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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!
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 "Maekawa," 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
前 means "front, before."
Before - Refers to something that is ahead in time or space.
In Advance - Refers to something that is done beforehand.
Past - Refers to something that happened in the past.
Guide - Refers to something that leads or guides.
Allocation - Refers to the amount or portion assigned to someone. For example, three servings of food.
Honorific - Refers to a title of respect used to refer to a noble person.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
前 means "front, before."
Before - Refers to something that is ahead in time or space.
In Advance - Refers to something that is done beforehand.
Past - Refers to something that happened in the past.
Guide - Refers to something that leads or guides.
Allocation - Refers to the amount or portion assigned to someone. For example, three servings of food.
Honorific - Refers to a title of respect used to refer to a noble person.
河 means "river, stream, watercourse."
River - A large river, such as the Yellow River in China.
満 means "full, complete, satisfied."
Fulfill - To satisfy or complete a requirement or expectation.
Fill - To make full or complete.
Be Full - To be completely filled or occupied.
Satisfy - To meet the needs or desires of someone.
Entirety - The whole or complete amount of something.
All - Everything or everyone included in a group.
Every - Each and every one of a group.
Reach - To extend or arrive at a destination.
恵 means "blessing, favor, grace."
To Bestow - To give something to someone, usually out of kindness or generosity.
Compassionate - Showing kindness and sympathy towards others.
Generous - Willing to give more than is expected or needed.
Calm - Having a peaceful and tranquil demeanor.
Wise - Having good judgement and understanding.
Insightful - Having the ability to understand and interpret things quickly and accurately.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
前 means "front, before."
Before - Refers to something that is ahead in time or space.
In Advance - Refers to something that is done beforehand.
Past - Refers to something that happened in the past.
Guide - Refers to something that leads or guides.
Allocation - Refers to the amount or portion assigned to someone. For example, three servings of food.
Honorific - Refers to a title of respect used to refer to a noble person.
側 means "side, beside, near, close to."
The list contains people mentioned in Wikipedia. All JP links are in Japanese only. Sorry!
Last names that have the same initial of M.
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Here are some sample tags. Choose 'English word meanings' and try searching for any English word you like!
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