Japanese Name Column

February in Japan is a special month that bridges winter’s lingering chill and the first signs of spring’s renewal. From the traditional bean-throwing festival of Setsubun to the romantic atmosphere of Valentine’s Day, February holds a wealth of inspiration for baby names. In this article, we explore meaningful kanji, motifs like plum blossoms and camellias, and unique naming ideas that capture the essence of February’s transition from cold to warmth.

January in Japan is filled with the promise of new beginnings. From first shrine visits to the pristine imagery of winter’s snow, a baby born this month can carry the spirit of fresh starts and a clean slate. This article guides you through the special symbolism of a January birth, the seasonal elements that inspire parents, and how these motifs translate into kanji and names reflecting hope, clarity, and warmth during the coldest time of year.

In Japan, the top 10 most common family names account for approximately 10 percent of the Japanese population. You may have heard of these most common family names such as 佐藤(Satō), 鈴木(Suzuki), 高橋(Takahashi).

Also, many rare family names have been used by less than 100 people. Besides, there are more than 10,000 different family names that are extremely unique.

In Japan, you might encounter the situation that people use suffixes to attach to their names. We tend not to call someone’s name without suffixes unless she/he is your close friend or family member.

For instance, when you were introduced to Mr. Kenji Yamada at the first meeting, you wouldn’t say him ‘hi, how are you Kenji?” It seems friendly to some people but sounds like a bit impolite.

Having parents from two (or more) different cultural backgrounds offers a world of opportunities—language, cuisine, traditions, and of course, naming. When one parent is Japanese and the other is from another country, deciding on a child’s name can be both exciting and challenging. Some families want to reflect both cultures equally, while others prefer a name that sounds “international” and easy to pronounce in various languages. This article explores popular naming trends for children of mixed-nationality couples, highlighting examples from English-speaking countries, the France, Korea, China, Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Brazil. We’ll also cover how middle names work (or don’t) in Japan, and share a few practical tips on bridging cultural gaps.

The website 明治安田生命 releases the rankings of “the most popular kanji for names” every year.
Every single kanji has its meaning, therefore, parents think carefully about which kanji to use for naming their child. Let’s find out what was the most popular kanji used for naming in 2019.

The Japanese insurance company Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance compiles yearly rankings of “the most popular names” given to newborns in Japan. These rankings provide insight into local naming trends. In 2019, one big national event was the era change from Heisei (平成) to Reiwa (令和). After 31 years, the Heisei era ended, and everyone in Japan was excited to welcome Reiwa. Below, we’ll see how such cultural and historical changes may (or may not) have influenced baby naming.

Popular names change with the period. Certain names are trendy in each generation. This is because names change with the influence of each period, events, society, celebrities, etc. For Japanese people, they might often guess the generation in which a person was born just by listening to their name. Here is a recent history o of some naming trends.

Have you been to Okinawa?
Okinawa is the most western part of Japan and has a population of 1.45 million. It is composed of 37 inhabited remote islands with magnificent nature. Many people from the Japanese mainland migrate to Okinawa for the amazing nature.
Also, it is a very popular holiday destination for Japanese people, as well as for weddings and honeymoons.