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26,551 first names, 70,620 last names, 333,585 kanji variations.
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This name is also used as a first name: Koto
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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 "Koto," 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
琴 means "koto: Japanese stringed musical instrument."
A Stringed Musical Instrument - This is a general term for stringed instruments such as the koto (Japanese harp) and wagakki (Japanese traditional stringed instrument).
Harmony - This word can be used to represent harmony and balance in life.
Resonance - This word can be used to represent the resonance of sound and the connection between people.
小 means "small, little, tiny."
Small - Refers to something that is of a small size or amount.
Insignificant - Refers to something that is not important or of little value.
Young - Refers to someone who is young in age.
Humble - Refers to someone who speaks of themselves in a humble manner.
Prefix - Used as a prefix to modify the meaning of a word or phrase.
戸 means "door, household, family, counter for houses."
児 means "child, young of animals."
Child - A young child or infant. Used to count the number of children a person has. E.g. 3児の母 (Mother of 3 children).
Self Reference - A word used by a child to refer to themselves when speaking to their parents.
戸 means "door, household, family, counter for houses."
古 means "old, ancient, antique."
Old - Describes something that is from the past or has been around for a long time.
Ancient - Describes something that is very old or from a distant past.
Antiquated - Describes something that is old-fashioned or out of date.
Former - Describes something that was once in use but is no longer.
戸 means "door, household, family, counter for houses."
古 means "old, ancient, antique."
Old - Describes something that is from the past or has been around for a long time.
Ancient - Describes something that is very old or from a distant past.
Antiquated - Describes something that is old-fashioned or out of date.
Former - Describes something that was once in use but is no longer.
都 means "city, capital."
Big Town - Refers to a large city, such as Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan.
Emperor's Palace - Refers to the palace of the Emperor of Japan.
To Rule - Refers to the act of governing or ruling over a group of people or a country.
Elegant - Refers to a graceful and refined manner or style.
Graceful And Beautiful - Refers to a graceful and beautiful appearance or manner.
To Gather - Refers to the act of coming together in a group or gathering.
To Collect - Refers to the act of gathering or collecting items.
Everything - Refers to all things or all people.
Everyone - Refers to all people or everyone.
Last names that have the same initial of K.
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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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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