass a blend of historical, cultural, and traditional elements. Whether traditional or contemporary, the process of naming boys and girls in Japan remains an essential aspect of Japanese culture, reflecting values, connections, and aspirations within society.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Aoi	Unisex	Hollyhock; Green; Blue
Kei	Unisex	Square jewel; Blessing; Wise; Respect; Excellence
Ren	Unisex	Lotus blossom
Sana	Unisex	Brilliance; Praise
Airi	Unisex	Colorful; Cheerful; Fresh
Airin	Unisex	Peaceful; Graceful; Beautiful
Aiya	Unisex	Bird
Aizen	Unisex	Beloved; Affectionate
Ajin	Unisex	Gold; Precious
Akai	Unisex	Red

Akashi	Unisex	Red bridge; Bright stone
Akatsuki	Unisex	Dawn; Daybreak
Akaya	Unisex	Vibrant; Fiery
Akeira	Unisex	Bright; Clear; Ideal
Akeno	Unisex	Bright, shining
Akiara	Unisex	A bright person
Akie	Unisex	Graceful, intelligent, serene
Akino	Unisex	Autumn field
Akisha	Unisex	She who is intelligent
Akita	Unisex	Breed of bear-hunting dog from the mountainous regions of northern Japan

Akito	Unisex	Bright person; Autumn season
Akiya	Unisex	Bright; Autumn
Akoya	Unisex	Bright; Precious; Pure
Akuma	Unisex	Demon; Devil
Alexiel	Unisex	Graceful; Strong; Dvine
Amai	Unisex	Sweet
Amane	Unisex	Peaceful, serene, tranquil
Amaterasu	Unisex	Shining in heaven
Anime	Unisex	Animation
Anki	Unisex	Graceful; Merciful

Aoki	Unisex	An evergreen blue tree
Arai	Unisex	Arai - Noble, strong, elegant
Arashi	Unisex	Storm; Tempest
Arisa	Unisex	Beautiful future
Asada	Unisex	Essence of gratitude
Asai	Unisex	Morning; Sunrise
Asuma	Unisex	True guardian
Asumi	Unisex	Beautiful purity; Pure beauty
Asuna	Unisex	Light, bright, morning
Atari	Unisex	Japanese word for success or victory

Ayami	Unisex	Exquisite and graceful
Ayano	Unisex	Colorful, serene, beautiful
Ayato	Unisex	Versatile and determined
Ayuri	Unisex	Walker of beauty; My beautiful walk
Azai	Unisex	Strength
Azami	Unisex	Flower or thistle
Azumi	Unisex	Safe residence; Peaceful dwelling
Bachi	Unisex	Stroke; Hit
Bento	Unisex	Blessed; Blessing
Bulma	Unisex	Intelligent and adventurous

Caisen	Unisex	Warrior; Strong; Victorious
Camry	Unisex	Crown
Chidori	Unisex	A thousand birds
Chiharu	Unisex	Springs and clear skies
Chisa	Unisex	Small; Precious
Chise	Unisex	A thousand blessings; A thousand storks
Danuja	Unisex	Knight; a ruler
Deidara	Unisex	Explosive artist
Denki	Unisex	Electricity
Doi	Unisex	Mountain; Earth

Eevee	Unisex	Cute and versatile Pokémon
Eiko	Unisex	Child of splendor
Eizan	Unisex	Sharp and intelligent
Emari	Unisex	Blessed with grace
Emiya	Unisex	Archer, Protector, Skillful
Emori	Unisex	Blessed with beauty
Enix	Unisex	Unique; Innovative; Forward-thinking
Enso	Unisex	Circle, Zen, Enlightenment
Escanor	Unisex	The shining one
Evee	Unisex	Giver of life; To breathe

Fuka	Unisex	Breeze or fusion
Fumi	Unisex	Literature; History
Gion	Unisex	God is gracious
Hachi	Unisex	Eight; A bee or flowerpot
Hajime	Unisex	Beginning; Start
Hanabi	Unisex	Fireworks, celebration, beauty
Hanaya	Unisex	Flower shop
Hane	Unisex	Feather; Wing
Hannya	Unisex	Angry, vengeful spirit
Hanya	Unisex	Graceful queen

Harue	Unisex	Spring Bough; Sunshine
Haruka	Unisex	Distant or far away
Haruna	Unisex	Joyful or mountain of happiness
Hatsumi	Unisex	First beauty
Hayami	Unisex	Mountain beauty
Hibana	Unisex	Spark
Hikaru	Unisex	Radiance; Light
Himari	Unisex	Gentle, sunny, peaceful
Himawari	Unisex	Sunflower or Sun's Flower
Hime	Unisex	Princess

Hinami	Unisex	Delicate, beautiful, charming
Hinode	Unisex	Sunrise
Hiromi	Unisex	Exalted, broad view
Hisoka	Unisex	Secretive; Reserved
Hitachi	Unisex	Sunrise
Hitomi	Unisex	Pupil of the eye
Hitomu	Unisex	Wisdom; Intellect; Beautiful
Hiyori	Unisex	Weather
Homura	Unisex	Flame; Firelight
Hona	Unisex	Bearer of the garden

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Discover this diverse, exquisite, and thoughtfully curated list of Japanese unisex baby names with meanings, each carrying immaculate cultural significance. These names serve as timeless expressions of the country’s undying spirit and emphasize the connection between all genders. In an evolving world embracing flexibility and individuality, these unisex names allow parents to give their children a unique yet inclusive identity. We hope that this collection acts as a helpful guide for you to make an informed choice for your little one.

Infographic: Japanese Unisex Baby Names For Modern Parents

Japanese names usually take inspiration from nature, virtues, different seasons, and the desirable qualities in people. The Kanji characters are of profound significance in Japanese names and can be combined in different sequences to give rise to unique names. Discover the beauty of Japanese unisex baby names with the help of this enchanting and informative infographic. Breaking free from the traditional gender naming patterns, these unisex names provide interesting options to parents.

exploring the beauty of japanese unisex names (infographic)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there any Japanese unisex names related to history?

Names like Akira, meaning ‘light,’ ‘bright,’ or ‘clear,’ is a unisex name, and it is associated with one of Japan’s renowned filmmakers Akira Kurosawa. Katsumi is another unisex Japanese name that means ‘overcome,’ ‘victory,’ or ‘beautiful.’ It can be associated with Katsumi Nomizu, a Japanese-American mathematician famous for his work in differential geometry.

2. How does using Japanese unisex names set children apart from their peers?

Japanese unisex names can set apart your child from their peers because generally, Japanese names have certain suffixes attached to them at the end of the name, like ‘ro,’ ‘ta,’ or ‘ichi,’ are associated with male names, whereas suffixes like ‘ko,’ ‘mi,’ or ‘ka,’ are commonly seen with female names.

3. Are there any special rules or guidelines for choosing Japanese Baby Unisex Names?

Japanese unisex names most likely follow the same rules and guidelines when picking a name for a baby. The arrangement of the name would be a family name followed by the given name. The family name is usually patrilineal and comes before the given name. The given name is chosen at birth and is generally written in the kanji script. However, there are certain cases where names can be written using the phonetic syllabary of hiragana or katakana. It is more common for women to write their names in the hiragana syllabary than men. Japanese names tend not to include any middle names. It is also essential to consider the meaning of the name so that the family accepts it. Pronunciation is another important aspect, as well as spellings since Japanese names can have multiple spellings to their names (1).

References:

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Understanding Japanese Names;
https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/all-about-japanese-names

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.