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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!
Saomikun(さおみくん)
Saochan(さおちゃん)
Mi-kun(みーくん)![]()
This name is considered unisex, but it's more commonly used for girls.
See the girls' version here.
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 "Saomi."
沙 means "sand, beach, select."
Sand - Fine particles of rock.
Beach - A sandy shore.
Desert - A barren area of land, typically with little vegetation, extreme temperatures, and sparse population.
Sift - To separate out the good from the bad by washing with water.
Sand - Language elements enable expression and communication. May your child communicate clearly and understand others well.
Beach - Beach - A sandy shore - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of beach throughout life.
Select - Selecting represents wisdom, choice, and careful decision-making. May your child select wisely in all of life's important choices.
Desert - Earth represents stability, nurturing, and solid foundation. May your child stand on solid ground with deep roots.
Sift - Sifting represents separating, discerning, and finding the valuable. May your child discern what is valuable.
臣 means "subject, servant, minister."
Subject - A person under authority.
Servant - One who serves.
Minister - A government official.
Commoner - An ordinary person, especially one of the common people.
Humility - A modest or low view of one's own importance.
Retainer - A person employed to serve a noble or royal household.
Subject - Children carry forward the hopes and dreams of their families. May your child fulfill the hopes placed in them and add their own.
Servant - Servants demonstrate humility, service, and the greatness found in helping others. May your child have a servant's heart, finding greatness in helping others.
Minister - Ministers serve the greater good through governance and wisdom. May your child serve others in positions of trust and responsibility.
Commoner - Commoner represents a role of purpose and contribution to society. May your child embody the commoner's dedication and skill in their life's work.
Humility - Humility is prized in Japanese culture as the foundation for learning and growth. May your child embrace humility, remaining open to learning throughout their life.
Retainer - Retainer represents a role of purpose and contribution to society. May your child embody the retainer's dedication and skill in their life's work.
Names that have the same gender and start with S.
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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.
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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.
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