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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!
This name is also used as a first name: Kan
In Japanese culture, kanji are characters that originated from Chinese script, and the meaning of a name changes depending on the kanji characters chosen. Even surnames with the same pronunciation can have different meanings based on the kanji used. Below are the kanji variations for "Kan," listed in order of popularity based on household usage in Japan.
Introduction to how Japanese names work About this site's data of last names
関 means "barrier, connection, relationship."
Border, Gateway - A place where people are checked when crossing a border or a major transportation route.
Lock - A wooden bar used to secure a gate.
Mechanism - A device or system of devices used to achieve a particular purpose.
Involve, Entrust - To be related to or to take responsibility for something.
康 means "health, peaceful, comfortable."
Healthy - Having good physical and mental health
Robust - Strong and healthy
Peaceful - Free from disturbance
Prosperous - Having success or good fortune
簡 means "simple, brief, easy."
Simple - Uncomplicated or rough.
Writing - To write characters on a bamboo slip.
Letter - A letter or written document.
Reduce - To reduce or make simpler.
Select - To choose or pick out.
Respectful - Courteous or restrained.
Neglect - To neglect, be lazy, be arrogant, despise, or look down on.
Great - Having a great ambition.
勘 means "intuition, perception, sixth sense."
Thinking - To think deeply and to compare ideas.
Questioning - To question and investigate a crime.
Intuition - Sixth sense, instinct.
閑 means "leisure, tranquility, idleness."
Rule, Regulation - A set of rules or regulations.
Protection - To protect or guard against something.
Learning - To learn or become accustomed to something.
Unimportant - Not important or valuable.
神 means "god, deity."
God - The divine being, the creator of all things.
Mysterious Work - Unfathomable and spiritual work.
Soul - The spiritual essence of a person.
Heart - The innermost part of a person.
Excellence - The highest level of achievement.
Preciousness - Something of great value.
甘 means "sweet, sugary, gentle, lenient."
Sweet - Having a pleasant taste, usually referring to a sugary flavor.
Mild - Not strong or intense, gentle.
Loose - Not firmly or tightly fixed in place, not held securely.
Lenient - Not strict or severe, tolerant.
Dull - Not sharp or clear, not bright or intense.
Yielding - Giving way to pressure, compliant.
Satisfied - Feeling contented or pleased with a situation.
Pleasing - Giving pleasure or satisfaction, enjoyable.
Tasteful - Having a pleasant or attractive flavor.
Pleasant - Giving pleasure or contentment, agreeable.
Sweetening - Making something sweeter or more pleasant.
Delicious - Having a very pleasant taste.
Appealing - Attractive or interesting, inviting.
Milder - Not as strong or intense, less severe.
Insufficient - Not enough, inadequate.
Lax - Not strict or thorough, careless.
観 means "view, perspective, outlook."
To See - To look closely and carefully. To have a broad view.
To Show - To show to people.
Appearance - The way something looks.
Perspective - The way of looking at or thinking about something. Consciousness.
Temple - A temple of Taoism.
管 means "pipe, tube, cylinder."
官 means "government, official, bureaucracy."
Official - A person appointed to a position of authority in a government or other organization.
Government - The governing body of a nation, state, or community.
Appoint - To select and appoint someone to a position or role.
Body Parts - The parts of the body that perform various functions, such as the nose, ears, eyes, and mouth.
館 means "mansion, hall, building."
間 means "interval, space, time, room, pause."
Inside - The interior of something.
Time - A period of time.
Recently - Recently.
A While - For a short period of time.
Gap - A gap or separation.
To Separate - To create a space between two things.
To Spy - To take advantage of a gap to spy.
Secretly - Secretly.
To Switch - To switch places.
To Mix - To mix together.
To Heal - To get better from an illness.
Unit Of Length - A unit of length equal to six shaku (approximately 1.8 meters).
Relationship - A connection between two things.
Condition - The state of something.
貫 means "pierce, penetrate, unit of weight."
To Penetrate - To pass through something.
To Continue - To persist or remain in a certain state.
Reasoning - A logical sequence of thoughts or ideas.
Household Registration - A system of registering individuals and their families in Japan.
Matter - A subject or situation under consideration.
To Learn - To gain knowledge or skill through study or experience.
To Draw A Bow - To pull back the string of a bow in order to shoot an arrow.
To Pull - To exert force on something in order to move it.
Unit Of Weight - A unit of measurement used to measure the weight of an object.
加 means "add, include, augment."
To Add, Append - To add something to an existing situation or group.
To Join, Participate - To become part of a group or situation.
To Influence - To have an effect on something or someone.
In Addition, On Top Of That - To add something extra to an existing situation.
Addition, Sum - A mathematical operation in which two or more numbers are added together.
運 means "luck, fortune, fate."
The list contains people mentioned in Wikipedia. All JP links are in Japanese only. Sorry!
Last names that have the same initial of K.
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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 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