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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Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different researc... more

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

Angela is an honors student with a master's degree in Linguistics from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s Col... more

• 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
Hondo	Unisex	Warrior or loyal warrior
Honoka	Unisex	Harmony or peaceful spirit
Ichigo	Unisex	Strawberry or one with a cheerful spirit
Ichika	Unisex	First flower
Ichiro	Unisex	First son, first born
Ika	Unisex	Fish; Squid
Iku	Unisex	Death; To live
Illumi	Unisex	To light up; Illuminate
Ima	Unisex	Present; Now; Short for Immaculada; Immaculate
Imari	Unisex	Exotic, vibrant, porcelain

Immi	Unisex	Work; Labor
Imoni	Unisex	Faith
Inari	Unisex	Finnish goddess of fertility and agriculture
Inori	Unisex	Prayer or wish
Inu	Unisex	Dog
Iori	Unisex	Fragrant weaving; Weaving with colors
Iro	Unisex	Peaceful
Iroha	Unisex	Japanese alphabet, first step
Isana	Unisex	Gift from God
Issey	Unisex	Gracious, strong, determined

Itsumi	Unisex	Joyful; Beautiful; Peace
Izaya	Unisex	God is my salvation
Izen	Unisex	Word; Saying
Izumi	Unisex	Spring, fountain
Jakai	Unisex	Will rise; Will establish
Japana	Unisex	One who is energetic; Drive oriented; Ambition
Jenova	Unisex	Ancient deity; Celestial being
Joji	Unisex	God is gracious
Jona	Unisex	Dove
Jp	Unisex	Justice of the peace; Silver

Jubei	Unisex	The brave one
Juvia	Unisex	Rain or shower
Jyn	Unisex	Creative; Unique
Kae	Unisex	The sea
Kaeda	Unisex	Maple
Kaede	Unisex	Maple; Maple leaf
Kaen	Unisex	Fiery; Intense; Passionate
Kagura	Unisex	Divine entertainment; Ceremonial dance
Kaho	Unisex	Flower child
Kaiba	Unisex	Strong; Fearless; Assertive

Kaide	Unisex	Round; Lumpy; Maple; Beloved; Darling; Fighter; Warrior
Kaido	Unisex	Strength; Power; Ruler
Kaien	Unisex	Ocean-related; Sea-related
Kaihan	Unisex	Inspiring leader or warrior
Kaii	Unisex	Strong; Powerful; Leader
Kairi	Unisex	Sea; Ocean village
Kairu	Unisex	Navy; Marine
Kaisen	Unisex	Victorious warrior or triumphant soldier
Kaisha	Unisex	Healthy; Alive; Living
Kaiz	Unisex	Strength, determination, leadership

Kaiza	Unisex	Great leader; Powerful ruler
Kaizen	Unisex	Continuous improvement
Kaizo	Unisex	Restructured; Reconfigured
Kakashi	Unisex	Scarecrow or scarecrow ninja
Kaku	Unisex	Strong, Powerful, and Resolute
Kameko	Unisex	Turtle child or child of the turtle
Kamiko	Unisex	Superior child or superior beauty
Kanade	Unisex	Playing music
Kanae	Unisex	Seedling; Fruitful
Kaname	Unisex	Central or pivotal

Kanari	Unisex	Bird
Kano	Unisex	One's place; One's homeland
Kaomi	Unisex	Beautiful truth
Kaon	Unisex	Mysterious essence
Kaoru	Unisex	Fragant
Kariya	Unisex	Noble; Strong; Brave
Karou	Unisex	Fragrant
Kasai	Unisex	River; Sand
Kaseya	Unisex	Strong; Leader; Enlightened
Katai	Unisex	Strong and powerful

Katsu	Unisex	Victory; Win
Katsumi	Unisex	Win: To overcome
Kawai	Unisex	Cute and lovely
Kawaii	Unisex	Adorable; Cute
Kayori	Unisex	Graceful, delicate, enchanting
Kayto	Unisex	Unique and mysterious
Kaze	Unisex	Wind
Kazen	Unisex	Windy; Wind
Kazumi	Unisex	Beautiful; Harmony
Kazuto	Unisex	Harmony or peaceful

Keida	Unisex	Type of tree; Forest
Keigo	Unisex	Respectful, honorable, polite
Keito	Unisex	Arrow or blessed child
Kemari	Unisex	Rare; Unique; Pprecious
Kenshi	Unisex	Swordsmanship, strong, warrior
Kenta	Unisex	Strong, spirited, courageous
Kero	Unisex	Habitational name from farms in Finland; Variant of Keronen
Kiari	Unisex	To call; To shout
Kichi	Unisex	Lucky; Blessed
Kihara	Unisex	Curly hair

Kikyo	Unisex	Blooming chrysanthemum
Kilik	Unisex	Strength; Warrior; Protector
Kimari	Unisex	Unrestricted; Without limits
Kimura	Unisex	Tree village
Kin	Unisex	Golden
Kio	Unisex	Brave; Majestic; Strong
Kisa	Unisex	Kitty; Little cat
Kitai	Unisex	Hopeful, determined, strong
Kiyo	Unisex	Purity or pure
Kiyori	Unisex	Pure beauty

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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.