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

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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... read full bio

• 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
Pikachu	Unisex	A sparkling sound made by a mouse
Pon	Unisex	Blessing; Fortunate
Raizo	Unisex	Strong, intelligent, and mysterious
Ramen	Unisex	Japanese noodle soup dish
Rean	Unisex	Loyal and brave
Reiki	Unisex	A practice of healing the spirit
Reiko	Unisex	Lovely child
Reila	Unisex	Lively; God has given
Reimi	Unisex	Guardian, loyal, caring
Renji	Unisex	Lotus; Benevolent; Righteous

Renoa	Unisex	Powerful; Unique; Mysterious
Renya	Unisex	Song of God
Reo	Unisex	Cherry blossom; River
Reon	Unisex	Bell; Orchestra
Reona	Unisex	Lotus in the pond
Revy	Unisex	Shadowy, rebellious, fierce
Richu	Unisex	Bright; Brilliant; Intellectual
Riho	Unisex	Gentle, graceful
Riken	Unisex	Strong, powerful, noble
Rikishi	Unisex	Sumo wrestler

Rin	Unisex	A cold, severe and dignified person
Rinka	Unisex	Simple; Elegant; Flowing
Rinna	Unisex	Joyful and lively
Riri	Unisex	Beautiful; Jasmine
Rito	Unisex	Joyful; Rhythmical; Playful
Riyona	Unisex	Singing; Melody
Riyu	Unisex	Reason; Truth
Roronoa	Unisex	Strong; Fearless; Warrior
Ruki	Unisex	Bright blue
Rydia	Unisex	Gift of God

Ryona	Unisex	Blessed guardian
Ryujin	Unisex	Dragon god or dragon spirit
Ryuko	Unisex	Ddragon child; Child of the dragon
Ryusei	Unisex	Shooting star
Sacai	Unisex	Unique and rare
Saiyan	Unisex	A warrior race from outer space
Sakiya	Unisex	Protector; One who brings happiness
Saku	Unisex	Remembrance of the Divine
Samurai	Unisex	Warrior, honor, discipline
Sanae	Unisex	Radiance or brilliance

Sanin	Unisex	Bright; Radiant
Sanyu	Unisex	Happiness
Sarada	Unisex	Goddess of knowledge, faith, and purity
Saryn	Unisex	Strong; Graceful
Sasori	Unisex	Scorpion
Satori	Unisex	Enlightenment or awakening
Satoshi	Unisex	Clear thinking; Quick learner
Sayori	Unisex	Joyful, cheerful, peaceful
Sayu	Unisex	Swift river
Sei	Unisex	victory, achievement, successful

Seiji	Unisex	Pure; Truthful; Sincere
Seiya	Unisex	Serene night
Setsuna	Unisex	Momentary; Transient; Intense sorrow
Shakai	Unisex	Community, social interaction
Shanoa	Unisex	God's grace
Shiba	Unisex	Brushwood; Firewood
Shiki	Unisex	The four seasns of the year
Shinobu	Unisex	Endurance; Patience
Shinra	Unisex	Flame; Divine power
Shinya	Unisex	Night or truth

Shione	Unisex	Tide; Sound of waves
Shoan	Unisex	Peaceful; Tranquil
Shun	Unisex	A fast and talented person
Soma	Unisex	No
Sonna	Unisex	One's wishes; True desire
Sony	Unisex	Electric, innovative, technology
Sorai	Unisex	Great reaping; Harvest
Sota	Unisex	Swift; Quick
Subaru	Unisex	One who is uniting; A term identifying the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus
Suzuka	Unisex	Bell; Small bell

Suzuki	Unisex	A common surname in Japan; Bell of wood
Suzume	Unisex	Sparrow
Sylphrena	Unisex	Mythological air spirit; Fairy
Tabata	Unisex	Strength and perseverance
Tade	Unisex	Heart; Courageous heart
Taia	Unisex	Gazelle; Ibex
Taiden	Unisex	Strong, courageous, and noble
Taigen	Unisex	Strong, fearless, warrior
Taiyo	Unisex	Sun, sunlight, radiant
Tajiri	Unisex	Rich; Wealthy

Takeru	Unisex	Strong and courageous warrior
Takumi	Unisex	Skillful craftsman
Tamashini	Unisex	A soul; One who is very soulful
Tamron	Unisex	Enchanting; Strong; Unique
Tanaka	Unisex	We have become beautiful; Good
Tanjiro	Unisex	Persistent and strong-minded leader
Taru	Unisex	A vast and huge sea of water
Tatsuki	Unisex	Strong, courageous, talented
Temari	Unisex	Hand ball, wind like
Tenten	Unisex	Heaven; Sky

Toban	Unisex	A princess
Tojo	Unisex	Strong and determined
Toki	Unisex	Time, opportunity, period
Tomie	Unisex	Blessed; Auspicious
Toru	Unisex	A vast and huge sea of water
Toshi	Unisex	Talented; Year; Agile; Year of plenty
Toshiba	Unisex	East Shibaura
Totoro	Unisex	Troll
Touka	Unisex	Wisteria flower
Touya	Unisex	Peach tree valley

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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

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