Japanese Boy Names

Choosing a name for your baby boy can be both exciting and meaningful, especially if you are considering Japanese names. These names offer a special way to give your child a unique or adorable moniker that reflects Japanese heritage.

In Japanese culture, combining different kanji characters can create names with varied and beautiful meanings.

For inspiration, here is a collection of some favorite Japanese boy names and the traditions behind them.

Traditions Behind Japanese Male Names

Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana

Japanese names for boys frequently use kanji, which are intricate characters with roots in Chinese writing.

Parents have the option to choose these characters, or they can opt for the simpler hiragana and katakana scripts.

For instance, the name Haruto can be written in kanji as 晴斗, in hiragana as はると, and in katakana as ハルト.

Characters, Meaning, and Pronunciation

Once parents decide on kanji, hiragana, or katakana, they select the specific characters, meanings, and pronunciations.

Japanese names incorporate over 3,000 kanji characters, creating a vast array of possibilities.

Characters

While a name can consist of a single kanji character, it’s common for parents to use two or more.

Names with four characters are usually reserved for the eldest son in the family.

Meaning

Parents combine different kanji characters to form the name’s meaning. Each kanji can have multiple meanings and can change depending on the combination.

For example, the name Daiki uses:

• Dai which can mean “big” or “great.”
• Ki which can mean “brightness,” “tree,” or “valuable.”

Thus, Daiki can translate to “big brightness,” “great brightness,” or “great value.”

Pronunciation

Japanese names can also have various pronunciations.

While many traditional names have well-known pronunciations, unique kanji combinations can create different sounds.

For instance, the kanji 大翔 can traditionally be pronounced as KHEE-RO-TOH, but it can also be pronounced as HA-ROO-TOH (Haruto) or MAH-SAH-TOH (Masato).

If opting for uncommon pronunciations, it’s important to share both the spelling and the sound to avoid confusion.

Popular Japanese Boy Names

Kenzo

The name Kenzo ranks highest among Japanese boy names in the United States. Traditionally, it’s spelled as Kenzō.

It’s a lovely choice for Japanese American families and is linked with the famous fashion designer Kenzō Takada.

The kanji for ken can mean “humble,” “healthy,” “strong,” and “wise,” while zo means “three.”

Kenji

Another popular option in the United States is Kenji. This name offers various meanings with ken translating to “healthy,” “strong,” “sharp,” and “sturdy,” and ji meaning “two.”

Aoi

Aoi is pronounced A-O-EE and is often interpreted as “hollyhock” or “althea.”

The kanji ao can also mean “green” or “blue,” presenting other interesting meanings for this name.

Aoto

Pronounced AH-O-TO, Aoto can mean “blue constellation,” with ao meaning “blue” and to referring to a constellation from Chinese.

Haruto

Haruto, pronounced HA-ROO-TO, combines haru, which can mean “light, sun” or “clear weather,” and to, which can mean “fly, soar” or be linked to a constellation.

It’s a popular and charming choice for a boy’s name.

Hinata

This name, pronounced KHEE-NA-TA, is perfect for a sunny disposition.

Hinata commonly means “sunny place,” “toward the sun,” or “sunflower.” With multiple interpretations, it remains an appealing choice for many.

Minato

Minato, pronounced MEE-NA-TO, means “harbor.”

Although it’s not as common as other names on the list, it has been in use for many decades and occasionally resurfaces in popularity.

Riku

Riku, pronounced REE-KOO, typically means “land.”

It’s also interesting to note that Riku is used as a short form of Richard in Finland.

Sota

Traditionally spelled Sōta, this name, pronounced SO-TA, can mean “sound of the wind” with so, and “big, great” with ta.

It’s a wonderful option for those who appreciate nature-inspired names.

Yuto

Yuto, often spelled Yūto, is pronounced YOO-TO.

The name boasts a distinctive meaning, with yu translating to “excellence, superiority,” and to meaning “soar, fly.”

Unique and Rare Japanese Boy Names

Akimitsu

This unusual boy name is perfect for a shining star. Pronounced A-KyEE-MEE-TSOO, Akimitsu means “bright light.”

It’s an excellent choice among Japanese boy names related to light.

Hanzō

The traditional spelling and notable bearer make Hanzō a unique Japanese boy’s name. Pronounced HAWn-ZO, it was borne by a famous sixteenth-century samurai.

The name combines han and zō to mean “half” and “to hide.”

Isamu

Isamu could be the perfect name for a brave boy. Pronounced EE-SA-MOO, it means “brave.”

The name is also associated with the artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi.

Jun’ichi

Use this rare name for a unique little guy.

Jun’ichi combines the kanji jun, meaning “pure,” with ichi, meaning “one.” It is pronounced JWOOn-EE-CHEE.

Ken’ichi

Similar to Jun’ichi, Ken’ichi is a unique and strong name. Pronounced KEWn-EE-CHEE, it combines ken, meaning “strong, healthy” or “study, sharpen,” with ichi, meaning “one.”

Kōji

Pronounced KO-ZEE, Kōji is a unique yet strong name for boys.

Ko can mean “prosperous,” “peace,” or “happiness, good luck,” and when combined with ji, it can mean “boss.”

Minoru

Minoru is unique for its meaning. Pronounced MEE-NO-ROO, it means “to bear fruit,” symbolizing success and good fortune for your little boy.

Naomi

Naomi is unisex and popular among Japanese girl names but works for boys too.

For any gender, nao means “straight, direct.” For boys, mi traditionally means “self.”

Naomi is pronounced NA-O-MEE, offering a unique twist.

Ryōsuke

Ryōsuke has a unique spelling and multiple meanings.

Typically, ryō means “clear” and suke means “help, assist.”

It can be pronounced RyO-SOO-KEH or RyO-SKEH.

Yasu

If you’re searching for a name that means “calm” or “peace,” Yasu is perfect.

Pronounced YA-SOO, it conveys a sense of peace and tranquility.

Common Japanese Boy Names

Arata

Arata is a well-loved name that means “fresh, new.” It is a fitting choice for a newborn. This name is pronounced A-RA-TA.

Fuyuki

Fuyuki is a frequently seen name for boys. Pronounced FOO-YOO-KEE, it traditionally means “winter” and “tree.”

Hikaru

Hikaru, pronounced KHEE-KA-ROO, signifies “light” or “brightness.” This name can be used for both boys and girls.

Osuke

Osuke has the charming meaning of “cherry blossom” and “to help.” It is pronounced OH-SOO-KAY.

Ren

Ren is a classic name that is making a comeback. It means “lotus” or “love,” and it is a lovely choice for any boy.

Ritsu

Ritsu is pronounced REE-TSOO and carries the meanings “law” or “being upstanding.” It is an excellent name for families with a legal background.

Shuto

Shuto is particularly fitting for boys born in winter, as it means “holly” and “winter.” The pronunciation is SHA-TOH.

So

So is a simple and sweet name, pronounced SOH. It means “fresh,” which conveys a sense of readiness and newness.

Tatsuki

Tatsuki signifies “tree” and “to signify honesty.” This name, pronounced TAT-SOO-KEE, reflects strength and wisdom often associated with trees.

Touji

Touji means “winter solstice” and is a great name for boys born during the winter months. The pronunciation for Touji is TOH-JEE.

More Common Japanese Boy Names

These names have been popular choices among families for years, making them classic options for a new son. For a list of even more traditional favorites, see below.

Cool Japanese Boy Names

Banri

Pronounced BAN-RyEE, Banri is a Japanese name that means “thousands of miles.” This moniker is perfect for parents who wish their child an adventurous life.

Haru

Haru, pronounced HA-ROO, stands out with its cool sound. It can mean “light, sun,” “spring,” or “clear weather.” Haru is also a common nickname for the popular name Haruto.

Hikari

Hikari means “light” in Japanese, adding brightness to any child’s name. Pronounced KHEE-KA-REE, it carries a unique and cool sound.

Kaede

Kaede, pronounced KA-EH-DEH, means “maple.” It can be a fitting name for a Japanese American boy, resembling the name Kade but with a unique twist.

Kaito

If you love the sea and sky, consider the name Kaito, pronounced KA-EE-TO.

In Japanese, kai means “sea, ocean,” and to means “fly, soar.” It’s also a great option for those seeking a name related to water.

Kei

Kei is a versatile name with various meanings like “intelligent,” “gemstone,” and “congratulate.”

Pronounced simply as KAY, it fits well in multiple languages, including Hawaiian, where Kai is a popular name.

Masao

Masao stands out with its unique spelling and pronunciation, MA-SA-OH.

The name combines kanji to mean “proper hero,” making it a noble choice for any boy.

Nori

Nori, pronounced NO-REE, commonly means “ceremony, rites.”

While it can be a nickname for Eleanor in the U.S., in Japanese, Nori has a distinct and cool pronunciation.

Ryō

Ryō, pronounced RyOH, directly translates to “cool” in Japanese. It’s a fitting name for any boy, capturing both a cool meaning and a refreshing sound.

Taro

Traditionally spelled Tarō, Taro is pronounced TA-RO.

The name can mean “big, great son,” combining ta (“big, great”) and ro (“son”). It’s both strong and traditional.

More Cool Japanese Boy Names

These names shine with their unique sounds and meanings.

They carry a blend of nature, intelligence, and heroism, making them perfect for any cool, adventurous boy.

Each one offers a great blend of traditional and modern vibes, ensuring your child’s name will stand out.

Choose from names that celebrate light, adventure, intelligence, and more.

Whether you prefer a single kanji name or a combination, these options are sure to give your child a cool and memorable start.

Short and Long Japanese Boy Names

Akio

Akio, a short baby boy name, offers quite a few interpretations.

Aki typically means “bright, luminous,” and when combined, o can mean “man,” “male,” “hero,” and more.

Hideyoshi

A long name like Hideyoshi combines two names: Hide, meaning “excellent, outstanding,” and Yoshi, meaning “good, virtuous” or “good luck.” Together, the name is pronounced KHEE-DEH-YO-SHEE.

Hirohito

Hirohito, pronounced KHEE-RO-KHEE-TO, combines hiro, meaning “abundant,” and hito, meaning “compassionate” or “person.”

Kazuyuki

Kazuyuki is another long baby name with a lovely meaning.

Kazu means “harmony, peace,” and yuki means “happiness, good luck.” It’s pronounced KA-ZOO-YOO-KYEE.

Nao

Short and simple, Nao is pronounced NA-O and means “straight, direct.”

Nobutoshi

Nobutoshi, pronounced NO-BOO-TO-SHEE, is a long name with an appealing meaning.

Nobu can mean “trust,” and toshi generally means “quick, clever.”

Shin

For a singular kanji name, Shin, pronounced SHEEN, means “real, genuine.”

Shin’ichi

Should you prefer a longer version of Shin, consider Shin’ichi.

Combining shin (“real, genuine”) with ichi (“one”), it’s pronounced SHEEN-EE-CHEE.

Shō

Shō is another short name with several possible meanings. Pronounced SHO, it can mean “soar,” “glide,” “prize,” or “reward.”

Yori

Yori, pronounced YO-REE, is excellent for a sweet Japanese baby boy name. It means “rely upon,” indicating reliability and trust.

Yasunari

Another interesting option is Yasunari.

Combining yasu, which means “calm” or “peaceful,” with nari, which can mean “to be,” makes this name a serene choice.

Masahiro

Masahiro is a longer name with a strong meaning.

Masa means “justice” or “righteousness,” and hiro means “abundant” or “generous.” The name is pronounced MA-SA-HEE-RO.

Riku

Short and simple, Riku means “land” or “continent.”

Pronounced REE-KOO, it’s an earthy and grounded name.

Tetsuya

Tetsuya, a long name pronounced TET-SOO-YA, combines tetsu, meaning “iron,” with ya, which can mean “also” or “to be.”

Cute Japanese Boy Names

Asuka

A unisex name in Japan, Asuka combines the elements asu, which can mean “tomorrow,” “fragrance,” or “to fly,” with ka, which means “bird.”

It’s pronounced A-SOO-KA or A-SKA.

Daigo

Daigo is pronounced DA-EE-GO and means “big, great” and “enlightenment.” It’s a charming choice with a cute ring to it.

Fuyutake

Pronounced FOO-YOO-TA-KAY, this name blends fuyu, meaning “winter,” with take, which means “bamboo.” It’s a name inspired by nature.

Haruo

Haruo means “springtime man” and is pronounced HA-ROO-OH. This name is especially fitting for a baby born in spring.

Isao

Isao, pronounced EE-SA-OH, is a short and cute name that means “virtue” or “honor, merit.”

Kohaku

Pronounced KO-HA-KOO, Kohaku means “amber.”

It’s a great choice if your baby is born in November, as amber is the birthstone of the month.

Kōki

Kōki combines kō, which can mean “light” or “happiness, good luck,” with ki, which means “hope” or “brightness.”

It’s pronounced KO-KyEE.

Shoichi

Shoichi has a sweet sound, pronounced SHO-EE-CHEE.

Sho means “iris” and ichi means “one.”

Touwa

Touwa, pronounced TO-WAH, offers various interpretations.

Tou can mean “winter” or “wisteria,” and wa can mean “feathers” or “peace, harmony.”

Yoshi

Yoshi simply means “good luck.”

It might remind many of the beloved character from Nintendo’s Super Mario World.

Powerful Japanese Boy Names

Akira

This strong Japanese male name means “bright” or “clear,” giving your little one a name that represents a clear and focused mind.

It has a pleasant pronunciation: A-KyEE-RA.

Chihiro

Pronounced CHEE-KHEE-RO, this name combines chi, meaning “thousand,” and hiro, which means “fathom.” This adds depth to its power.

Daiki

All kanji combinations for Daiki make it a powerful name.

Pronounced DA-EE-KyEE, dai can mean “big, great,” while ki can mean “brightness,” “tree,” or “valuable.”

Fuyuto

If winter impresses you as a powerful season, Fuyuto could be the right choice.

Pronounced FOO-YOO-TOH, it means “winter” and “ascend, rise.”

Haruya

Inspired by nature, this name means “spring.”

Haruya intensifies this with ya, meaning “also, more.” Pronounced HA-RU-YA, it captures the essence of an invigorating season.

Hiro

A unisex name that is quite adaptable.

Pronounced HEE-RO, the name equates to “abundant,” “generous,” and “prosperous.” It might remind you of the TV series Heroes character who could time travel.

Kazuo

Kazuo carries profound meanings.

Pronounced KA-ZOO-O, kazu means “peace, harmony,” while o means “man” or “male.” It signifies a “peaceful man.”

Masashi

A strong choice with governmental wisdom.

Pronounced MA-SA-SHEE, masa stands for “government,” while shi means “will, purpose.”

Shuji

Short yet powerful, Shuji means “govern, rule.” It’s pronounced SHOO-JEE.

Toya

Toya, pronounced TOH-YA, combines to, meaning “wisteria,” with ya, meaning “arrow.” This fusion provides a name of sheer strength.

Numerical Japanese Boy Names

Ichiro

Ichi means “one,” making Ichiro, pronounced EE-CHEE-RO, a fitting name for a first son.

The traditional spelling is Ichirō. One famous Ichiro is Ichiro Suzuki, the former professional baseball player who broke rookie records with the Seattle Mariners.

Jiro

For a second son, Jiro is a good choice as ji signifies “two.” It’s pronounced JEE-RO and can also be written as Jirō.

Saburo

Since sabu means “three,” Saburo (or Saburō) suits a third son well. It’s pronounced SA-BOO-RO.

Shiro

A fourth son might be named Shiro, traditionally spelled Shirō.

Pronounced SHEE-RO, with shi meaning “four.”

Goro

Goro continues the number pattern with go meaning “five.”

It’s a charming option for a fifth son, pronounced GO-RO. The traditional way to write it is Gorō.

Rokuro

For a sixth son, consider Rokuro (or Rokurō).

It’s pronounced RO-KOO-RO, with ro standing for “six.”

Shichiro

Shichiro is a suitable name for a seventh son, with shichi meaning “seven.”

It’s pronounced SHEE-CHEE-RO and can also be written as Shichirō.

Hachiro

Hachiro fits well for the eighth son, as hachi means “eight.”

Pronounced HA-CHEE-RO, this name can also be written traditionally as Hachirō.

Kuro

For a ninth son, Kuro or Kurō is appropriate.

Ku means “nine,” and it is pronounced KOO-RO.

Juro

A tenth son could be named Juro, with ju meaning “ten.”

It’s pronounced JOO-ROO and can also be written as Jūrō.

Even More Japanese Boy Names

Akio

This name means “bright” or “clear,” reflecting an inspiring and optimistic personality.

Haruto

With roots meaning “sun” and “flying,” it embodies the image of freedom and light.

Riku

Translating to “land” or “shore,” Riku suggests a strong connection to nature and stability.

Kaito

This name combines the elements of “ocean” and “fly,” giving a sense of adventure and vastness.

Riku

Riku means “land” or “earth,” grounding the name in nature. It’s a robust and earthy name, suggesting a boy who is solid and dependable.

Combining different kanji adds layers of meaning, making this name both strong and multifaceted.

Hiro

Hiro can signify “generous” or “abundant.” This name exudes warmth and kindness, making it ideal for a boy who will grow up nurturing and caring.

The kanji used can also mean “prosperous,” forecasting a successful future.