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26,551 first names, 70,620 last names, 333,585 kanji variations.
one of the best Japanese name search tools for your baby!
This name is also used as a surname:
Horikawa
The 73th emperor’s posthumous name of Japan. He was enthroned in 1086 CE.
In Japanese culture, kanji are characters that originated from Chinese script, and the meaning of a name changes depending on the kanji characters chosen. A name with only one kanji variation is considered unique and rare in Japan. Below is the kanji representation of "Horikawa."
堀 means "moat, canal, ditch."
Moat - A defensive water channel around a structure.
Canal - An artificial waterway.
Ditch - A trench dug in the ground.
Cave - A room or chamber dug into the ground.
Hole - A hole or opening in the ground.
Moat - Moats represent strategic protection, creating boundaries that safeguard what is precious. May your child wisely establish boundaries, protecting themselves and those they love.
Canal - Being canal represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be canal, letting this quality guide their path.
Ditch - Earth represents stability, nurturing, and solid foundation. May your child stand on solid ground with deep roots.
Cave - Earth represents stability, nurturing, and solid foundation. May your child stand on solid ground with deep roots.
Hole - Holes represent potential, space for filling, and opportunity. May your child fill the holes in the world with their unique gifts.
河 means "river, stream, milky way."
River - A large flowing body of water.
Stream - A Watercourse; a flowing channel.
River - Rivers symbolize the continuous flow of life, perseverance, and the journey toward the sea. May your child's life flow steadily like a river, carving their own path with quiet determination.
Yellow River - Rivers symbolize the continuous flow of life, perseverance, and the journey toward the sea. May your child's life flow steadily like a river, carving their own path with quiet determination.
Stream - Streams represent freshness, the beginning of journeys, and the purity of mountain springs. May your child carry the freshness of a mountain stream, pure of heart and full of life.
Milky Way - The sky represents limitless possibility, aspiration, and higher ideals. May your child reach toward the sky with boundless dreams.
天 means "sky, ruler of the universe, nature."
Ruler of the Universe - The Supreme Being; the controller of all things.
Birthright - Something that is inherited or naturally given.
Sky - In Japan, the sky (天) symbolizes limitless potential, divine protection, and aspirations beyond earthly bounds. May your child reach for the heavens with boundless ambition, while remaining grounded in humility.
Ruler of the Universe - The supreme ruler represents ultimate authority, wisdom, and the ordering of all things. May your child order their life with supreme wisdom, governing themselves before governing others.
Nature - Nature represents the inherent order of things, authenticity, and the wisdom of the natural world. May your child live in harmony with nature, true to their authentic self.
Birthright - Birth represents new beginnings, potential, and the miracle of new life. May your child bring new beginnings wherever they go, birthing fresh possibilities.
Emperor - An emperor holds supreme responsibility for the welfare of many. May your child rise to meet great responsibilities with wisdom.
Gods - Gods - Deities; also, the realm where they dwell - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of gods throughout life.
Innate - Innate - From Birth; natural disposition - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of innate throughout life.
Weather - Weather patterns reflect the natural order and the acceptance of life's changing seasons. May your child embrace all of life's seasons, finding meaning in sunshine and storm alike.
皇 means "emperor, imperial, heaven."
Busy - Engaged in activity
Hectic - Characterized by intense activity or busyness.
Hurried - Moving or acting quickly.
King - A male ruler of a country or state.
Emperor - An emperor holds supreme responsibility for the welfare of many. May your child rise to meet great responsibilities with wisdom.
Imperial - Being imperial represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be imperial, letting this quality guide their path.
Heaven - Heaven represents the celestial realm where ancestors watch over the living, and the source of all blessings. May your child live under heaven's protection, guided by ancestral wisdom and divine grace.
Busy - Busy - Engaged in activity
Hectic - Being hectic represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be hectic, letting this quality guide their path.
Hurried - Speed represents efficiency, responsiveness, and seizing opportunities. May your child act swiftly when needed and patiently when appropriate.
King - A king must balance power with wisdom and service to their people. May your child lead wisely wherever life calls them to serve.
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Here are some sample tags. Choose 'English word meanings' and try searching for any English word you like!
Sort by: Most Relevant
Sorts names by how closely they match your search meaning. Names containing more kanji that match your search terms appear higher in the results.
Sort by: Most Kanji Variations
Sorts names by how many different kanji spellings they have. In general, names with more variants tend to be more familiar and widespread in Japan (with some exceptions).
Sort by: Most Viewed
Sorts names by page views on this site. Views reflect global traffic (including Japan), so this does not represent popularity among Japanese people only. A high view count does not necessarily mean the name is famous in Japan.
What is Hiragana?
Hiragana is one of the two Japanese syllabaries. Each character represents a sound (mora), not a meaning. It is used for native words, grammatical particles, verb/adjective endings (okurigana), and to show pronunciation above kanji (furigana). It developed from cursive forms of kanji.
What is Katakana?
Katakana is one of the two Japanese syllabaries. Each character represents a sound (mora), not a meaning. It is mainly used to write foreign words and names, loanwords, onomatopoeia, and for emphasis.
What are English Syllables?
A syllable is a unit of pronunciation in English — it’s the beat you hear when you say a word.
Here are a few quick examples:
cat = 1 syllable
ba-by = 2 syllables
beau-ti-ful = 3 syllables
On this site, English Syllables show how a name naturally breaks into sounds when spoken in English. This helps you understand how English speakers naturally say the name and where they pause between sounds.
What are Japanese Morae?
A mora (plural: morae, Japanese: 拍 Haku) is the basic unit of sound in Japanese — think of it as one rhythmic “beat” when speaking.
Here are a few quick examples:
あ (a) = 1 mora
あい (a-i) = 2 morae
きょう (kyo-u) = 2 morae
On this site, Japanese Morae show how many “beats” a name has in Japanese. Most Japanese names have about 2–4 morae, which affects how natural and rhythmic the name sounds to native speakers.
This helps you see how the name fits into the natural rhythm of Japanese speech.
What is English Transcription?
“English transcription” (romanization) is the romanized form of a Japanese name, intended to reproduce its pronunciation as closely as possible. It is also useful for searching names on this site.
Japanese-Style Nicknames
In Japan, nicknames are used to express familiarity and affection. Typical features include:
Shortened forms: Names are often shortened for closeness, e.g., “Yuki” from “Yukiko” or “Taka” from “Takashi”.
Suffixes: Terms like “-chan” (often for girls, also for young children) and “-kun” (often for boys) are used among family and close friends. Among very close adults, “-chan” may still be used. More details
Use & context: Nicknames are informal—common among friends, family, or close colleagues—and are not suitable for formal or professional settings. Their use implies a certain degree of intimacy.
Long vowels: The long vowel mark “chōonpu” (ー) extends the preceding vowel. For example, “あーちゃん” (A-chan) lengthens the “あ” sound.
Households
Sorts surnames by the estimated number of Japanese households that use them. More households generally indicates a more common or well-known surname.
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