From names like sakura (meaning “cherry blossom”) to ren (meaning “lotus”), the Japanese ensure that their nicknames are beautiful, auspicious and very meaningful. If you are looking for popular Japanese names for girls, you came straightly to the right place! Bellow you will find the 20 most popular female Japanese names and their meanings. Check it out!
Popular Japanese female names
Yumi (ゆみ)
This feminine name presents a delicate and sweet sound, originating from the junction of the elements yu (優), which is “superiority”, “kindness” or yu (裕), which means “abundance” with mi (美), which means “beauty”.
It takes the meaning of “superior beauty”, “gentle beauty” or “abundant beauty”, “extremely beautiful woman”.
Ayumi (あゆみ)
This female name is quite popular in Japan and carries three meanings: “step, walk”; “walking beauty”, “walking beauty” and “reason for Asian beauty”, “reason why Asia is beautiful”.
Ayumi comes up with the composition of the kanji:
ayumi (歩), “step”, “walk”, “walk”;
ayu (歩), “step”, “walk”, “walk” and mi (美), “beauty”;
a (亜), “Asia”, yu (由), “reason, cause” and mi (美), “beauty”.
Mayumi (まゆみ)
Delicate sounding name, Mayumi carries three different meanings, which are: “true bow and arrow”; “reason for true beauty”, “cause of truth to be beautiful” and “reason for flax plant to be beautiful”.
This feminine name comes from the union of the elements:
ma (真), “truth” and yumi (弓), “bow and arrow”;
ma (真), “truth”, yu (由), “reason, cause” and mi (美), “beauty”;
ma (麻), “flax (plant)”, yu (由), “reason, cause” and mi (美), “beauty”.
Sayuri (さゆリ)
Sayuri is a female name that has a symbolism that refers to beauty, purity and innocence, mainly because of the flower. It means “small lily” or “lily that is born early”.
It originated from the composition of kanji:
sa (小), “small” and yuri (百合), “lily”;
sa (早), “fast, early” and yuri (百合), “lily”.
Check out all the information about the Sayuri name.
Saori (さを理)
This name has several meanings and it is not known for sure all, but depending on the kanji, it means “sand that joins, that weaves”, “fast weaving”, “flower”, “blossom”, “cherry tree” , “painting”, “sacred ground”.
It may have arisen from the elements sa (沙), which means “sand” or sa (早), which is “fast, advanced” with ori (織), which means “weave”.
Akemi (あけみ)
This feminine name brings with it a beautiful symbolism linked to lighting, light and beauty. It means “that which shines beautifully”, “beautiful light”; “scarlet beauty” and “beautiful dawn”.
Akemi has its origins in the kanji:
ake (明), “brightness” and mi (美), “beauty”;
ake (朱), “red, scarlet” and mi (美), “beauty”;
ake (曙), “dawn”, “dawn” and mi (美), “beauty”.
Harumi (はるみ)
Harumi is a feminine name with several meanings, among them, the best known are “spring beauty”; “beauty that brings good weather”; “beautiful government”; “spring fruit” and “fruit of the clear sky”.
It is a name that comes with the addition of the following kanji:
haru (春), “spring” and mi (美), “beauty”;
haru (晴), “good weather, clear skies” and mi (美), “beauty”;
haru (治), “government, rule” and mi (美), “beauty”;
haru (春), “spring” and mi (実), “fruit”;
haru (晴), “good weather, clear skies” and mi (実), “fruit”.
Yuri (ゆリ)
Although this name is used for males in some countries, in Japan it is considered a female name. It means “lily” or “smart village”, “upper village”.
Yuri comes from the elements:
yuri (百合) which is “lily”;
yu (由), “reason, cause” and ri (里), “village, village”;
yu (優), “superiority”, “kindness” and ri (里), “village, village”.
Kaori (かおリ)
Kaori is a beautiful female name that refers to beauty and a pleasant smell. It means “perfume that weaves”; “smelling village” and “beauty that ensnares”.
It is a name composed of the kanji:
ka (香), “fragrance, perfume” and ori (織), “weaving, weaving”;
kao (香), “fragrance, perfume” and ri (里), “village, village”;
ka (佳), “beauty, beauty” and ori (織), “weaving, weaving”.
Mahina
This female name has several meanings, but the best known is “young and true bird”.
It is composed of the elements ma (真), which means “true, genuine” and hina (雛), which means “young bird, chick”.
Hana (はな)
Beautiful female name, Hana with Japanese origin carries a symbolism of beauty, purity and youth.
It originates from the kanji hana (花), which means “flower”.
Saionara
This name became popular inworldwide, despite not being a proper name in Japan.
It originates from the Japanese expression sayonara (さよなら), which means “goodbye”, “goodbye” or “bye”.
Naomi (なおみ)
This Japanese female name is one of the most popular in south america. It has beautiful symbolism connected to beauty and sincerity.
It means “honest beauty”, “outright beauty” and “beyond beauty”.
Naomi arises from the combination of kanji:
nao (直), “honesty, frankness” and mi (美), “beauty”;
nao (尚), “later still” and mi (美), “beauty”.
Aiko (あいこ)
This beautiful, sweet-sounding name carries two signs
different tags: “beloved daughter”, “beloved child” or “child in dark blue”. It’s quite popular in Japan.
Aiko is formed by the following kanji:
ai (愛), “love”, “affection” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
ai (藍), “dark blue” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”.
Find out more information about the Aiko name.
Emi (えみ)
Emi is a Japanese name that can be easily adapted to Portuguese, in addition to carrying a symbolism linked to beauty and the divine.
It means “blessed with beauty”, “your beauty is a divine grace”; “painted beauty” or “beautiful cove”.
Its origin came from the junction of elements:
and (恵), “blessing, divine grace” and mi (美), “beauty”;
and (絵), “painting” and mi (美), “beauty”;
and (江), “cove” and mi (美), “beauty”.
Keiko (けいこ)
This cute name, which seems more like a nickname, has a strong symbolism, which refers to courage and joy.
It has four different meanings: “blessed child or daughter”; “happy child or daughter”, “happy child or daughter”; “brave, courageous child or daughter” and “honorable child or daughter”.
Keiko comes from the kanji:
kei (恵), “blessing, divine grace” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
kei (慶), “joy, happiness” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
kei (圭), “brave, resolute” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
kei (敬), “honor, respect” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”.
Yasuko (やすこ)
A more different name that carries a symbolism that refers to peace and harmony.
It means “peaceful child”; “calm, peaceful daughter” and “safe, protected child”.
Yasuko originates from the joining of the terms:
yasu (康), “peace” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
yasu (泰), “calm, peaceful” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”;
yasu (保), “security, protection” and ko (子), “child”, “daughter”.
Sakura (さくら)
One of the most popular Japanese names in Brazil, it carries a cute symbolism, which refers to beauty, renewal and youth.
It means “cherry blossom”, “excellent flowering”.
Sakura arises from the terms:
sakura (桜), “cherry blossom”;
saku (咲), “blossom” and ra (良), “good, excellent”.
Understand the Sakura name better.Misora (みそら)
A much rarer female name in Japan, it comes from the junction of the kanji mi (美), which is “beauty” with sora (空), which means “sky”, getting the meaning of “beautiful sky”, “sky beautiful”.
Oka (おか)
This name is different, original and short, carrying the meaning of “cherry blossom” or “luxury cherry blossom”, “chic cherry blossom”.
Oka originates with the union of kanji:
o (桜), “cherry blossom” and ka (花), “blossom”;
o (桜), “cherry blossom” and ka, “luxury, chic”.
Haru (はる)
Name used for the feminine gender and much rarer, it originates with the kanji haru (春), which means “spring”, symbolizing transformation, renewal and flowering.
