Japanese Girl Names
Japanese girl names are some of the most poetic in the world. Parents build them from kanji for flowers, seasons, light and virtues, so a name like Sakura (cherry blossom) or Hina (sun + spring greens) paints a small picture. We’ve gathered more than 100 Japanese girl names, each with a common kanji spelling and its meaning.
You’ll see how tastes have shifted: the once-universal -ko (子, “child”) ending of names like Keiko and Yoko is now rare, replaced by soft sounds such as Himari, Mei and Tsumugi. Pair this list with our guide to Japanese names and Japanese boy names, or explore flower names for girls from around the world.
Popular Japanese girl names right now
These names have led recent Japanese baby-name surveys. Notice how many use kanji for sun (陽), flowers (花, 葵) and threads or weaving (紬, 結).
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Himari | 陽葵 | Sun + hollyhock |
| Tsumugi | 紬 | Pongee silk; to spin thread |
| Mei | 芽衣 | Sprout + clothing |
| Yui | 結衣 | Tie, bind + clothing |
| Hina | 陽菜 | Sun + greens |
| Rin | 凛 | Dignified, cold and clear |
| Mio | 澪 | Waterway, a boat’s wake |
| Sana | 紗菜 | Gauze + greens |
| Yuna | 結菜 | Bind + greens |
| Akari | 朱里 | Vermilion + village (also 灯, “light”) |
| Koharu | 心春 | Heart + spring |
| Ema | 恵麻 | Blessing + hemp |
| Riko | 莉子 | Jasmine + child |
| Ichika | 一花 | One flower |
| Mitsuki | 美月 | Beautiful moon |
| Yuzuki | 柚月 | Citron + moon |
| Iroha | 彩葉 | Colorful leaf; also the old Japanese alphabet poem |
| Kanon | 花音 | Flower + sound |
| Aoi | 葵 | Hollyhock |
| Sakura | 桜 | Cherry blossom |
Japanese flower names for girls
Flowers are central to Japanese naming, from spring’s cherry blossoms to autumn’s bellflowers. More ideas: names that mean flower.
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hana | 花 | Flower, blossom |
| Sakurako | 桜子 | Cherry blossom child |
| Yuri | 百合 | Lily |
| Ayame | 菖蒲 | Iris |
| Kikyo | 桔梗 | Chinese bellflower |
| Tsubaki | 椿 | Camellia |
| Botan | 牡丹 | Peony |
| Momo | 桃 | Peach, peach blossom |
| Ume | 梅 | Plum blossom |
| Kiku | 菊 | Chrysanthemum |
| Sumire | 菫 | Violet |
| Ran | 蘭 | Orchid |
| Nadeshiko | 撫子 | Pink (dianthus); symbol of ideal Japanese womanhood |
| Karin | 花梨 | Chinese quince |
| Hanae | 花恵 | Flower + blessing |
| Ren (girl) | 蓮 | Lotus |
| Kaede | 楓 | Maple |
| Aya | 彩 | Color, design |
Nature and sky names
Moon, snow and sea kanji give these names a quiet, seasonal feeling. See also names that mean moon and names that mean snow.
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tsuki | 月 | Moon |
| Yuki | 雪 | Snow |
| Miyuki | 美雪 | Beautiful snow |
| Sayuri | 小百合 | Small lily |
| Hikari | 光 | Light, radiance |
| Hoshi | 星 | Star |
| Umi | 海 | Sea |
| Nami | 波 | Wave |
| Shizuku | 雫 | Water droplet |
| Sora (girl) | 空 | Sky |
| Kasumi | 霞 | Mist, haze |
| Kohana | 小花 | Little flower |
| Natsuki | 夏希 | Summer + hope |
| Haruka | 遥 / 春香 | Distant / spring fragrance |
| Chiharu | 千春 | A thousand springs |
| Akane | 茜 | Deep red, madder plant |
| Midori | 翠 | Green |
| Asuka | 明日香 | Tomorrow + fragrance |
| Kaori | 香織 | Fragrance + weave |
| Hotaru | 蛍 | Firefly |
Classic Japanese girl names ending in -ko
For much of the 20th century, most Japanese girls’ names ended in 子 (-ko, “child”). Today they read as elegant and a little retro, the way vintage girl names do in English.
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aiko | 愛子 | Beloved child |
| Keiko | 恵子 | Blessed child |
| Yoko | 洋子 / 陽子 | Ocean child / sunny child |
| Michiko | 美智子 | Beautiful wise child (name of the Empress Emerita) |
| Sachiko | 幸子 | Happy, fortunate child |
| Hanako | 花子 | Flower child |
| Akiko | 明子 | Bright child |
| Emiko | 恵美子 | Blessed, beautiful child |
| Kazuko | 和子 | Harmonious child |
| Naoko | 直子 | Honest child |
| Masako | 雅子 | Elegant child (name of Empress Masako) |
| Tomoko | 智子 | Wise child |
| Noriko | 典子 | Child of rules, principles |
| Reiko | 麗子 | Lovely child |
| Ryoko | 涼子 | Refreshing child |
| Yumiko | 由美子 | Reason + beautiful child |
| Junko | 純子 | Pure child |
| Kyoko | 京子 | Capital child |
Short and sweet Japanese girl names
Easy to say in English and Japanese alike.
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Emi | 恵美 | Blessed beauty |
| Ai | 愛 | Love |
| Mai | 舞 | Dance |
| Nana | 七海 | Seven seas |
| Rei | 麗 | Lovely, beautiful |
| Saki | 咲 | Blossom |
| Mao | 真央 | True center |
| Nao | 奈央 | Honest, straightforward (varies by kanji) |
| Mika | 美香 | Beautiful fragrance |
| Rina | 里奈 | Village + Nara |
| Kana | 佳奈 | Good, beautiful |
| Yume | 夢 | Dream |
| Mari | 真理 | Truth, reason |
| Eri | 絵里 | Picture + village |
Japanese girl names with meaningful virtues
These names carry wishes for character: love, grace, wisdom and happiness. For similar meanings, see names that mean love.
| Name | Common kanji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Megumi | 恵 | Blessing, grace |
| Nozomi | 望 | Hope, wish |
| Chiyo | 千代 | A thousand generations |
| Misaki | 美咲 | Beautiful blossom |
| Ayaka | 彩花 | Colorful flower |
| Kokoro | 心 | Heart, mind, spirit |
| Sachi | 幸 | Happiness, good fortune |
| Shiori | 栞 | Bookmark; guide |
| Kotone | 琴音 | Sound of the koto harp |
| Kiyomi | 清美 | Pure beauty |
| Manami | 愛美 | Love + beauty |
| Tomomi | 智美 | Wisdom + beauty |
Tips for picking a Japanese girl name
- Choose meaning through kanji. The same sound can mean “snow” (雪) or “happiness” (幸); if you use characters, pick them deliberately.
- Think about the -ko ending. Names like Aiko feel classic and easy for English speakers; dropping -ko (Ai, Hana) feels more modern.
- Check pronunciation. Japanese vowels are pure: Emi is “EH-mee,” not “EE-mee.” Short names keep the sound intact abroad.
- Look at the full name. Japanese places the family name first; in English order, say the first and last name together to check the rhythm.
- Borrow respectfully. If you have no Japanese ties, choose a name you understand, like Hana or Yuki, rather than a surname or a sacred term.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Japanese girl name?
Himari (陽葵), Tsumugi (紬), Mei (芽衣) and Rin (凛) have all topped Meiji Yasuda’s annual name ranking in recent years.
What Japanese girl name means cherry blossom?
Sakura (桜) means cherry blossom. Sakurako (桜子) adds “child,” and Ouka (桜花) is a rarer literary version.
Why do so many Japanese girl names end in -ko?
The ending 子 means “child.” It was a sign of refinement in aristocratic names and became nearly universal in the early and mid-1900s before falling out of fashion.
What Japanese name means moon?
Tsuki means moon, and moon kanji appear in names like Mitsuki (美月, beautiful moon), Yuzuki (柚月) and Satsuki (皐月, the fifth month).
Is Aiko a Japanese name?
Yes. Aiko (愛子) means “beloved child” and is the name of Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito.