Japanese Names

The childhood name of the heroine of Memoirs of a Geisha is pretty and accessible. Chiyiko is a pet form.

Streamlined and sleek Japanese name with a sweet, fragrant meaning.

Bright, just like its meaning.

Commonly used in Japan, and so much more distinguished than Jen.

Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.

Sweet Japanese name that would work well as an alternative to the now-dated Alyssa and Marissa.

A springtime baby name appropriate for either sex.

Well-used in Japan, this name refers to the suzu, a tiny metal bell often placed in a silk charm bag and attached to a girl's undergarment so that a lovely tinkling sound is heard as she moves, and originally thought to frighten demons.

As a Japanese name, Umina derives from umi, meaning "sea", combined with a range of other kanji characters.

The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may want to consider it.

Most common in Japan in the mid-20th century, but to Western ears it doesn't sound dated.

Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and the first to reach the summits of the tallest peaks on all seven continents.

An energetic Japanese name that would make for an on-trend choice in the English-speaking world. Especially appropriate for a first-born son.