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.

Famous People Named Hanako

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

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