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26,551 first names, 70,620 last names, 333,585 kanji variations.
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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 "Mikawa," 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
三 means "three, third, threefold."
Three - The number three.
Third - The third item in a sequence.
Frequently - Doing something multiple times.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
美 means "beauty, beautiful, pretty."
Beautiful - Having a pleasing appearance or attractive qualities.
Splendid - Impressive in appearance or quality.
Admirable - Inspiring admiration or approval.
Delicious - Having a pleasant, enjoyable taste.
Praiseworthy - Deserving of praise or admiration.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
見 means "see, look at."
To See - To be able to see with one's eyes.
To Meet - To come into contact with someone. To have an audience with someone.
To Appear - To show oneself. To manifest. To go out into the world. To come out into the open.
In Sight - In front of one's eyes.
Present - Now.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
参 means "participation, reference, visit."
To Meet With Someone Of Higher Status (e.g. a noble person) - To pay respects and seek an audience.
To Join A Group Or Become Part Of A Community - To enter and mix with others.
To Compare And Investigate - To examine and look into something.
To Prevent Alteration In Documents - To use the character 参 instead of 三 in contracts and other written documents.
To Express The Idea Of Going Or Coming - To use the word 参 as a substitute.
To Mix In An Uneven Manner - To enter and mix in an unbalanced way.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
参 means "participation, reference, visit."
To Meet With Someone Of Higher Status (e.g. a noble person) - To pay respects and seek an audience.
To Join A Group Or Become Part Of A Community - To enter and mix with others.
To Compare And Investigate - To examine and look into something.
To Prevent Alteration In Documents - To use the character 参 instead of 三 in contracts and other written documents.
To Express The Idea Of Going Or Coming - To use the word 参 as a substitute.
To Mix In An Uneven Manner - To enter and mix in an unbalanced way.
河 means "river, stream, watercourse."
River - A large river, such as the Yellow River in China.
御 means "honorific prefix, respectful prefix."
Express - To express respect towards someone or something.
Express - To express politeness towards an action or object.
Rule - To rule, stabilize, or govern.
Control - To control horses or carriages as desired. Also, the person who does this.
Serve - To serve the emperor or other rulers.
Express - To express respect towards the actions or possessions of the emperor or other rulers.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
実 means "fruit, reality, truth, actuality."
Fruit, Seed Of A Plant - Refers to the fruit or seed of a plant.
Abundance - Refers to being full or abundant.
Truth - Refers to truthfulness or sincerity.
Sincerity - Refers to being genuine or honest.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
美 means "beauty, beautiful, pretty."
Beautiful - Having a pleasing appearance or attractive qualities.
Splendid - Impressive in appearance or quality.
Admirable - Inspiring admiration or approval.
Delicious - Having a pleasant, enjoyable taste.
Praiseworthy - Deserving of praise or admiration.
河 means "river, stream, watercourse."
River - A large river, such as the Yellow River in China.
王 means "king, monarch."
Emperor, Monarch - A ruler of a country who governs with virtue.
Title Of Respect - A title of respect for one's grandparents or for someone of higher status.
To Become A King - To become a king or to reign over a country.
Male Of Imperial Lineage - A title for a male of imperial lineage up to five generations removed.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
見 means "see, look at."
To See - To be able to see with one's eyes.
To Meet - To come into contact with someone. To have an audience with someone.
To Appear - To show oneself. To manifest. To go out into the world. To come out into the open.
In Sight - In front of one's eyes.
Present - Now.
河 means "river, stream, watercourse."
River - A large river, such as the Yellow River in China.
箕 means "winnowing basket, sieve."
Winnowing Basket - A tool used to separate grain husks and dust.
Squatting - Throwing both legs out and sitting in a squatting position.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
身 means "body, oneself."
Body - The physical body, torso, or flesh.
Self - Oneself, from oneself, or by oneself.
Center - The center of an object or the trunk of a tree.
Oneself - Me, myself, or I.
Pregnancy - To become pregnant or to carry a child.
Meat - The flesh of an animal.
川 means "river, stream, brook."
Last names that have the same initial of M.
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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.
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