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 "Kakao."
Add - Add- To Combine; to increase - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of add throughout life.
To Add, Append - The act of add/append represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child add/append with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Join - Joining represents unity, partnership, and coming together. May your child join with others for good causes.
Apply - Apply - To put into effect - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of apply throughout life.
Shelf - Height represents aspiration, achievement, and noble ideals. May your child reach for high ideals and achieve great heights.
To Span - The act of span represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child span with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Love - Love encompasses affection, devotion, and the selfless care for others' wellbeing. May your child give and receive love abundantly, their heart full of warmth for others.
To Love - To love is the highest calling, giving oneself for the wellbeing of others. May your child love deeply and be deeply loved, finding life's greatest meaning in love.
Affection - Love represents deep connection, care, and the heart of all relationships. May your child love deeply and be deeply loved in return.
Cherish - Cherishing represents deep appreciation, love, and treasuring what is valuable. May your child cherish the precious moments and relationships in life.
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. About our last-name data
Remove from all lists?
This item is in multiple lists. Do you want to remove it from all lists?
My Favorites
First Name Search
Last Name Search
Kakao
:かかお 
See the girls' version here.
