Choosing a Japanese girl’s name is choosing the kanji as much as the sound — the same sound can be written many ways, and each kanji pairing gives the name a different meaning and feel. Below are 51 well-loved Japanese girl names, grouped by style, each with its most common kanji, reading and meaning. Want a name built around your own story instead? Try the free Japanese Name Generator — and if you want to know how your own name looks in Japanese, use the name-in-Japanese converter.
Classic and Elegant Girl Names
- 1. Sakura (桜) — cherry blossom; Japan’s most iconic flower name
- 2. Yuki (雪) — snow; gentle and timeless
- 3. Hana (花) — flower
- 4. Akari (明里) — bright village; light and warmth
- 5. Yuna (優奈) — gentle and kind
- 6. Aoi (葵) — hollyhock flower (also written 碧, deep blue-green)
- 7. Rin (凛) — dignified, crisp and cool
- 8. Keiko (恵子) — blessed child
- 9. Yoko (陽子) — child of sunlight
- 10. Akiko (秋子) — autumn child (also 明子, bright child)
- 11. Kazuko (和子) — child of harmony
- 12. Noriko (紀子) — child of order and tradition
- 13. Emiko (恵美子) — blessed, beautiful child
Nature Girl Names
- 14. Kaede (楓) — maple leaf
- 15. Sora (空) — sky
- 16. Umi (海) — the sea
- 17. Hoshi (星) — star
- 18. Tsuki (月) — moon
- 19. Mizuho (瑞穂) — abundant fresh rice ears; a poetic name for Japan itself
- 20. Nanami (七海) — seven seas
- 21. Koharu (小春) — “small spring,” the warm spell in late autumn
- 22. Hinata (陽向) — facing the sun; a sunny place
- 23. Wakaba (若葉) — young leaf, fresh growth
- 24. Suzu (鈴) — a small bell
- 25. Tsubaki (椿) — camellia
- 26. Mizuki (美月) — beautiful moon
Modern and Cute Girl Names
- 27. Mei (芽依) — sprouting bud
- 28. Yui (結衣) — binding and connection
- 29. Riko (莉子) — jasmine child
- 30. Miko (美子) — beautiful child (also written 巫女, shrine maiden)
- 31. Nana (菜々) — fresh greens
- 32. Kanna (栞菜) — bookmark and greens; modern and light
- 33. Mio (澪) — a safe waterway or channel (also 美桜, beautiful cherry blossom)
- 34. Rei (玲) — the clear sound of small jewels (also 麗, lovely)
- 35. Sana (紗那) — fine silk gauze
- 36. Hina (陽菜) — sunny greens (also 雛, a baby chick)
- 37. Ichika (一華) — one flower
- 38. Runa (瑠那) — lapis lazuli; the modern “luna”
- 39. Kokoro (心) — heart, spirit
Strong and Cool Girl Names
- 40. Akira (明) — bright and clear
- 41. Hikari (光) — light
- 42. Midori (緑) — fresh green
- 43. Tomomi (智美) — wisdom and beauty
- 44. Haruka (遥) — far away, distant and free
- 45. Kyoko (響子) — child who echoes (also 京子, child of the capital)
- 46. Shinobu (忍) — endurance and quiet strength
- 47. Kagura (神楽) — the sacred music and dance of the shrines
- 48. Amaya (雨夜) — night rain
- 49. Mikoto (尊) — precious and noble
- 50. Chihiro (千尋) — a thousand fathoms deep
- 51. Kotone (琴音) — the sound of the koto harp
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Japanese girl name?
Names like Mei, Yui, Sakura and Aoi sit at the top of Japanese baby-name rankings year after year. They are short, easy to say in many languages, and can be written with beautiful kanji.
What Japanese girl name means moon?
Tsuki (月) literally means moon. Mizuki (美月, beautiful moon) is the most popular moon name for girls, and Kaguya (輝夜, shining night) comes from the Moon Princess of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.
What Japanese girl name means flower?
Hana (花) means flower itself. Sakura (桜, cherry blossom), Tsubaki (椿, camellia) and Riko (莉子, jasmine) are all flower names with different characters and moods.
Can the same Japanese name be written in different kanji?
Yes — this is one of the most distinctive things about Japanese names. The sound comes first, then parents choose the kanji: “Akari” can be written 明里 (bright village) or left in soft hiragana, and each choice shifts the meaning slightly.
Are these names suitable for a baby, a character, or a username?
All three. Every name on this list is a real, naturally used Japanese name. For a baby, check the sound in your own language too; for a character or gamer tag, pick the kanji whose meaning matches the personality. The generator can build more options in samurai, nature, noble, spiritual, modern and poetic styles.
Still looking? Browse the companion list of Japanese boy names, or generate a name in your favourite style with the free Japanese Name Generator.