90 Japanese Boy Names (With Meanings and How to Say Them)

Japanese boy names are unusually well suited to English speakers, because Japanese phonetics are simple: every vowel is sounded, nothing glides, and each syllable gets roughly equal weight. Haruto is ha-ru-to, three even beats. There is no stress trap.

One thing worth understanding before you choose, because it's the part outsiders miss: the sound doesn't fix the meaning. The same name can be written with different kanji carrying entirely different senses — Kai can mean ocean, shell, or forgiveness depending on the character used. If the meaning matters to you, the meaning lives in the writing, not the sound.

Ninety below, grouped by how easily they travel.

Short, and they travel anywhere

1. Ren — "Lotus" or "love," depending on kanji. Top of the charts in Japan and increasingly used elsewhere.
2. Kai — "Ocean," "shell," or "forgiveness." Also independently a name in Hawaiian and German.
3. Sora — "Sky." Soft and unmistakable.
4. Riku — "Land." Currently one of Japan's most popular.
5. Haru — "Spring," "sun," or "clear."
6. Yuki — "Snow" or "happiness." Used both ways.
7. Taro — "Eldest son." The archetypal Japanese name.
8. Hiro — "Generous" or "abundant." Also short for Hiroshi.
9. Jin — "Benevolence."
10. Rei — "Bell" or "spirit."
11. Sho — "To fly" or "soar."
12. Ryo — "Refreshing, cool."
13. Kei — "Blessing" or "respect."
14. Yu — "Gentleness," "superiority."
15. Ko — "Happiness," "light."

Japan's current top names

16. Haruto — "Sun flying." Has topped Japanese charts repeatedly.
17. Sota — "Sudden, clear."
18. Yuto — "Gentle, superior."
19. Aoi — "Hollyhock," or the color blue. Used for both.
20. Itsuki — "Timber, tree."
21. Minato — "Harbor."
22. Hinata — "Sunny place." Both genders.
23. Asahi — "Morning sun."
24. Yamato — The ancient name for Japan itself.
25. Souma — "Sudden horse."

Nature

26. Kaito — "Ocean flying."
27. Mori — "Forest."
28. Kawa — "River."
29. Yama — "Mountain."
30. Umi — "Sea."
31. Takumi — "Artisan, skilled."
32. Natsu — "Summer."
33. Aki — "Fall" or "bright."
34. Fuyu — "Winter."
35. Hoshi — "Star."
36. Tsuki — "Moon."
37. Kaze — "Wind."
38. Ame — "Rain."
39. Iwa — "Rock."
40. Sakura — "Cherry blossom." Usually feminine, occasionally not.

Strength and character

41. Takeshi — "Fierce, warrior."
42. Kenji — "Strong, healthy" plus "second son."
43. Isamu — "Courage."
44. Katsu — "Victory."
45. Tsuyoshi — "Strong."
46. Masaru — "Victory, excellence."
47. Makoto — "Sincerity, truth."
48. Satoshi — "Wise, quick-witted."
49. Osamu — "Discipline, study."
50. Tadashi — "Correct, loyal."
51. Noboru — "To ascend."
52. Susumu — "To advance."
53. Mamoru — "To protect."
54. Akira — "Bright, clear." Used for both.
55. Daichi — "Great land."

Traditional and formal

56. Hiroshi — "Generous."
57. Kenichi — "Strong first son."
58. Shinji — "True second son."
59. Takahiro — "Noble, abundant."
60. Yoshihiro — "Good, abundant."
61. Katsuhiro — "Victorious, abundant."
62. Nobuyuki — "Faithful happiness."
63. Tetsuya — "Philosophy, clear."
64. Kazuki — "Harmony, hope."
65. Naoki — "Honest tree."
66. Yusuke — "Help, assist."
67. Daisuke — "Great help."
68. Ryosuke — "Refreshing help."
69. Shohei — "Soaring, peaceful."
70. Koji — "Little second son."

Modern and rising

71. Sosuke — "Sudden help."
72. Hayato — "Falcon person."
73. Reo — "Lion" via the Western Leo, now common in Japan.
74. Riki — "Power."
75. Rio — "Village, cherry."
76. Eito — "Prosperity."
77. Yuma — "Gentle truth."
78. Kanata — "Faraway."
79. Towa — "Eternity."
80. Ryusei — "Meteor," literally "dragon star."

Number and order names

Older, and increasingly rare — worth knowing what they mean.

81. Ichiro — "First son."
82. Jiro — "Second son."
83. Saburo — "Third son."
84. Shiro — "Fourth son."
85. Goro — "Fifth son."

Rare, and worth a look

86. Tsubasa — "Wing."
87. Kaoru — "Fragrance." Both genders.
88. Shion — "Aster flower."
89. Rintaro — "Dignified eldest son."
90. Nagi — "Calm." Genuinely lovely and very short.

Two things worth knowing

The kanji carries the meaning, not the sound. If you're choosing a Japanese name for its meaning, the meaning is a property of the written characters. Two boys named Kai can have entirely different names in Japanese. If the family has Japanese heritage, the kanji choice is the real decision and worth taking to someone who reads it.

Pronunciation is more regular than English speakers expect. No silent letters, no stress patterns to learn, and every vowel is pronounced. The most common error is collapsing syllables — Naoki is na-o-ki, three beats, not "NOW-key."

More origin lists: 100 Greek boy names, 95 Irish boy names and 85 Italian boy names.