Evidence-led Japanese name reference

Japanese names, documented by reading and written form.

Look up source-recorded given names and surnames, compare exact spellings, inspect kanji context and see what the underlying reference data actually establishes.

Browse the name reference Open kanji reference

JMnedict name recordsKANJIDIC2 character dataJapanese government guidance

Reference scopeNames · surnames · readings · kanjiSee source coverage →

Recorded names, not invented combinations

Canonical pages are built from imported JMnedict name records and keep reading, spelling and classification evidence separate.

Character evidence stays character-level

KANJIDIC2 glosses and readings describe kanji. They are not converted into a fabricated single English meaning for the whole name.

Limits are part of the reference

Corpus counts, source labels and generated romanization are clearly distinguished from popularity, personal identity and naming intent.

Core reference

Browse the primary name database

Start with the canonical directories. Each route leads back to source-recorded readings, exact written forms and character-level evidence.

Given-name directory

Japanese given names

Browse canonical reading groups, including male-, female- and mixed-label source records.

Browse names →Surname directory

Japanese surnames

Explore surname readings and the exact written forms recorded for each group.

Browse surnames →Character reference

Kanji used in names

Review English glosses, readings, stroke counts and loaded character classifications.

Browse kanji →Reading directory

Japanese reading families

Move through source-recorded given names by their opening Japanese reading.

Browse readings →

Research tools

Investigate spellings and relationships

These tools work on the same source-backed corpus while canonical reference records remain the primary destinations.

ExplorerFilter the corpusKanji, morae, writing type, source classification and reading family.CompareCompare spellingsPlace source-recorded written forms side by side with character evidence.Kanji pairsResearch co-occurrenceInspect exact character combinations in the imported name corpus.DiscoveryName generatorGenerate from recorded readings instead of invented syllable strings.Source labelBoy-name recordsGiven-name groups containing male-classified JMnedict records.Source labelGirl-name recordsGiven-name groups containing female-classified JMnedict records.

Kanji themes

Discover names through character glosses

Theme pages find names containing kanji whose dictionary glosses match a controlled theme. They do not claim that the entire name has one fixed English translation.

Moon Sun Snow Love Hope Light Flower Sea Ocean Sky

See all meaning themes →

How to use this reference

Start with the reading. Then inspect the spelling.

Japanese names can share a pronunciation while using different written forms. This reference keeps the recorded reading, exact spelling, kanji-level evidence and source classification distinct so the page does not imply more than the sources establish.

Read the methodology →