Top Japanese Baby Girl Names and Their Meanings

Maybe you're drawn to Eastern cultures, or you want to honour your family’s Asian heritage—either way, picking a Japanese name for your little one is a pretty special idea. What’s unique about Japanese names is that even if they sound the same, the way they’re written in kanji characters can totally change their meaning. One Japanese girl’s name might have loads of possible meanings—so you can choose the one that feels just right for you!

Find the perfect name, and discover what it really means and where it comes from with our Baby Name Generator. Filter by gender, style, origin or letter—see what stories you uncover and pick out the one that feels just right.

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Most Common and Popular Japanese Girl Names

If you’d love a Japanese girl’s name that’s both timeless and unique, here are 50 beautiful options for you to check out. From classics to modern favourites and fresh, stylish finds, you’re sure to see a name that feels perfect for your family.

1. Honoka. Hono means “harmony”, ka means “flower”.

2. Akari. Aka can mean “bright” or “vermilion red”; ri is “village” or “white jasmine”.

3. Himari. Hi is “sunshine”; mari means “hollyhock”, or if you use other kanji, “sunflower”.

4. Mei. Me is “bud” or “sprout”, i is “life” or even a “piece of clothing”.

5. Ema. E means “favour”, “benefit”, “bay” or “inlet”; ma is “flax”, that versatile plant used for linen, seeds, and oil!

6. Yui. Yu is “tie”, “bind”, “excellence”, “superiority” or “gentleness”, and i is “garment of clothing”.

7. Mio. Mi means “beautiful”, o is “cherry blossom” or “thread”.

8. Ichika. There are too many meanings to list, but favourites for ichi include “love”, “hope”, “beginning”, and ka is “flower”, “beautiful”, “affection”, or “fragrance”.

9. Aoi. A unisex name, meaning “hollyhock”, that summery flower.

10. Tsumugi. This one means “pongee”—a type of soft silk. Or “to spin”, like making thread from silk.

11. Ai. This short name means “love”, “affection” or “indigo” (the deep blue shade).

12. Ami. Feels a lot like the name Amy. In Japanese, a means “second” or “Asia”, mi means “beautiful”. Great for your gorgeous second-born daughter!

13. Noriko. Nori is “rule”, “ceremony” or “chronicle”; ko means “child”.

14. Sachiko. Sachi is “happiness” or “good luck”, ko is “child”. What a sweet meaning for your girl!

15. Aya. Means “colour” or “design”.

16. Chō. This rare name means “butterfly”.

17. Emi. Means “beautiful” and “picture”.

18. Jun. Means “pure” or “simple”.

19. Kei. Means “intelligent” or “gemstone”.

20. Kyō. Many possible meanings, including “unite”, “cooperate”, “capital city”, “village”, or “apricot”.

21. Mari. Ma is “genuine”, ri means “reason”, “logic” or “village”.

22. Wakana. Wa is “harmony”, kana means “music”—a fab pick for musical families.

23. Yaeko. Means “multilayered child”—really, every child is!

24. Michi. A unisex name, meaning “path”.

25. Miu. Means “beautiful” and “feather”.

26. Rei. Means “bell”, “lovely”, or “the tinkling of jade”, the pale green gem. So pretty for a girl!

27. Reina. Means “wise”.

28. Riko. Ri is “white jasmine” or “logic”; ko is “child”.

29. Sora. Means “sky”.

30. Suzu. Means “bell”.

31. Yasu. Means “peaceful” or “quiet”.

32. Yōko. Yō is “light” or “sun”, ko is “child”.

33. Yū. Can be “superiority”, “gentleness”, “permanence”, or “brave”.

34. Akira. Means “bright” or “clear”.

35. Asuka. Can mean “to fly” and “bird”, or if you write it with different kanji, “tomorrow” and “fragrance”.

36. Atsuko. Atsu means “warm” or “sincere”, ko is “child”.

37. Etsuko. Means “joy” and “child”.

38. Haruko. Haru is “spring”, “light” or “sun”, ko means “child”.

39. Shinju. Means “pearl”—perfect for a precious little girl!

40. Shinobu. Means “patience” or “endurance”.

41. Hibiki. Means “sound” or “echo”.

42. Hikari. Means “light”—ideal for the new spark in your life!

43. Hoshiko. Means “star” and “child”—a star in your world.

44. Hotaru. Means “firefly”.

45. Izumi. Means “fountain” or “spring”.

46. Kaoru. Simply means “fragrance”.

47. Kazuko. Means “harmony” and “child”.

48. Keiko. Means “celebrate” and “child”. And who wouldn’t want to celebrate their new bundle of joy?

49. Kimiko. Means “valuable (ki),” “beautiful (mi)”, and “child (ko)”—a lovely meaning for any little girl!

50. Kohaku. Means “amber”, like the fossil gemstone.

Still Exploring? Discover More Baby Names, Themes, and Inspiration

Still on the hunt for that special name? Dive into even more baby names by theme, meaning, origin, style, popularity and beyond. This is where you’ll find inspiration for every taste and every family.

1. Veda. An Indian girls’ name, often heard in Telugu and Kannada, meaning “knowledge” in Sanskrit.

2. Gillian. The feminine form of Julian—sometimes spelled Jillian, and nicknames could be Jill or Gill. It can be pronounced with either a hard or a soft G.

3. Daniela. In Hebrew, the masculine version Daniel means “God is my judge. ” It’s a strong, timeless meaning, and the name sounds soft and melodious too.

4. Willow. Inspired by the graceful, flexible tree, this name symbolises strength and adaptability.

5. Kylie. Check out this old-fashioned name with a big impact! Kylie is a favourite in Australia, and is believed to mean “boomerang” in some Australian Aboriginal languages.

The Bottom Line

Were you inspired by those incredible Japanese girl names and their magical meanings? With so many beautiful combinations and such a delightful culture, we hope you found the perfect name for your baby girl. If you need a little more inspiration, check out our baby name generator!

And whether you’re early on in your pregnancy or that due date is drawing near, consider checking out our hospital bag checklist to help prepare you.