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Kanji 善 - good, excellent, kind
善
good, excellent, kind
This character can be used for naming.
Meaning
Kind - Benevolent; friendly.
Admirable, Praiseworthy - Deserving of admiration or respect.
Fortunate, Prosperous - Having good luck or success.
Harmonious, Friendly - Being in harmony or having a friendly relationship.
Respectable, Noble - Having a high status or being honorable.
12 strokes
Examples of ideas to incorporate into a name
Good - Goodness is the foundation of all virtue, the light that guides moral action. May your child be truly good, their goodness lighting the way for others.
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.
Kind - Kindness represents compassion, consideration, and gentle treatment. May your child be kind to all they meet.
Admirable, Praiseworthy - Admirable/Praiseworthy - Deserving of admiration or respect - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of admirable/praiseworthy throughout life.
Fortunate, Prosperous - Being fortunate/prosperous represents a valuable quality that enriches character and life. May your child be fortunate/prosperous, letting this quality guide their path.
Harmonious, Friendly - Harmonious/Friendly - Being in harmony or having a friendly relationship - carries meaning in Japanese naming tradition. May your child embody the positive aspects of harmonious/friendly throughout life.
Respectable, Noble - 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.
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First Names containing 善 - 384 names
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Last Names containing 善 - 181 names
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Explore Last Names by Meaning
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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
What is Onyomi?
Onyomi (“Sino-Japanese reading”) is a kanji reading derived from historical Chinese pronunciation.
What is Kunyomi?
Kunyomi (“native Japanese reading”) is a kanji reading based on native Japanese words. It often appears when a kanji stands alone or is followed by hiragana (okurigana), as in verbs and adjectives.
What is a Radical?
A radical (“bushu”) is a basic component used to classify and look up kanji in dictionaries. There are 214 traditional radicals, and many give a clue to the character’s meaning.
What is Stroke Count?
Stroke count (“kakusuu”) is the number of brushstrokes used to write a kanji. Following the correct stroke order and count helps maintain proper balance and readability.
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