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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!
Motochan(もとちゃん)
Mocchan( もっちゃん)
Imochan( いもちゃん)![]()
This name is considered unisex, but it's more commonly used for boys.
See the boys' version here.
This name is also used as a surname:
Motoi
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 "Motoi," ranked by the total number of "Good!" votes.
福 means "fortune, blessing, happiness."
Blessing - Bestowing Happiness Upon Others; granting good fortune.
Sacred Offering - Wine and meat offered to gods during festivals.
Fortune - Fortune encompasses good luck, wealth, and the blessings that come from heaven. May fortune smile upon your child, blessing their endeavors with success and abundance.
Blessing - Blessing represents conferring good, speaking life, and sharing abundance. May your child be a blessing to many, speaking life wherever they go.
Sacred Offering - Colors represent the variety and vibrancy of life's experiences. May your child's life be filled with beautiful colors and experiences.
生 means "to live, alive, life."
To Give Birth - To be Born; to produce; to create; to occur.
Raw - Unprocessed; unripe; inexperienced.
Scholar - A title for learned people; teacher.
To Give Birth - Birth represents new beginnings, potential, and the miracle of new life. May your child bring new beginnings wherever they go, birthing fresh possibilities.
To Grow - Growing represents continuous improvement, development, and reaching potential. May your child never stop growing, always reaching toward greater potential.
To Reside - The act of reside represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child reside with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Alive - Being alive represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be alive, letting this quality guide their path.
Life - Life is the precious gift, the journey of experiences that shapes who we become. May your child live fully, treasuring every moment of this precious gift.
Humble Self - Humility is the foundation of learning and the source of true greatness. May your child be humble, knowing that humility opens the door to wisdom.
Innate - Innate - From Birth; natural disposition - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of innate throughout life.
Opera Role - Historical periods remind us to learn from the past while building the future. May your child appreciate history and contribute to their own era.
Pure - Purity represents cleanliness of heart, clarity of intent, and freedom from corruption. May your child remain pure in heart and intention, uncorrupted by the world.
Raw - Raw - Unprocessed; unripe; inexperienced - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of raw throughout life.
Scholar - Scholars dedicate themselves to learning and the preservation of knowledge. May your child embrace learning with passion and share knowledge generously.
Student - Student - One who learns; a pupil - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of student throughout life.
基 means "foundation, base, basis."
Foundation - The base on which something stands.
Basis - The Fundamental Principle; the starting point.
Counting Word - A word used to count items such as lanterns or graves.
Foundation - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
Base - The base represents foundation, support, and starting points. May your child build on a solid base of values and skills.
Basis - Sharpness represents clarity, precision, and cutting through confusion. May your child have a sharp mind that cuts through to truth.
Counting 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.
Group of Atoms - Groups represent community, belonging, and the strength found in numbers. May your child find their group, belonging to communities of purpose and support.
Origin - Origin represents source, beginning, and the roots from which all grows. May your child honor their origins while growing beyond them.
杏 means "apricot, ginkgo."
Apricot - A deciduous tree of the rose family; its fruit.
Ginkgo - The fruit of the ginkgo tree (in "ginnan").
Ginnan - The fruit of the Japanese apricot tree.
Apricot - Seeds and eggs contain the promise of new life and future growth. May your child nurture their potential into full flourishing.
Ginkgo - Seeds and eggs contain the promise of new life and future growth. May your child nurture their potential into full flourishing.
Ginnan - Seeds and eggs contain the promise of new life and future growth. May your child nurture their potential into full flourishing.
Names that have the same gender and start with M.
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Here are some sample tags. Choose 'English word meanings' and try searching for any English word you like!
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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).
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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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