Japanese families give a lot of thought to names for their baby. Many Japanese baby names for girls have origins steeped in Japanese history, religion, and their love for nature.
Japanese Baby Names for Girls
In Japanese, the meaning of a name can vary somewhat depending on the characters, or kanji, that is used. You may find that a name has more meanings than the most common ones offered below.
Cute Japanese Names for Girls
These names not only sound cute but they have positive, upbeat meanings. They are good choices for a girl with a sunny disposition and outlook on life.
- Aki - Sparkle
- Ami - Friend
- Anzu - Apricot
- Aya - Colorful
- Chiaki - Sparkling light
- Emiko - Beautiful, prosperous child
- Etsu - Delight
- Etsuko or Etsudo - Joyous child
- Haru - Springtime
- Harue - Sunshine
- Ima - Now
- Jin - Tender
- Junko - Obedience child
- Kei - Blessing
- Keomi - Pure
- Kichi - Lucky
- Kiko - Hope
- Kin - Golden
- Kioko - Shares happiness
- Ko - Baby
- Koemi - Smiling
- Makaira - One who brings happiness
- Mami - Genuine
- Mana - Affection
- Mayu - Genuine
- Mei - Sprout
- Mieko - Brightness of light
- Mikka - Three days
- Mitsu - Light
- Miwa - Harmony
- Naoko - Docile child
- Nishi - West
- Noa - Love and affection
- Ohta - Pure
- Okimi - Bright shining light
- Rika - Fragrance
- Rai - Trust
- Raku - Pleasure
- Rui - Affectionate
- Ruri - Emerald
- Saki - Hope
- Sanyu - Happiness
- Suki - Beloved one
- Takara - Jewel
- Yo - Positive
- Yuki - Happiness
Beautiful Japanese Names for Girls
Japanese culture has a great love for all things beautiful. These names either describe beautiful things or beautiful people.
- Aimi - Beautiful love
- Aiya - Beautiful silk
- Asami - Morning beauty
- Emi - Beautiful smile
- Harumi - Spring beauty
- Hayami - Rare beauty
- Hiromi - Abundant beauty
- Kayo - Beautiful generation
- Kazumi - Harmonious beauty
- Kirika - Natural beauty
- Kiyomi - Pure beauty
- Koto - Beautiful harp
- Kumi - Forever beautiful
- Manami - Affectionate beauty
- Masami - Elegant beauty
- Masumi - Increasing beauty
- Mayumi - True beauty
- Mi - Beauty
- Michiko - Beautiful and wise child
- Miho - Beauty and truth
- Mika - Beautiful fragrance
- Miku - Beautiful sky
- Minako - Beautiful child
- Mitsuko - Child of light
- Miu - Beautiful feather
- Miyako - Beautiful child
- Miyoko - Beautiful generations child
- Miyu - Beautiful truth
- Narumi - Beauty
- Natsumi - Summer beauty
- Sumiko - Beautiful child of goodness
- Tamiko - Great beauty
- Yumi - Beauty
Japanese Mythological Names for Girls
For some unique Japanese names for girls, look to Japanese mythology and folklore. There are many goddesses and female mythical creatures that can make for intriguing and unusual names.
- Ainu - A goddess of fertility
- Amabie - A type of mermaid in Japanese myth
- Amaterasu - Shinto goddess of the sun, the name means "shining heaven"
- Ameonna - A female spirit that makes rain
- Benzaiten - Buddhist goddess of things that flow (water, time, music, etc.)
- Hannya - A female demon
- Kishimojin - Buddhist goddess who was a protector of children
- Kisshōten - Buddhist goddess of happiness and beauty
- Kitsune - A fox spirit
- Kiyohime - A female serpent demon
- Izanami - Shinto goddess of creation and death
- Jorōgumo - A creature that can appear as a spider or a beautiful female
- Kami - In Japanese mythology, a spirit or deity
- Kukurihime - Shinto goddess of meditation and negotiation
- Mizuchi - A water dragon
- Ningyo - A mermaid
- Sen - Wood fairy
- Tamayori-hime - Daughter of the sea-dragon god, the name means "divine bride"
- Tennin - An angelic being in Japanese Buddhism
- Toyotama-hime - Known as "Lady Bountiful Soul" or the "Luxuriant Jewel Princess.
- Toyouke-Ōmikami - Shinto goddess of agriculture and industry
- Ukemochi - Shinto goddess of food
- Uzume - Shinto goddess of the dawn and the arts
- Yōsei - A fairy
Gothic Japanese Girl Names
The Japanese think carefully about naming babies and tend to find names about positive subjects. Finding a name on the "darker side," like these gothic baby names for girls, will definitely set your baby apart.
- Ahmya - Black rain
- Amaya - Night rain
- Kaida or Kayda - Little dragon
- Katsuki - Moon
- Kohaku - Amber
- Mari - Rebellion
- Mika - The new moon
- Nariko - Thunder Child
- Rin - A cold, but dignified, person
- Sayoko - Evening child
- Sunako - Dark side
- Tatsuo - Female dragon
- Tsukiko - Moon child
- Usagi - Moon
- Yoru - Dark
Powerful Japanese Girl Names
When raising a young baby girl to be a strong, independent person, it can help to give her a name that promotes positive, powerful qualities like wisdom, honor and harmony.
- Aia - Ruler
- Arisu - Noble
- Chie - Wisdom
- Dai - Great
- Danuja - Ruler
- Fumiko - Intellectual
- Haruki - Shining brightly
- Hekima - Wisdom
- Hide - Excellent
- Hideko - Splendid child
- Hikari - Light
- Hiroko - Rich child
- Japana - Ambitious
- Kamiko - Superior child
- Kana - Powerful
- Kano - Skill
- Kata - Worthy
- Katana - Honorable
- Katsu - Victorious
- Katsumi - Overcomes
- Kazuko - Harmonious and peaceful child
- Keiko - Respected child
- Keina - Prosperity
- Kimi - Honorable
- Kimmi - Righteous
- Kitiara - Blade from the north
- Kokoro - Soul
- Machiko - Fortunate child
- Maeko - Truthful child
- Maho - Honest
- Mariko - Genuine
- Masae - Elegant
- Masako - Honest child
- Michi - The upright path
- Mirai - Future
- Misako - Fascinating child
- Nagi - Calm
- Nakano - Famous female warrior from the Boshin War
- Nao - Honest
- Nobuko - Faithful child
- Noriko - Rule of law
- Nozomi - Dependable
- Oki - A master
- Reiki - Healing spirit
- Rikona - Intelligence
- Ryoko - Bright child
- Sachiko - Child with good luck
- Sadashi - Ambitious
- Saeko - Serene child
- Sai - Intelligent
- Sakae or Sakai - Prosperous
- Satomi - beautiful
- Seina - Noble baby
- Setsuko - Temperate
- Shiniqua - Victorious woman
- Subaru - One who unites
- Sumiye - Smart girl
- Yasu - Assertive
Floral Japanese Girl Names
Flowers are well loved by the Japanese and feature frequently in their classical and modern culture. These names come from the many Japanese words for different types of flowers found in the country.
- Akahana - Bright red flower
- Akari - Red plum
- Akina - Spring flower
- Ayaka - Colorful flower
- Ayame - Iris
- Chika - Scattered flowers
- Hana or Hanae or Hanako or Hanami - Blossom or flower
- Himari - Good hollyhock
- Honoka - Harmony and flower
- Hotaru - Blossom
- Kanon - Blossom
- Kiku - Chrysanthemum
- Koge - Scented flower
- Kohana - Little flower
- Misa - Beautiful bud
- Misaki - Beautiful new flower
- Misako - Beautiful blossom child
- Namika - Flower of the wave
- Nanako - Child of the greens (or apple tree)
- Nara - Flower from heaven
- Ran - Water lily or orchid
- Rio - Cherry blossom
- Ruqa - Bright blue flower
- Sakiko - Blossom child
- Sakura - Cherry blossom
- Sakurako - Child of the cherry blossom
- Sayuri - Lily
- Sumire - Lovely violet
- Tsubaki - Camellia flower
- Ume - Plum blossom
- Umeko - Child of the plum blossom
- Yoshiko - Fragrant child
- Yuri - Lily
- Yuriko - Lily child
Japanese Girl Names From Nature
In addition to flowers, nature features heavily in Japanese art and culture as well as folklore and religion. These names come from all aspects of the natural world such as trees, stars, animals and the ocean.
- Chizu - Thousand storks
- Chinami - One thousand waves
- Cho - Butterfly
- Doi - Mountain or earth
- Hina - Sun
- Hoshi or Hoshiko - Star
- Iwa - Rock
- Izumi - Spring or fountain
- Kaede - Maple leaf
- Kairy - Sea
- Kame - Tortoise or long-lived
- Kameko - Tortoise child
- Kasumi - Mist
- Kazane - Sound the wind makes
- Kazue - Branch
- Kosuke - Rising sun
- Kozakura - Cherry tree
- Kozue - Tree
- Kukiko - Snow
- Kuma - Bear
- Kuri - Chestnut
- Maiya - Rice valley
- Mamiko - Daughter of the sea
- Matsuko - Pine tree
- Miki - Flower stem
- Minako - Apple tree
- Minoru - To bear fruit
- Mio - Beautiful cherry blossom
- Miyuki - Snow
- Momiji - Red leaves
- Momo - Peach
- Momoka - Hundreds of flowers
- Morie - Beach or bay
- Morika - Forest fragrance
- Moriko - Forest child
- Morina - Forest town
- Nanako - Child of the greens
- Nanami - Seven seas
- Orini - Field
- Rini - Little bunny
- Saiua - Ripe fruit
- Sango - Coral
- Shika - Deer
- Shinju - Pearl
- Shino - Like a stem of bamboo
- Sora - Sky
- Sugi - Cedar tree
- Suzume - Sparrow
- Taka - Honorable peregrine (bird)
- Taree - Bending branch
- Taru or Toru - A large sea
- Taura - Lakes
- Taya - Valley field
- Taki - Waterfall
- Tora - Female tiger
- Tori - Bird
- Umi - Ocean
- Usagi - Rabbit
- Wakumi - Spring (water)
- Youko - Sunshine
Anime Japanese Names for Girls
One area of Japanese culture that it is recognized for worldwide is manga and anime. If you're a fan, there are many compelling female characters you can use for name inspiration.
- Akame - Red eye (Akame Ga Kill)
- Akane - Deep red (Psycho Pass)
- Akeno - Bright shining field (High School DxD)
- Akira - Bright and intelligent (Akira)
- Asuna - Tomorrow's apple tree (Sword Art Online)
- Fujiko - Child of wisteria (Lupin III)
- Hinata - Sunflower (Naruto)
- Homura - Fire or flame (Madoka Magica)
- Koko - Stork (Jormungand)
- Kushina - A fruit tree (Naruto Shippūden)
- Maki - Precious, true (Fire Force)
- Mikasa - Three hats of bamboo (Attack on Titan)
- Motoko - Child of the capital (Ghost in the Shell)
- Nana - Vegetables or greens (Nana)
- Shiki - Four seasons (Kara no Kyoukai)
- Touka - Good perfume (Tokyo Ghoul)
- Tsukuyo - Moon (Gintama)
- Tsunade - A reserved person who warms up (Naruto)
Choosing a Japanese Name for Your Baby Girl
Japanese culture has a rich collection of names for you to choose from. You can look to the past for names from cultural legends or to the present day with Japanese popular culture. Take your time "trying names on" to find one that will fit your baby best.
