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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!
Minamin(みなみん)
Minachan(みなちゃん)
Micchan(みっちゃん)![]()
This name is considered unisex, but it's more commonly used for girls.
See the girls' version here.
This name is also used as a surname:
Minami
In Japanese culture, kanji are characters that originated from Chinese script, and the meaning of a name changes depending on the kanji characters chosen. The more variations of kanji a name has, the more common it is in Japan. Conversely, a name with very few kanji variations is considered unique and rare. Below are the kanji variations for "Minami," ranked by the total number of "Good!" votes.
実 means "fruit, truth, real."
Fruit - Fruit represents the sweet rewards of patience and cultivation. May your child enjoy the fruits of their labor and share abundance with others.
Truth - Truth is the foundation of integrity, the alignment of reality with one's words and beliefs. May your child always seek and speak truth, building their life on this solid foundation.
Real - Being real represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be real, letting this quality guide their path.
Abundance - Abundance - Being full or abundant - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of abundance throughout life.
波 means "wave, surge, spread."
Wave - Waves symbolize momentum, the rhythm of life, and the power of continuous effort. May your child ride life's waves with skill, turning challenges into forward momentum.
Surge - Surge - A rising and falling motion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of surge throughout life.
Spread - Spreading represents sharing, expansion, and the dissemination of good. May your child spread kindness and knowledge wherever they go.
弥 means "universal, long time, to mend."
To Mend - To repair or restore something that is damaged or broken.
Extensively - To spread or cover over a wide area.
Finally - To come to an end or conclusion.
Increasingly - More and More; further.
Universal - Being universal represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be universal, letting this quality guide their path.
Long Time - Length represents endurance, patience, and the journey that extends through time. May your child have long patience and endurance for life's extended journeys.
To Mend - The act of mend represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child mend with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Extensively - Breadth represents inclusiveness, comprehensive view, and open-mindedness. May your child have a broad perspective and inclusive heart.
Finally - Finally - To come to an end or conclusion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of finally throughout life.
Increasingly - Increasingly - More and more; further - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of increasingly throughout life.
波 means "wave, surge, spread."
Wave - Waves symbolize momentum, the rhythm of life, and the power of continuous effort. May your child ride life's waves with skill, turning challenges into forward momentum.
Surge - Surge - A rising and falling motion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of surge throughout life.
Spread - Spreading represents sharing, expansion, and the dissemination of good. May your child spread kindness and knowledge wherever they go.
陽 means "sun, positive, sunny."
Sun - The star that gives light and warmth.
Sunny - Exposed to sunlight.
Bright, Clear - Something that is illuminated and easy to see.
South Side of a Mountain - The side of a mountain that faces the sun.
Sun - The sun (日) is sacred in Japan as the symbol of Amaterasu, representing life, energy, and the imperial lineage. May your child shine with the radiant warmth of the sun, bringing light and joy to all around them.
Sunny - Light represents hope, wisdom, and the illumination of truth. May your child shine brightly, illuminating the path for others.
Positive - Being positive represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be positive, letting this quality guide their path.
Bright, Clear - Brightness symbolizes intelligence, optimism, and a future full of promise. May your child's future be bright, filled with intelligence, joy, and boundless opportunity.
South Side of a Mountain - The sunny mountain side represents warmth, brightness, and favorable position. May your child find life's sunny sides.
南 means "south, to go south, sanskrit transliteration."
South - The Southern Direction; one of the cardinal directions.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Used to represent sounds in Buddhist terminology.
South - South symbolizes warmth, growth, and the direction of life's flourishing. May your child move toward warmth and growth throughout their life.
To Go South - Going represents departure, journey, and the courage to move toward the unknown. May your child go bravely into the world, journeying with courage.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Sound represents communication, expression, and making oneself heard. May your child's voice be heard and may they listen well.
三 means "three, three times, third."
Three - Numbers represent order, measure, and the foundation of understanding. May your child understand the importance of what can and cannot be counted.
Thrice - Thrice - Three Times; three occurrences - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of thrice throughout life.
南 means "south, to go south, sanskrit transliteration."
South - The Southern Direction; one of the cardinal directions.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Used to represent sounds in Buddhist terminology.
South - South symbolizes warmth, growth, and the direction of life's flourishing. May your child move toward warmth and growth throughout their life.
To Go South - Going represents departure, journey, and the courage to move toward the unknown. May your child go bravely into the world, journeying with courage.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Sound represents communication, expression, and making oneself heard. May your child's voice be heard and may they listen well.
三 means "three, three times, third."
Three - Numbers represent order, measure, and the foundation of understanding. May your child understand the importance of what can and cannot be counted.
Thrice - Thrice - Three Times; three occurrences - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of thrice throughout life.
波 means "wave, surge, spread."
Wave - Waves symbolize momentum, the rhythm of life, and the power of continuous effort. May your child ride life's waves with skill, turning challenges into forward momentum.
Surge - Surge - A rising and falling motion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of surge throughout life.
Spread - Spreading represents sharing, expansion, and the dissemination of good. May your child spread kindness and knowledge wherever they go.
南 means "south, to go south, sanskrit transliteration."
South - The Southern Direction; one of the cardinal directions.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Used to represent sounds in Buddhist terminology.
South - South symbolizes warmth, growth, and the direction of life's flourishing. May your child move toward warmth and growth throughout their life.
To Go South - Going represents departure, journey, and the courage to move toward the unknown. May your child go bravely into the world, journeying with courage.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Sound represents communication, expression, and making oneself heard. May your child's voice be heard and may they listen well.
実 means "fruit, truth, real."
Fruit - Fruit represents the sweet rewards of patience and cultivation. May your child enjoy the fruits of their labor and share abundance with others.
Truth - Truth is the foundation of integrity, the alignment of reality with one's words and beliefs. May your child always seek and speak truth, building their life on this solid foundation.
Real - Being real represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be real, letting this quality guide their path.
Abundance - Abundance - Being full or abundant - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of abundance throughout life.
南 means "south, to go south, sanskrit transliteration."
South - The Southern Direction; one of the cardinal directions.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Used to represent sounds in Buddhist terminology.
South - South symbolizes warmth, growth, and the direction of life's flourishing. May your child move toward warmth and growth throughout their life.
To Go South - Going represents departure, journey, and the courage to move toward the unknown. May your child go bravely into the world, journeying with courage.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Sound represents communication, expression, and making oneself heard. May your child's voice be heard and may they listen well.
己 means "self, sixth."
Sixth - The sixth of the ten celestial stems.
I - First person pronoun.
Center - Center in the eight directions.
Earth - The element of Earth in the Five Elements system.
Self - Self - Oneself; the individual - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of self throughout life.
Sixth - The sky represents limitless possibility, aspiration, and higher ideals. May your child reach toward the sky with boundless dreams.
I - Children carry forward the hopes and dreams of their families. May your child fulfill the hopes placed in them and add their own.
Center - The center represents balance, stability, and being at the heart of things. May your child find their center, balanced and stable at the heart of their world.
Earth - Earth represents nurturing, grounding, and the foundation upon which all life depends. May your child be grounded in earth's wisdom, nurturing others with steady, reliable love.
南 means "south, to go south, sanskrit transliteration."
South - The Southern Direction; one of the cardinal directions.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Used to represent sounds in Buddhist terminology.
South - South symbolizes warmth, growth, and the direction of life's flourishing. May your child move toward warmth and growth throughout their life.
To Go South - Going represents departure, journey, and the courage to move toward the unknown. May your child go bravely into the world, journeying with courage.
Sanskrit Transliteration - Sound represents communication, expression, and making oneself heard. May your child's voice be heard and may they listen well.
波 means "wave, surge, spread."
Wave - Waves symbolize momentum, the rhythm of life, and the power of continuous effort. May your child ride life's waves with skill, turning challenges into forward momentum.
Surge - Surge - A rising and falling motion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of surge throughout life.
Spread - Spreading represents sharing, expansion, and the dissemination of good. May your child spread kindness and knowledge wherever they go.
海 means "sea, ocean, vast."
Ocean - A great expanse of water; the deep.
Gathering Place - Where many people or things come together.
Lake or Pond - A large body of fresh water, usually surrounded by land.
Wide and Large - Describing something that is very broad and expansive.
Sea - The sea symbolizes vastness, depth of character, and the acceptance of all things. May your child possess the ocean's depth and vastness, embracing life with boundless capacity.
Ocean - The ocean represents infinite possibilities, mystery, and the connection of all lands. May your child have the ocean's expansive heart, connecting with all people across all boundaries.
Gathering Place - Place represents belonging, position, and having a proper location in the world. May your child find their place in the world, where they belong and can flourish.
Lake or Pond - Ponds represent tranquility, reflection, and the cultivation of inner peace. May your child find stillness like a pond, reflecting wisdom from peaceful contemplation.
Wide and Large - Width represents breadth of understanding, inclusiveness, and comprehensive vision. May your child have wide understanding, inclusive and comprehensive in their view.
洋 means "ocean, western, vast."
Western - Relating to the West.
Abundant - A large amount of something that is overflowing or overflowing with abundance.
East and West - The two halves of the world, divided by the East and West.
Expansive - A large area of land or water that is spread out and covers a great distance.
Sea - A large body of water, usually salty, that covers much of the Earth's surface.
Shore - The land along the edge of a body of water, such as a lake, ocean, or river.
Western - Directions guide us on our journey, helping us find our way. May your child always find their direction in life.
Vast - Vastness represents limitless potential, expansive thinking, and boundless opportunity. May your child's potential be vast, their dreams unbounded by limitation.
Abundant - Abundance represents the overflowing blessings that come from a generous universe. May your child live abundantly, overflowing with blessings to share.
East and West - Directions guide us on our journey, helping us find our way. May your child always find their direction in life.
Expansive - Being expansive represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be expansive, letting this quality guide their path.
Sea - The sea symbolizes vastness, depth of character, and the acceptance of all things. May your child possess the ocean's depth and vastness, embracing life with boundless capacity.
Shore - Shores represent meeting points, transitions, and the edge between worlds. May your child navigate the shores between different aspects of life.
皆 means "everyone, together."
Same - Being the same in some way.
Everyone - Everyone - All People; everybody; altogether - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of everyone throughout life.
Together - Togetherness represents community, cooperation, and the strength of unity. May your child value togetherness, finding strength in community and cooperation.
Same - Sameness represents equality, consistency, and fair treatment of all. May your child treat all equally, consistent in their fairness to everyone.
波 means "wave, surge, spread."
Wave - Waves symbolize momentum, the rhythm of life, and the power of continuous effort. May your child ride life's waves with skill, turning challenges into forward momentum.
Surge - Surge - A rising and falling motion - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of surge throughout life.
Spread - Spreading represents sharing, expansion, and the dissemination of good. May your child spread kindness and knowledge wherever they go.
巳 means "snake, sixth zodiac sign, direction."
Snake - The zodiac animal.
Sixth Zodiac Sign - The sixth position in the twelve-sign cycle.
Direction - South-southeast.
Time - Around 10 AM, plus or minus one hour.
Snake - The snake (巳) represents wisdom, intuition, and transformation in Japanese symbolism. May your child have the snake's wisdom and ability to transform and renew.
Sixth Zodiac Sign - Sixth Zodiac Sign - The sixth position in the twelve-sign cycle - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of sixth zodiac sign throughout life.
Direction - Direction provides purpose and guidance on life's journey. May your child always find their direction, moving purposefully through life.
Time - Time is precious and irreplaceable, the medium through which life unfolds. May your child use time wisely, treasuring each moment as the gift it is.
那 means "many, beautiful, peaceful."
Many - Many represents abundance, community, and the richness of diverse connections. May your child be blessed with many friends, many joys, and many blessings.
Beautiful - Beauty encompasses both outer form and inner grace, reflecting harmony and balance. May your child embody true beauty—radiating from within and inspiring others.
Peaceful - Peace represents harmony, tranquility, and the absence of conflict. May your child be a peacemaker, creating harmony wherever they go.
Question Word - Words (言) hold power in Japanese culture—kotodama, the spiritual power of language. May your child speak words of power and blessing, understanding kotodama's sacred force.
未 means "not yet, future, sheep."
Future - What is ahead.
Sheep - The eighth zodiac sign.
Time - 2pm and two hours before and after.
Not Yet - Silence represents contemplation, peace, and the wisdom of listening. May your child know when to speak and when to be silent.
Future - Future - What is ahead - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of future throughout life.
Sheep - The sheep (未) represents gentleness, harmony, and artistic sensibility. May your child have the sheep's gentle heart and live in harmony with others.
Time - Time is precious and irreplaceable, the medium through which life unfolds. May your child use time wisely, treasuring each moment as the gift it is.
未 means "not yet, future, sheep."
Future - What is ahead.
Sheep - The eighth zodiac sign.
Time - 2pm and two hours before and after.
Not Yet - Silence represents contemplation, peace, and the wisdom of listening. May your child know when to speak and when to be silent.
Future - Future - What is ahead - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of future throughout life.
Sheep - The sheep (未) represents gentleness, harmony, and artistic sensibility. May your child have the sheep's gentle heart and live in harmony with others.
Time - Time is precious and irreplaceable, the medium through which life unfolds. May your child use time wisely, treasuring each moment as the gift it is.
七 means "seven, seven times."
海 means "sea, ocean, vast."
Ocean - A great expanse of water; the deep.
Gathering Place - Where many people or things come together.
Lake or Pond - A large body of fresh water, usually surrounded by land.
Wide and Large - Describing something that is very broad and expansive.
Sea - The sea symbolizes vastness, depth of character, and the acceptance of all things. May your child possess the ocean's depth and vastness, embracing life with boundless capacity.
Ocean - The ocean represents infinite possibilities, mystery, and the connection of all lands. May your child have the ocean's expansive heart, connecting with all people across all boundaries.
Gathering Place - Place represents belonging, position, and having a proper location in the world. May your child find their place in the world, where they belong and can flourish.
Lake or Pond - Ponds represent tranquility, reflection, and the cultivation of inner peace. May your child find stillness like a pond, reflecting wisdom from peaceful contemplation.
Wide and Large - Width represents breadth of understanding, inclusiveness, and comprehensive vision. May your child have wide understanding, inclusive and comprehensive in their view.
未 means "not yet, future, sheep."
Future - What is ahead.
Sheep - The eighth zodiac sign.
Time - 2pm and two hours before and after.
Not Yet - Silence represents contemplation, peace, and the wisdom of listening. May your child know when to speak and when to be silent.
Future - Future - What is ahead - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of future throughout life.
Sheep - The sheep (未) represents gentleness, harmony, and artistic sensibility. May your child have the sheep's gentle heart and live in harmony with others.
Time - Time is precious and irreplaceable, the medium through which life unfolds. May your child use time wisely, treasuring each moment as the gift it is.
奈 means "fruit tree, question particle."
Question Particle - An interrogative or rhetorical expression.
Nashi - A type of pear, also known as the Asian pear.
Fruit Tree - Fruit trees represent patient cultivation and sweet harvest. May your child cultivate and harvest sweetness.
Question Particle - Question particles enable inquiry and the pursuit of understanding. May your child always maintain a questioning, curious mind.
Nashi - Nashi - A type of pear, also known as the Asian pear - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of nashi throughout life.
美 means "beautiful, beauty, delicious."
Beautiful - Pleasing to the senses.
Beauty - Aesthetic excellence.
Delicious - Pleasing to taste.
Admirable - Inspiring admiration or approval.
Splendid - Impressive in appearance or quality.
Beautiful - Beauty encompasses both outer form and inner grace, reflecting harmony and balance. May your child embody true beauty—radiating from within and inspiring others.
Beauty - Japanese beauty (美) encompasses both outer form and inner grace, with emphasis on simplicity and nature. May your child embody true beauty—simple, natural, and radiating from within.
Delicious - Being delicious represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be delicious, letting this quality guide their path.
Admirable - Being admirable represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be admirable, letting this quality guide their path.
Praise - Praise represents recognition, encouragement, and celebrating what is good. May your child give and receive praise, celebrating goodness in all.
Splendid - Splendor represents magnificence, glory, and the dazzling beauty of achievement. May your child achieve splendid things, their glory brightening the world.
The list contains people mentioned in Wikipedia. All JP links are in Japanese only. Sorry!
Names that have the same gender and start with M.
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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).
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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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