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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!
Minachan(みなちゃん)
Oochan( おおちゃん)
Mi-chan( みーちゃん)![]()
This name is considered unisex, but it's more commonly used for girls.
See the boys' version here.
This name is also used as a surname:
Minao
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 "Minao," 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.
直 means "straight, honest, correct."
Deserve - To have value or worth.
Extend - To make something longer or wider.
Fix - To make something right or correct.
Hit - To come into contact with something.
Immediately - Right Away; at once.
Return - To go back to the original state.
Steadfast - Unwavering and determined.
Straight - Straightness represents honesty, directness, and the shortest path to truth. May your child be straight and honest, taking the direct path of integrity.
Honest - Honest - Truthful; sincere - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of honest throughout life.
Deserve - Deserve - To have value or worth - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of deserve throughout life.
Extend - Breadth represents inclusiveness, comprehensive view, and open-mindedness. May your child have a broad perspective and inclusive heart.
Fix - Fixing represents repair, restoration, and making things right. May your child fix what is broken and restore what is damaged.
Hit - Hitting represents impact, reaching goals, and achieving targets. May your child hit their marks and achieve their worthy goals.
Immediately - Paths represent journeys, choices, and the direction of life. May your child find good paths and walk them with courage.
Return - Returning represents coming back, restoration, and completing cycles. May your child always return to their values and loved ones.
Steadfast - Steadfast - Unwavering and determined - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of steadfast throughout life.
Value - Value - Worth; price - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of value 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.
緒 means "beginning, thread, clue."
Beginning - The start of something.
Thread - The end of a string.
Clue - A hint that leads to understanding.
Continuity - A connection or series of events.
Cord - A long, continuous thing.
Heart - A feeling or emotion.
Beginning - Beginning represents the courage to start, the first step of every journey. May your child have the courage to begin, taking first steps toward great destinations.
Thread - Threads represent connection, continuity, and the fabric of relationships. May your child weave strong threads of connection throughout life.
Clue - Clue - A hint that leads to understanding - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of clue throughout life.
Continuity - Bridges connect what is separated and enable crossing over. May your child build bridges of understanding and connection.
Cord - Length represents endurance, reach, and sustained effort. May your child have the endurance to see things through to completion.
Heart - Heart (心) in Japanese represents both the physical heart and the mind/spirit. May your child's heart be pure and their mind clear, unified in purpose.
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.
尚 means "esteem, still, furthermore."
Esteem - To respect highly.
Furthermore - In Addition; moreover.
Desire - To wish for or long for something meaningful.
Elevate - To make higher, raise up, or improve something.
Respect - Honoring and revering others with admiration.
Wishing - Read as "koinegawakuwa", expressing desire, hope, or aspiration for something better.
Esteem - Height represents aspiration, achievement, and noble ideals. May your child reach for high ideals and achieve great heights.
Still - Still - Even Now; yet - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of still throughout life.
Furthermore - Furthermore - In Addition; moreover - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of furthermore throughout life.
Desire - Length represents endurance, reach, and sustained effort. May your child have the endurance to see things through to completion.
Elevate - Height represents aspiration, achievement, and noble ideals. May your child reach for high ideals and achieve great heights.
Respect - Respect (敬) is fundamental to Japanese social harmony, honoring the dignity of all beings. May your child show and earn respect, honoring others while being worthy of honor themselves.
Wishing - Wishes represent desires, hopes, and the expression of the heart's longing. May your child's wishes guide them to their heart's true desire.
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.
直 means "straight, honest, correct."
Deserve - To have value or worth.
Extend - To make something longer or wider.
Fix - To make something right or correct.
Hit - To come into contact with something.
Immediately - Right Away; at once.
Return - To go back to the original state.
Steadfast - Unwavering and determined.
Straight - Straightness represents honesty, directness, and the shortest path to truth. May your child be straight and honest, taking the direct path of integrity.
Honest - Honest - Truthful; sincere - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of honest throughout life.
Deserve - Deserve - To have value or worth - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of deserve throughout life.
Extend - Breadth represents inclusiveness, comprehensive view, and open-mindedness. May your child have a broad perspective and inclusive heart.
Fix - Fixing represents repair, restoration, and making things right. May your child fix what is broken and restore what is damaged.
Hit - Hitting represents impact, reaching goals, and achieving targets. May your child hit their marks and achieve their worthy goals.
Immediately - Paths represent journeys, choices, and the direction of life. May your child find good paths and walk them with courage.
Return - Returning represents coming back, restoration, and completing cycles. May your child always return to their values and loved ones.
Steadfast - Steadfast - Unwavering and determined - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of steadfast throughout life.
Value - Value - Worth; price - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of value throughout life.
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.
永 means "eternal, long, perpetual."
Long - Extended in time or distance; enduring.
Perpetual - Continuing Indefinitely; everlasting.
Endless - Continuing without end.
Far - Distant in space or time.
Limitless - Having no boundaries or limits.
Eternal - Eternity transcends time, representing that which endures forever beyond change. May your child create things of eternal value, leaving a legacy that transcends time.
Long - Length represents endurance, patience, and the journey that extends through time. May your child have long patience and endurance for life's extended journeys.
Perpetual - Being perpetual represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be perpetual, letting this quality guide their path.
Endless - Being endless represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be endless, letting this quality guide their path.
Far - Distance represents reach, vision, and the ability to connect across space. May your child's influence reach far, connecting with many across great distances.
Forever - Forever represents a role of purpose and contribution to society. May your child embody the forever's dedication and skill in their life's work.
Limitless - Being limitless represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be limitless, letting this quality guide their path.
緒 means "beginning, thread, clue."
Beginning - The start of something.
Thread - The end of a string.
Clue - A hint that leads to understanding.
Continuity - A connection or series of events.
Cord - A long, continuous thing.
Heart - A feeling or emotion.
Beginning - Beginning represents the courage to start, the first step of every journey. May your child have the courage to begin, taking first steps toward great destinations.
Thread - Threads represent connection, continuity, and the fabric of relationships. May your child weave strong threads of connection throughout life.
Clue - Clue - A hint that leads to understanding - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of clue throughout life.
Continuity - Bridges connect what is separated and enable crossing over. May your child build bridges of understanding and connection.
Cord - Length represents endurance, reach, and sustained effort. May your child have the endurance to see things through to completion.
Heart - Heart (心) in Japanese represents both the physical heart and the mind/spirit. May your child's heart be pure and their mind clear, unified in purpose.
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.
緒 means "beginning, thread, clue."
Beginning - The start of something.
Thread - The end of a string.
Clue - A hint that leads to understanding.
Continuity - A connection or series of events.
Cord - A long, continuous thing.
Heart - A feeling or emotion.
Beginning - Beginning represents the courage to start, the first step of every journey. May your child have the courage to begin, taking first steps toward great destinations.
Thread - Threads represent connection, continuity, and the fabric of relationships. May your child weave strong threads of connection throughout life.
Clue - Clue - A hint that leads to understanding - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of clue throughout life.
Continuity - Bridges connect what is separated and enable crossing over. May your child build bridges of understanding and connection.
Cord - Length represents endurance, reach, and sustained effort. May your child have the endurance to see things through to completion.
Heart - Heart (心) in Japanese represents both the physical heart and the mind/spirit. May your child's heart be pure and their mind clear, unified in purpose.
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.
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.
緒 means "beginning, thread, clue."
Beginning - The start of something.
Thread - The end of a string.
Clue - A hint that leads to understanding.
Continuity - A connection or series of events.
Cord - A long, continuous thing.
Heart - A feeling or emotion.
Beginning - Beginning represents the courage to start, the first step of every journey. May your child have the courage to begin, taking first steps toward great destinations.
Thread - Threads represent connection, continuity, and the fabric of relationships. May your child weave strong threads of connection throughout life.
Clue - Clue - A hint that leads to understanding - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of clue throughout life.
Continuity - Bridges connect what is separated and enable crossing over. May your child build bridges of understanding and connection.
Cord - Length represents endurance, reach, and sustained effort. May your child have the endurance to see things through to completion.
Heart - Heart (心) in Japanese represents both the physical heart and the mind/spirit. May your child's heart be pure and their mind clear, unified in purpose.
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.
菜 means "vegetable, greens, dish."
Vegetable - An edible plant.
Greens - Leafy vegetables.
Dish - A food preparation.
Cuisine - A style of cooking.
Vegetable - Being vegetable represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be vegetable, letting this quality guide their path.
Greens - Green represents growth, youth, and the fresh vitality of spring. May your child remain ever-growing and vital, fresh as green spring leaves.
Dish - Food represents sustenance, sharing, and the gifts of the earth. May your child be well nourished and share food generously.
Cuisine - Cuisine - A style of cooking - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of cuisine throughout life.
央 means "center, middle, harmonious."
Harmonious - Voices blending in harmony.
Harmony - The harmonious sound or balance of something.
Vividness - The vividness or clarity of something.
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.
Middle - Middle represents moderation, balance, and the golden mean between extremes. May your child find the golden middle path, avoiding extremes with wisdom.
Harmonious - Being harmonious represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be harmonious, letting this quality guide their path.
End, Cease - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
Harmony - Harmony (和) is the central Japanese value of peaceful coexistence and balanced relationships. May your child bring harmony wherever they go, creating peace and balance in all relationships.
Vividness - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
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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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