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 "Samu," ranked by the total number of "Good!" votes.
Dream - Dreams represent aspiration, vision, and the imagination that creates the future. May your child dream boldly, imagining a future worth creating.
Vision - Vision represents a significant process or state. May your child understand and embody the meaning of vision.
Illusion - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
Dark - Darkness represents mystery, the unknown, and the potential for hidden growth. May your child not fear the dark, finding growth even in uncertain times.
Dim - Purity represents clarity, cleanliness, and uncorrupted goodness. May your child maintain a pure heart and clear conscience.
Fleeting - Objects serve purposes and remind us of what matters. May your child value things for their true worth and purpose.
To Dance - The act of dance represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child dance with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
To Toy with - The act of toy with represents purposeful action and the will to make a difference. May your child toy with with wisdom and purpose, making a positive difference in the world.
Play With - Play represents joy, creativity, and the balance essential to a full life. May your child never forget to play, keeping joy and creativity alive.
Encourage - Encouraging represents support, motivation, and lifting others up. May your child encourage others, spreading confidence and hope.
StirUp - Up represents growth, improvement, and the continuous journey toward betterment. May your child always strive upward, growing and improving throughout life.
Whirl - Speed represents efficiency, responsiveness, and seizing opportunities. May your child act swiftly when needed and patiently when appropriate.
Sorts names by how closely they match your search meaning. Names containing more kanji that match your search terms appear higher in the results.
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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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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
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Samu
:さむ 
See the boys' version here.
