Hanako

Japanese

"flower child"

Hanako Origin and Meaning

The name Hanako is a girl's name of Japanese origin meaning "flower child".

Hanako has a delicate sound and quaint meaning -- but there's a catch. According to widespread urban legend in Japan, Hanako is the name of the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms, who sometimes answers if you call her name.

The so-called "Hanako of the Toilet" has been the subject of countless fictional adaptations since the rumor started to circulate in the 1950s. Hanako was once such a common name that it was used in the Japanese equivalent of "Jane Doe," but it's gotten much less popular as the legend of Hanako-san has spread.

20 Names Similar to Hanako

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Hanako.

• Sonata
• Midori
• Stellaluna
• Lumière
• Aquila
• Pallas
• Xochitl
• Mieko
• Cersei
• Capella
• Psyche
• Calytrix
• Hazelle
• Stellamaris
• Feline
• Sephora
• Saffira
• Freesia
• Lakshmi
• Aurore

Famous People Named Hanako

• Hanako Princess Hitachi, wife of Prince Hitachi of Japan
• Hanako Muraoka Japanese translator

The name Hanako in Pop Culture

• Hanako Yamada 9th rival in the video game Yandere Simulator
• Hanako san, a legendary ghost who haunts school bathrooms in Japan
• Hanako kun, male ghost from anime and manga series Toilet,Bound Hanako,kun inspired by the legend
• Hanako Arasaka Character in Cyberpunk TTRPGs and Cyberpunk 2077