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 "Otowa."
Sound - Sound carries meaning across distances, representing communication, harmony, and the essence of music. May your child's voice carry far, communicating truth and creating harmony wherever they go.
Tidings - Tidings carry news and connection, linking people across distance and time. May your child bring good tidings wherever they go, connecting hearts and spreading joy.
On-yomi - On-yomi (音読み) is the Chinese-derived reading, connecting to historical knowledge. May your child appreciate the connections between cultures and languages.
Verse - Children carry forward the hopes and dreams of their families. May your child fulfill the hopes placed in them and add their own.
Feather - Feather represents a role of purpose and contribution to society. May your child embody the feather's dedication and skill in their life's work.
Counter for Birds - Birds symbolize freedom, aspiration, and the soul's journey between heaven and earth. May your child soar freely like a bird, carrying messages of hope between heaven and earth.
Ornament - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
Help - Helping represents service, assistance, and making others' lives better. May your child help generously and receive help graciously.
Numeral - Being numeral represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be numeral, letting this quality guide their path.
Support - Supporting represents help, foundation, and being there for others. May your child support others and receive support when needed.
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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. About our last-name data
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Otowa
:おとわ 
See the girls' version here.
Otowa
