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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: Yanagi
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 "Yanagi," 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
柳 means "willow, a type of tree."
Willow Tree - A type of tree from the willow family, often referred to as a weeping willow.
General Term - A general term for trees from the willow family.
木 means "tree, wood."
Tree - A large plant with a trunk and branches, typically providing shade and shelter.
Lumber - Wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for use in construction.
Material - Wood used as a material for making things.
Element - One of the five elements in Chinese philosophy, representing the east and the color blue.
Plain - Unadorned and without decoration.
Numb - Losing sensation or feeling.
Musical Instrument - An instrument made of wood, one of the eight tones (gold, stone, thread, bamboo, gourd, earth, leather, and wood).
Thursday - One of the seven days of the week.
矢 means "arrow, dart."
Arrow - A weapon shot with a bowstring.
Correct - To make something right or accurate.
Straight - Moving in a direct line.
Vow - A solemn promise or pledge.
Bestow - To give or confer.
Feces - Waste matter discharged from the bowels.
泙 means "the sound of water colliding. the sound of water colliding with each other, or the force of the water."
八 means "eight, 8."
Eight - The number eight.
Divide - To divide or separate.
Two O'clock - An old way of referring to the current time of around 2am or 2pm.
名 means "name, family name, given name."
Name - A name given to someone or something.
Reputation - A good reputation or honor.
Achievement - Accomplishments or successes.
Notable - Being well-known or famous.
Formal - The outward appearance or surface.
Counting - A word used to count people.
木 means "tree, wood."
Tree - A large plant with a trunk and branches, typically providing shade and shelter.
Lumber - Wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for use in construction.
Material - Wood used as a material for making things.
Element - One of the five elements in Chinese philosophy, representing the east and the color blue.
Plain - Unadorned and without decoration.
Numb - Losing sensation or feeling.
Musical Instrument - An instrument made of wood, one of the eight tones (gold, stone, thread, bamboo, gourd, earth, leather, and wood).
Thursday - One of the seven days of the week.
柳 means "willow, a type of tree."
Willow Tree - A type of tree from the willow family, often referred to as a weeping willow.
General Term - A general term for trees from the willow family.
楽 means "fun, comfort, ease."
梁 means "beam, girder."
Bridge - A bridge that spans across two points, usually made of planks or other materials.
Beam - A horizontal timber that supports a roof.
Weir - A structure built in a river to control the flow of water and catch fish.
木 means "tree, wood."
Tree - A large plant with a trunk and branches, typically providing shade and shelter.
Lumber - Wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for use in construction.
Material - Wood used as a material for making things.
Element - One of the five elements in Chinese philosophy, representing the east and the color blue.
Plain - Unadorned and without decoration.
Numb - Losing sensation or feeling.
Musical Instrument - An instrument made of wood, one of the eight tones (gold, stone, thread, bamboo, gourd, earth, leather, and wood).
Thursday - One of the seven days of the week.
野 means "field, plain, wilderness."
Wild - Refers to the natural state of the environment, untamed and free.
Open - Refers to the wide open spaces, with no boundaries or restrictions.
Unpretentious - Refers to the simplicity and lack of ornamentation.
Natural - Refers to the untouched state of the environment, with no human interference.
Area - Refers to the geographical area, with its own boundaries and limits.
Uninhabited - Refers to the lack of human presence in the area.
Countryside - Refers to the rural areas, with its own unique culture and traditions.
柳 means "willow, a type of tree."
The list contains people mentioned in Wikipedia. All JP links are in Japanese only. Sorry!
Last names that have the same initial of Y.
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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