455 Japanese Baby Unisex Names With Meanings

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

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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
Towa	Unisex	Luck, harmony, eternity
Tsubaki	Unisex	Camellia flower or beautiful flower
Tsukasa	Unisex	Light, purity, harmony
Tsunami	Unisex	Destructive natural disaster
Tsuyu	Unisex	Dew; Rainy season
Ume	Unisex	Plum blossom
Umi	Unisex	Sea or ocean
Uni	Unisex	One; single; Unique
Usagi	Unisex	Rabbit
Wisteria	Unisex	Wister's flower

Xion	Unisex	Strong; Fierce; Powerful
Yamara	Unisex	Water lady
Yanai	Unisex	Dove; Peaceful
Yasuke	Unisex	Warrior or Beyond expectation
Yen	Unisex	Renewal, grace, peace
Yoimiya	Unisex	Fire goddess; Sacred fire
Yomi	Unisex	Underworld; Land of the dead
Yori	Unisex	Dependable, loyal
Yua	Unisex	Binding love; Affectionate love
Yugi	Unisex	Game; Playful one

Yui	Unisex	Binding, gentle, delicate
Yuina	Unisex	Peaceful, graceful, gentle
Yuka	Unisex	Good; Beautiful
Yukari	Unisex	To go far; Abundant
Yuki	Unisex	Wintery, snow, happiness
Yukino	Unisex	Snowy
Yukio	Unisex	Snow boy
Yuko	Unisex	Elegant and gentle
Yuma	Unisex	Desert town or son of the chief (Japanese)
Yume	Unisex	Dream, vision, imagination

Yumeko	Unisex	Brave; Courageous
Yunalesca	Unisex	Mystical and powerful
Yuni	Unisex	Beautiful as a flower
Yusei	Unisex	Excellent, strong, gifted
Yusuke	Unisex	Strong, courageous, warrior
Yuta	Unisex	Brave or courageous warrior
Yuuki	Unisex	Courageous happiness
Yuuna	Unisex	Graceful, gentle, kind
Yuya	Unisex	Supreme; Courageous warrior
Yuyan	Unisex	Jade eye; Beautiful jade

Yuzu	Unisex	Citrus fruit
Yuzuki	Unisex	Moon, snow, gentle
Zakaya	Unisex	God remembers
Zen	Unisex	A school of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition
Zeni	Unisex	Zenith
Zenny	Unisex	Peace; Tranquility; Relaxation
Zeon	Unisex	Powerful; Influential; Leader
Zeref	Unisex	Darkness; Power; Mysterious
Zo	Unisex	Spiritual leader
Zori	Unisex	Simplicity; Tradition

Zorie	Unisex	Dawn
Zuka	Unisex	To appear suddenly
Zuki	Unisex	Moonlight
Zumi	Unisex	The one who is experienced or who knows the way
Zura	Unisex	Strong warrior

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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.