Japanese Name Generator

Japanese names: History, structure, and meaning

Thanks to its island geography, the land of the rising sun is a rich culture of fascinating and singular history and mythology dating back thousands of years. There’s great pride in Japanese culture—this was the rare country that threw back the Mongols—and fascinating traditions in everything from tea ceremonies to Samurai warrior chivalry.

Japanese pop culture is a major force even in the West, where anime and manga influence storytelling, animation, and modern folklore. As such, Japanese conventions have moved across the world to change how we think about names.

Japanese naming conventions

From Japanese mythology to modern times, Japanese naming conventions join an Eastern flavor to strong ancestral traditions. Japanese names use a family name followed by a given name: Yamamoto Yukio, for example, means Yukio (male) from the Yamamoto family, while the -san suffix confers honor to the name.

Japanese name inspiration

Simple and precise, Japanese names like Hotei carry a distinct sound—T sounds often giving them their particular bite and panache. Middle names are uncommon, however, so expect to keep it simple and to the point.

If you’re ready to create your own Japanese(ish) name, check out our generator and start brainstorming!

List of Japanese Names

Asahi and Emiko, Sakura and Makoto—Japanese names are simple, poetic, and often carry distinctive syllables that are undeniably a part of Japanese culture. Below, you’ll see a sample of Japanese names and their rich, often positive connotations, which make them ideal for naming anime and manga-style heroes.