My Favorites
First Name Search
Last Name SearchShare on your favorite
Or copy the link
Ou
Ou- Gender:Male
-
:おう - :オウ
- :ou (1)
- :o-u (2)
- :Ou, O, Oh, Ō
- :
Oukun(おうくん)
Ouchan( おうちゃん)O-kun( おーくん)
This name is considered unisex, but it's more commonly used for boys. 
See the girls' version here.
This name is also used as a surname: 
Ou
Kanji Names & Meanings - 12 variations
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 "Ou," ranked by the total number of "Good!" votes.
Name Filter
王- Ou -
王 means "king, to reign, honorific."
To Become King - To ascend to the throne; to rule; to govern.
Honorific - A respectful title for grandparents or elders.
Emperor, Monarch - A ruler of a country who governs with virtue.
Prince - Male members of the imperial family of fifth rank or below.
Name ideas examples
King - A king must balance power with wisdom and service to their people. May your child lead wisely wherever life calls them to serve.
To Become King - Becoming represents transformation, growth, and the journey of self-development. May your child become all they are capable of being, fulfilling their potential.
To Reign - The act of reign represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child reign with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Honorific - Honorifics reflect respect, social harmony, and proper recognition of others. May your child both earn and give respect appropriately throughout life.
Emperor, Monarch - The emperor represents divine authority, cultural continuity, and national unity. May your child possess noble bearing and the wisdom to lead others with dignity.
Prince - A prince carries both privilege and responsibility for their people. May your child lead with both the authority and responsibility of a prince.
緒生- Ou -
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.
Name ideas examples
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.
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.
Name ideas examples
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.
央- Ou -
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.
Name ideas examples
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.
応- Ou -
応 means "respond, comply, should."
Comply - To Meet Requirements; to satisfy conditions.
Appropriate - To be suitable or fitting for a particular situation.
Name ideas examples
Respond - Respond - To Answer; to reply to a call - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of respond throughout life.
Comply - Comply - To meet requirements; to satisfy conditions - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of comply throughout life.
Should - Should - Ought to; expressing obligation - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of should throughout life.
Appropriate - Appropriate - To be suitable or fitting for a particular situati - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of appropriate throughout life.
React - React - To act in response; to reciprocate - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of react throughout life.
應- Ou -
應 means "respond, accept, should."
Name ideas examples
Respond - Respond - To Answer; to react - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of respond throughout life.
Accept - Accepting represents openness, grace, and receiving with gratitude. May your child accept life's gifts with grace and gratitude.
Should - Should - Ought to; must - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of should throughout life.
旺- Ou -
旺 means "vigorous, flourishing, radiant."
Flourishing - Prospering; blooming.
Prosperous - Describes a state of being successful and thriving.
Name ideas examples
Vigorous - Being vigorous represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be vigorous, letting this quality guide their path.
Flourishing - Flourishing represents thriving, growth, and the fullest expression of potential. May your child flourish throughout life, thriving in every season.
Radiant - Radiance represents inner light shining forth and brilliant presence. May your child radiate light and warmth.
Prosperous - Prosperity represents flourishing, abundance, and the success that comes from effort. May your child prosper in all good endeavors, flourishing in every season.
桜 means "cherry blossom, cherry tree."
Sakura - Cherry Blossom. A deciduous tree of the rose family.
Name ideas examples
Cherry Tree - Cherry trees symbolize renewal, beauty, and the celebratory spirit of spring. As a beloved tree in Japanese culture, they represent hope and new beginnings. May your child blossom like the cherry tree, bringing beauty and joy each season of life.
Sakura - Sakura (cherry blossoms) embody mono no aware, the poignant beauty of impermanence, reminding us to cherish each moment. May your child embrace life's fleeting beauty like the cherry blossom, living fully and leaving a lasting impression.
鷗- Ou -
鷹- Ou -
花魁- Ou -
花 means "flower, flower-like, to bloom."
Flower - The blossom of plants and trees; flora in general.
Flower-like - Something resembling a flower in shape; something beautifully blooming.
To Blur - For vision to become hazy; to become dizzy; to be dazzled.
Cherry Blossom - The flower of the cherry tree; plum blossom.
Congratulatory Gift - A monetary gift given on festive occasions.
Glare - A feeling of being dazzled.
Popular - Something Admired; something glamorous and celebrated.
Name ideas examples
Flower - Flowers symbolize beauty, the transience of life (mono no aware), and the joy of the present moment. May your child bloom beautifully like a flower, bringing joy to all who witness their brief, precious existence.
Flower-like - Flowers symbolize beauty, the transience of life (mono no aware), and the joy of the present moment. May your child bloom beautifully like a flower, bringing joy to all who witness their brief, precious existence.
To Bloom - Blooming represents the fulfillment of potential and the courage to reveal one's true beauty. May your child bloom fearlessly, revealing their true beauty when the time is right.
To Blur - The act of blur represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child blur with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Cherry Blossom - Cherry blossoms (桜) embody the Japanese concept of mono no aware—the bittersweet beauty of impermanence. May your child live fully in each moment like the cherry blossom, embracing life's beautiful transience.
Congratulatory Gift - Congratulatory gifts represent shared joy, celebration, and the bonds of community. May your child give and receive gifts of celebration, sharing joy with many.
Glare - Glare represents intense focus, brightness, and commanding attention. May your child shine with brilliance that draws positive attention.
Plum Blossoms - Plum blossoms represent resilience and hope, blooming bravely while snow still covers the ground. May your child bloom with courage like the plum, bringing hope even in winter's coldest days.
Popular - Popularity represents acceptance, appeal, and connection with many. May your child be popular for their kindness and character.
Splendid Things - Splendor represents magnificence, glory, and the dazzling beauty of achievement. May your child achieve splendid things, their glory brightening the world.
魁 means "large, leader, vanguard."
Forerunner - Describes someone who is the first to do something or is the pioneer of an idea.
Ladle - Describes a large spoon-like utensil used for serving food.
Name ideas examples
Large - Largeness represents generosity, capacity, and the ability to encompass much. May your child have a large heart and mind, generous and encompassing.
Leader - Leading represents guidance, responsibility, and inspiring others forward. May your child lead with wisdom, inspiring others toward good.
Vanguard - Vanguard - The Front; the forefront - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of vanguard throughout life.
Big Dipper - Bigness represents generosity, capacity, and the ability to embrace much. May your child have a big heart, with generous capacity to embrace all of life.
Forerunner - Forerunner represents a role of purpose and contribution to society. May your child embody the forerunner's dedication and skill in their life's work.
Ladle - Food represents sustenance, sharing, and the gifts of the earth. May your child be well nourished and share food generously.
大羽- Ou -
大 means "big, excellent, greatly."
Big - Large in Size; great in degree; many in number or quantity.
Excellent - Outstanding; magnificent; impressive.
Approximately - Roughly; generally; more or less.
Grand - Of great size, scope, or extent.
Honorific - A word of respect added before someone's name.
Prefix - A prefix indicating respect or greatness.
Respectful - Showing respect or reverence for someone or something.
Name ideas examples
Big - Bigness represents generosity, capacity, and the ability to embrace much. May your child have a big heart, with generous capacity to embrace all of life.
Excellent - Excellence represents the pursuit of the highest quality in all endeavors. May your child pursue excellence in all they do, always striving for their best.
Greatly - Greatness encompasses exceptional ability, noble character, and significant achievement. May your child achieve true greatness—not just in accomplishment, but in character.
Approximately - Approximately - Roughly; generally; more or less - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of approximately throughout life.
Grand - Grandness represents magnificence, noble ambition, and achieving great things. May your child dream grand dreams and achieve magnificent things with noble purpose.
Honorific - Honorifics reflect respect, social harmony, and proper recognition of others. May your child both earn and give respect appropriately throughout life.
Prefix - Food represents sustenance, sharing, and the gifts of the earth. May your child be well nourished and share food generously.
Proud - Proud - Arrogant; having a haughty attitude - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of proud throughout life.
Respectful - 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.
羽 means "feather, bird, ornament."
Ornament - A decorative item held while dancing.
Help - Something that provides assistance. An assistant.
Numeral - A numeral used to count birds or rabbits.
Name ideas examples
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.
桜 means "cherry blossom, cherry tree."
Sakura - Cherry Blossom. A deciduous tree of the rose family.
Name ideas examples
Cherry Tree - Cherry trees symbolize renewal, beauty, and the celebratory spirit of spring. As a beloved tree in Japanese culture, they represent hope and new beginnings. May your child blossom like the cherry tree, bringing beauty and joy each season of life.
Sakura - Sakura (cherry blossoms) embody mono no aware, the poignant beauty of impermanence, reminding us to cherish each moment. May your child embrace life's fleeting beauty like the cherry blossom, living fully and leaving a lasting impression.
羽 means "feather, bird, ornament."
Ornament - A decorative item held while dancing.
Help - Something that provides assistance. An assistant.
Numeral - A numeral used to count birds or rabbits.
Name ideas examples
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.
Explore Names by Tag
Similar Names to Ou
Names that have the same gender and start with O.
-
1,994 views
-
1,381 views
-
1,139 views
-
901 views
-
401 views
-
506 views
-
389 views
-
495 views
-
454 views
Share
Sort by: Most Relevant
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
Success
Migration completed successfully!