150 Japanese girl names: Popular, unique and cute names for your baby

Japanese naming tradition

In Japan, names will usually have a surname first, followed by a given first name. Japanese names are traditionally written in kanji script, which is adapted from Chinese characters. If you choose one of the names in this list, your little girl can learn to write her name in kanji as well as using the versions we've included below, written in the modern Latin alphabet.

It's very uncommon for Japanese people to have middle names but this doesn't stop you from selecting more than one name for your baby if you prefer, or from using one of these Japanese names as a middle name for your child.

Here's our list of Japanese girl names to inspire you...

Popular Japanese girl names

These are the most popular girl names recorded in Japan in 2023. According to the survey carried out by Meiji Yesuda Life Insurance, these are the names that topped the charts and are currently loved by new Japanese parents. Himari took the top spot while Tsumugi, Yua and Mio have recently been moving up in popularity.

1. Himari

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sun
Trend: no change

2. Rin

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: dignified, majesty
Trend: no change

3. Tsumugi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: woven silk fabric
Trend: moving up

4. Yua

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: tie, bind, love
Trend: moving up

5. Mio

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful cherry blossom
Trend: moving up

6. Mei

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: gorgeous, plum
Trend: moving up

7. Koharu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: small heart
Trend: moving up

8. Hina

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: light, sun
Trend: moving down

9. Ema

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: favour, benefit
Trend: no change

10. Sui

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: water
Trend: moving up

11. Yuzuki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: small citrus fruit
Trend: moving up

12. Ai

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: love, affection
Trend: moving up

13. Iroha

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: feathers
Trend: moving up

Cute Japanese girl names

We think these are some of the cutest Japanese names in terms of how they sound as well as what they mean. If you're searching for an adorable Japanese baby girl name then this list should make naming your baby girl easy.

14. Aika

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: love song

15. Aiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: little loved one

16. Aimi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: love beauty

17. Aiya

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful silk

18. Akemi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful, bright

19. Ami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: friend

20. Asana

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: calm morning

21. Ayumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: a sweet fish

22. Chinami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: one-thousand waves

23. Etsuko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: joyous child

24. Harue

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sunshine

25. Haruki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: springtime tree

23. Hayate

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: smooth, sound of the wind

24. Hitomi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful history

25. Iku

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: nourishing

26. Iori

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: hermitage, retreat

27. Kagami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: mirror

28. Kana

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: dexterity and skill

29. Kaori

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: fragrant beautiful girl

30. Kayo

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: good, beautiful generation

31. Kirika

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: natural beauty

32. Ko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: baby

33. Koemi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: smiling child

34. Kumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: pretty braids

35. Kumiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: companion child

36. Maemi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: truthful smile

37. Makaira

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: one who brings happiness

38. Maki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: true

39. Manami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: affectionate beauty

40. Masami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: become beautiful

41. Michiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful wise child

42. Mika

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful fragrance

43. Mi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beauty

44. Miu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful feather

45. Miwa

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: harmony

46. Mizuki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful moon

47. Nagi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: calm, lull

48. Omi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: pure beauty

49. Rai

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: trust

50. Rui

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: affectionate

51. Rumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beauty

52. Satomi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful

53. Sawako

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: cute baby

54. Sora

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sky

55. Suki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beloved, loved one

56. Yoshimi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful season

57. Yumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful friend

58. Yuna

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: superiority, gentleness

Unique Japanese girl names

If you don't have family connections to Japan then any Japanese name could be a unique choice for your baby. However, if you're Japanese or have links to The Land of the Rising Sun and want your child to have a name that's special and rare then you'll love this list that features names that are rare and uncommon in the country of Japan itself.

59. Akane

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: deep red

60. Amaku

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sky

61. Anzu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: apricot

62. Asami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: hemp, beautiful

63. Ayako

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: colour, design

64. Ayano

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: colour, design

65. Chiaki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: gathered wisdom

66. Chiharu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: wisdom, spring, sunny weather

67. Chinatsu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: a thousand summers

68. Chitose

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: one thousand years

69. Chiyo

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: one thousand generations

70. Cho

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: butterfly

71. Fuyuko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: winter child

72. Harumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: beautiful spring, clear weather

73. Hayami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: hurricane

74. Hibiki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: echo

75. Hideki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: excellence, tree

76. Hiro

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: abundant

77. Hisa

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: everlasting

78. Izumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: spring, fountain

79. Japana

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: ambitious

80. Junko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: pure child

81. Kosuke

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: rising sun

82. Kozue

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: tree branches

83. Marri

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: an elegant dance party

84. Masuyo

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: benefit to the world

85. Matoi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: wrap, wind around

86. Minato

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: harbour

87. Nao

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: honest, esteem

88. Naoki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: honesty, sincerity

89. Naoko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: obedient child

90. Natsu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: born in summer

91. Nishi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: west

92. Ohta

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: pure

93. Rinako

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: gallant apple tree child

94. Sachie

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: child of joy

95. Satori

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: awakening, enlightenment

96. Shinju

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: pearl

97. Shinobu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: endurance

98. Shizu

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: quiet, intention

99. Shun

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: speed, fast

100. Tadam

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sincerity

101. Terumi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: radiance, brilliance

102. Tsubame

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: swallow bird

103. Tsubasa

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: wings

104. Umeko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: apricot child

105. Wakana

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: harmony, music

106. Yaeko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: multi-layered child

107. Yakumo

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: eight clouds

108. Yoru

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: dark

Japanese girl names meaning star

Stars are important within Japanese culture. There's an ancient myth around the Orion constellation, which is a symbol of knowledge and cultural values and historically the Japanese people believed Orion guided them on when to cultivate their crops. Today, origami paper stars are still given as gifts to wish friends and family good luck, love and support. Because of the special cultural link with the stars many names in Japan have gorgeous meanings such as galaxy and dazzling star. Here are some of our favourites.

109. Ginga

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: galaxy

110. Hikari

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: starlight

111. Hoshi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: star

112. Hoshiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: star child

113. Hoshino

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: field of stars

114. Kira

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sparkling

115. Kirameki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sparkle, glitter

116. Koboshi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: little or small star

117. Memehoshi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: dazzling star

118. Midori

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: freshness

119. Myoujou

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: bright, star

120. Natsuki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: summer star

121. Nozomi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: hope star

122. Seira

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: stars scattered in the sky

123. Seiun

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: nebula

124. Yoihoshi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: evening star

Japanese girl names meaning flower

Flowers are another hugely important symbol or part of life for Japanese people. It's part of the Japanese tradition to assign meanings to flowers and the sakura flower is said to be where the souls of the ancestors reside. As well as being culturally important these names are also beautiful to say and are super pretty, just like your little girl.

125. Airi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: white jasmine

126. Aoi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: hollyhock flower, blue

127. Arisa

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: light cherry blossoms

128. Asuka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: fragrance of tomorrow’s flower

129. Ayame

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Japanese iris flower

130. Ayaka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: colourful flower petal

131. Chika

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: a thousand flowers

132. Fuuka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower of the wind

133. Hana

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower, blossom

134. Hanae

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: small flower

135. Hanako

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower child

136. Hanan

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower child

137. Haruka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: spring flower

138. Hinata

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: sunflower

139. Kanon

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower blossom

140. Maika

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: dance of the flower

141. Mikia

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: flower stem

142. Momoka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: a hundred flowers

143. Ran

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: orchid

144. Riko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: white jasmine, child

145. Sayuri

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: little lily

146. Sumire

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: lovely violet

147. Suzuran

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: lily of the valley

148. Tsubaki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: camellia flower

149. Yuriko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: lily child

150. Yuzuha

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: leaf

Still looking for more baby names? Get inspired and find the perfect Indian baby names and Italian boy names from our list of the most popular names for boys and girls. Also discover our Jewish baby names collection of traditional, popular, unique, and beautiful Hebrew names for girls and boys, complete with their origins and meanings.

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Janet MtimaDigital Journalist

Janet is a Digital Journalist for MadeForMums and mother to a boy and girl both under 4. With a keen eye and passion for creating online media content, she enjoys sharing her own journey of motherhood, and providing encouragement for new mums.