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Japanese boy names: 170+ Japanese male names with kanji and meanings

173 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Japanese boy names such as Haruto (陽翔, sun and soar), Minato (湊, harbor) and Ren (蓮, lotus) take their meaning from the kanji used to write them, and the same name can often be written several ways. The same is true of Japanese male names at every age, from newborns named Haruto to grown men named Takuya and grandfathers named Hiroshi.

Below are 170+ real Japanese boy names, each with a common kanji spelling, Hepburn romaji and meaning. The list opens with the top names of 2025 from Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance's annual baby name survey, then covers modern names, unique names, strong names, nature and light names, virtue names, classic names, common Japanese men's names, birth-order names and the given names of famous samurai. Macrons mark long vowels (Sōta, Ryū) and are usually dropped in everyday English spelling.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Minoru (実)

    To bear fruit, to succeed.

  • Akio (昭夫)

    Bright man; meaning depends on kanji.

  • Haruto (陽翔)

    Sun and soar; the top boy name by sound for 17 straight years.

  • Itsuki (樹)

    Tree; a sturdy, growing name.

  • Kenshin (謙信)

    Humility and trust; warlord Uesugi's Buddhist name.

  • Satoru (悟)

    Enlightenment; also 聡, intelligent and clever.

Find a Japanese boy name on this page

Narrow 173 names by how common they were for US boys in 2025, by section, length or first letter, or search the meanings.

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Modern Japanese boy names

Names that feel fresh today, many built on kanji for wind, sky, sea and soaring.

  1. Sōta (颯太): Brisk breeze and big; lively and modern.
  2. Itsuki (樹): Tree; a sturdy, growing name.
  3. Asahi (朝陽): Morning sun; also 旭, rising sun.
  4. Yamato (大和): Great harmony; an ancient name for Japan.
  5. Riku (陸): Dry land; short, solid and grounded.
  6. Sōma (颯真): Brisk and true; meaning depends on kanji.
  7. Kaito (海翔): Sea and soar; meaning depends on kanji.
  8. Hayato (隼人): Falcon person; swift and sharp.
  9. Hiroto (大翔): Big and soar; the same kanji can be read Haruto.
  10. Kanata (彼方): Far away, the distance beyond; also 奏太.
  11. Kakeru (翔): To soar or fly; a light, airy name.
  12. Takumi (匠): Artisan, a master craftsman; a top-10 name in 1998 and 2003.

Unique Japanese boy names

Distinctive real names with clear, striking meanings, some rare and some newly fashionable. Most can be written with other kanji too.

  1. Arata (新): Fresh, new; a one-kanji name in Japan's top 10 in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
  2. Chikara (力): Power, strength and capability, all in one kanji.
  3. Hiraku (拓): To open up or expand into new ground.
  4. Katashi (堅): Hard, firm; for a steady, dependable boy.
  5. Ritsu (律): Law, order; a top-10 boys' name in 2023 and 2024, also given to girls.
  6. Daigo (大悟): Great enlightenment; meaning depends on kanji.
  7. Hanzō (半蔵): Half and storehouse; Hattori Hanzō's famous name, c. 1542 to 1597.
  8. Hifumi (一二三): One, two, three; a playful counting name for either gender.
  9. Aoto (碧斗): Blue-green and the Dipper constellation; meaning depends on kanji.
  10. Ayato (彩人): Color and person; a vivid, artistic name.
  11. Rikuto (陸斗): Land and the Dipper constellation; meaning depends on kanji.
  12. Wataru (渉): To wade across or ford; also 亘, to extend.
  13. Tōru (徹): To pierce through, thorough; also written 亨.
  14. Takuto (拓斗): Open up and the Dipper constellation; meaning depends on kanji.
  15. Yori (頼): To rely on, trust; a rare, gentle one-kanji name.
  16. Akimitsu (昭光): Bright light, from 昭 and 光.

Strong Japanese boy names

Names meaning strength, courage and victory.

  1. Takeshi (武): Warrior, martial valor; also 剛, strong.
  2. Isamu (勇): Courage and bravery in one kanji.
  3. Tsuyoshi (剛): Strong and sturdy; meaning depends on kanji.
  4. Takeru (健): Healthy and strong; shares its sound with the legendary prince Yamato Takeru.
  5. Masaru (勝): Victory, to win; also 優, excellence.
  6. Ken (健): Healthy, strong; also 剣, sword.
  7. Ryū (龍): Dragon; also written 竜. Bold and short.
  8. Ryūnosuke (龍之介): Dragon helper; famous as author Akutagawa's given name.
  9. Tatsuya (達也): Accomplished; also 竜也, dragon. Meaning depends on kanji.
  10. Isao (功): Merit, achievement; also 勲, honor.
  11. Daichi (大地): Great earth, solid ground underfoot.
  12. Yūki (勇気): Courage; also 優希, gentle hope. Used for both genders.
  13. Hayate (颯): A sudden gust of wind; swift and sharp.
  14. Kōtarō (虎太郎): Tiger and eldest son; meaning depends on kanji.
  15. Ryōma (龍馬): Dragon and horse; borne by hero Sakamoto.

Japanese boy names from nature

Sky, sea, rivers, trees and stars: nature kanji are favorites for boys too.

  1. Sora (空): Sky; also 宙, the cosmos. Used for both genders.
  2. Kai (海) US #93: Sea, ocean; short and breezy.
  3. Taiga (大河): Great river; also 大雅, great elegance.
  4. Haru (陽): Sun, sunshine; also 春, spring. Used for both genders.
  5. Hotaka (穂高): Tall ears of rice; also a Japanese Alps peak.
  6. Shun (駿): Swift horse; also 瞬, an instant, or 春, spring.
  7. Tsubasa (翼): Wings; used for boys and girls.
  8. Ryōta (涼太): Cool, refreshing and big; meaning depends on kanji.
  9. Kazuki (和樹): Harmony and tree; meaning depends on kanji.
  10. Haruki (春樹): Spring tree; shared with novelist Murakami.
  11. Naoki (直樹): Honest tree, straight and true.
  12. Fuyuki (冬樹): Winter tree, evergreen through the cold.
  13. Hokuto (北斗): The Big Dipper; literally north dipper.
  14. Subaru (昴): The Pleiades, the famous star cluster.
  15. Ayumu (歩): To walk; a name for steady progress.
  16. Iwao (巌): Rock or boulder; solid and steadfast.

Japanese boy names meaning light and sun

Names built on kanji such as 光 (light), 陽 (sun), 明 (bright) and 輝 (shine).

  1. Hikaru (光): Light, to shine; used for both genders.
  2. Akira (明): Bright, clear; also 晃 and 章. Used for both genders.
  3. Kōki (光輝): Light and radiance; a shining name.
  4. Akihiro (明宏): Bright and wide; meaning depends on kanji.
  5. Yōta (陽太): Sun and big; sunny and friendly.
  6. Yōsuke (陽介): Sun and helper; also 洋介, ocean helper.
  7. Akito (明人): Bright person; meaning depends on kanji.
  8. Daiki (大輝): Great radiance; also 大樹, big tree.
  9. Yōichi (陽一): Sun and one, often for a firstborn.
  10. Teruo (照雄): Shining man; meaning depends on kanji.

Names meaning wisdom, honesty and kindness

Virtue names for the qualities parents hope a son will grow into.

  1. Makoto (誠): Sincerity, truth; a classic virtue name.
  2. Satoshi (聡): Wise, clever and quick-witted.
  3. Hiroshi (寛): Generous, broad-minded; also 博 and 浩.
  4. Kiyoshi (清): Pure, clean; a quiet classic.
  5. Tadashi (正): Correct, righteous and upright.
  6. Mamoru (守): To protect, to defend.
  7. Yasushi (康): Peaceful and healthy; meaning depends on kanji.
  8. Osamu (修): To study or discipline; also 治, to govern.
  9. Jun (純): Pure, genuine; also 淳 and 順. Used for both genders.
  10. Tetsuya (哲也): Wise, from 哲, the kanji for wisdom.
  11. Yuzuru (結弦): Tie and bowstring; the kanji of figure skater Hanyū.
  12. Shin (真): Truth, genuine; also 信, trust, and 慎, care.
  13. Masato (正人): Righteous person; meaning depends on kanji.
  14. Tomoya (智也): Wisdom; meaning depends on kanji.
  15. Tsutomu (努): To strive, to work hard.
  16. Susumu (進): To advance, to make progress.
  17. Noboru (昇): To rise or climb upward.
  18. Minoru (実): To bear fruit, to succeed.
  19. Hajime (一): Beginning, the very first.

Classic Japanese boy names

Familiar 20th-century names that now feel timeless.

  1. Takashi (隆): Noble or prosperous; also 孝, filial.
  2. Kenji (健二) US #944: Healthy second son; meaning depends on kanji.
  3. Kazuo (和夫): Man of harmony or peace.
  4. Akio (昭夫): Bright man; meaning depends on kanji.
  5. Yukio (幸雄): Fortunate man; meaning depends on kanji.
  6. Hideo (英雄): Excellent man; the kanji also spell hero.
  7. Masao (正雄): Righteous man, upright and strong.
  8. Toshio (俊夫): Talented, quick man; meaning depends on kanji.
  9. Yoshio (義雄): Righteous hero; meaning depends on kanji.
  10. Shigeru (茂): To flourish; shared with Nintendo designer Miyamoto.
  11. Kōji (浩二): Vast or prosperous, and second son; meaning depends on kanji.
  12. Tetsuo (哲夫): Wise man; a sturdy classic.
  13. Haruo (春夫): Spring man; also 晴夫, clear-sky man.
  14. Nobuo (信夫): A faithful, trustworthy man.
  15. Fumio (文雄): Man of letters; meaning depends on kanji.
  16. Tadao (忠雄): Loyal man; architect Andō bears it.
  17. Hideki (英樹): Excellent tree; meaning depends on kanji.
  18. Shōhei (翔平): Soar and peace; baseball star Ohtani's given name.

Common Japanese men's names

Names that many grown Japanese men carry today, typical of boys born from the 1960s to the 1990s. Meaning depends on kanji.

  1. Takuya (拓也): Open up and expand; also written 拓哉.
  2. Kazuya (和也): Harmony, peace; also 一也, with 一 meaning one.
  3. Naoya (直哉): Honest and straight, with 哉 as an exclamation.
  4. Shinji (真司): Genuine and officer; also 真二, true second son.
  5. Takahiro (貴大): Valuable and great; also 孝浩, filial and prosperous.
  6. Masahiro (正弘): Proper and expanding; meaning depends on kanji.
  7. Ken'ichi (健一): Healthy first son; also 研一, study and one.
  8. Yūji (雄二): Heroic and two, often for a second son.
  9. Hiroki (大輝): Great brightness; the same kanji are also read Daiki.
  10. Atsushi (敦): Kind and honest; also 淳, pure.
  11. Masaki (正樹): Proper tree, upright and growing.
  12. Eiji (英二): Excellent second son; also 栄治, glory and govern.
  13. Hiroyuki (博幸): Esteem and good fortune; meaning depends on kanji.
  14. Akihiko (明彦): Bright prince; 彦 means boy or prince.
  15. Satoru (悟): Enlightenment; also 聡, intelligent and clever.
  16. Kōichi (浩一): Vast or prosperous, and first son; also 幸一, lucky one.
  17. Jun'ichi (淳一): Pure first son; also 順一, obedience and one.
  18. Shin'ichi (真一): Genuine first son; also 新一, new one.
  19. Ryōsuke (亮介): Clear helper; meaning depends on kanji.
  20. Shingo (慎吾): Prudent, careful; also 真吾, genuine.
  21. Keisuke (圭介): Gemstone helper; also 恵介, favor and help.
  22. Takayuki (孝之): Filial piety; also 貴之, precious.
  23. Yutaka (豊): Abundant, bountiful; also 裕, rich and plentiful.
  24. Kenzō (健三) US #630: Healthy third son; also 謙三, humble third.

Birth-order names and classic endings

Traditional endings carry meaning: -rō (郎) means son, -tarō means eldest son, -suke (介, 輔) means helper and -ta (太) means big.

  1. Ichirō (一郎): First son; baseball star Suzuki writes it 一朗.
  2. Jirō (次郎): Second son; also written 二郎.
  3. Saburō (三郎): Third son; a long-standing traditional name.
  4. Shirō (四郎): Fourth son; also 志郎, son of purpose.
  5. Gorō (五郎): Fifth son; friendly and old-fashioned.
  6. Rokurō (六郎): Sixth son; traditionally given to the sixth boy.
  7. Shichirō (七郎): Seventh son; a rare, old-fashioned choice today.
  8. Hachirō (八郎): Eighth son; traditionally given to the eighth boy.
  9. Jūrō (十郎): Tenth son; traditionally for the tenth boy in a family.
  10. Kichirō (吉郎): Lucky son, from 吉, good luck.
  11. Tarō (太郎): Eldest son; Japan's sample name pairs it with Yamada.
  12. Kentarō (健太郎): Healthy, sturdy eldest son.
  13. Shintarō (慎太郎): Careful eldest son; also 新太郎, new.
  14. Daisuke (大輔): Great helper; suke means help or assist.
  15. Yūsuke (雄介): Heroic helper; meaning depends on kanji.
  16. Kōsuke (康介): Peaceful helper; meaning depends on kanji.
  17. Shunsuke (俊介): Talented helper; meaning depends on kanji.
  18. Shōta (翔太): Soar and big; bright and bouncy.
  19. Kenta (健太): Healthy and big; meaning depends on kanji.
  20. Yūta (悠太): Calm and big; also 優太, gentle.
  21. Kōta (康太): Peaceful and big; meaning depends on kanji.
  22. Keita (啓太): Enlightened and big; meaning depends on kanji.

Samurai and historical Japanese boy names

Names of famous warlords and heroes, some of them Buddhist or adult names taken later in life. Each meaning comes from the kanji.

  1. Nobunaga (信長): Trust and long; borne by warlord Oda.
  2. Hideyoshi (秀吉): Excellent and lucky; borne by unifier Toyotomi.
  3. Ieyasu (家康): House and peace; the first Tokugawa shogun.
  4. Masamune (政宗): Govern and ancestor; borne by lord Date of Sendai.
  5. Musashi (武蔵): An old province name; swordsman Miyamoto made it legend.
  6. Yukimura (幸村): Happy village; the name tradition gives hero Sanada.
  7. Kenshin (謙信): Humility and trust; warlord Uesugi's Buddhist name.
  8. Shingen (信玄): Trust and mystery; warlord Takeda's Buddhist name.
  9. Tadakatsu (忠勝): Loyal and victorious; borne by general Honda.
  10. Takamori (隆盛): Prosperous and thriving; borne by Saigō of Satsuma.
  11. Mitsuhide (光秀): Light and excellence; borne by general Akechi.

How to pick the right name

Pick the kanji with care

Haruto can be written many ways, and each set of kanji gives a different meaning. Choose the characters first, then check how the full name reads.

Think about the ending

Endings like -ta, -to and -suke sound sturdy and friendly, while one-syllable names like Ren and Kai feel modern and travel easily into English.

Tell people the reading

Some kanji have several readings. 大翔 can be Hiroto or Haruto, so share the reading you mean along with the characters.

Try it with the family name

Japanese order puts the family name first. Say the full name both ways and listen for a smooth rhythm.

Japanese boy names: 173 ideas from Nomezo

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Japanese boy names: the 2025 favorites, the names of each generation, and the new reading rule

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

In Japan a name is chosen as kanji, so the same sound can be written many ways and the same kanji read more than one way. Meiji Yasuda's 2025 survey put 湊 (Minato) first by kanji for the first time, while Haruto was the most common reading for the 17th year in a row.

Names also date a man. A Japanese man born around 1970 is likely to be a Makoto, one born around 1985 a Daisuke, and a boy born in 2025 a Minato or a Ren. Since May 2025 the reading of a name is recorded with it, and it has to be a recognized reading of the kanji.

  1. Step 1Pick the sound, then the kanjiEach kanji brings its own meaning; the notes give a common spelling.
  2. Step 2Check the era it signalsMakoto is a 1970s name; Minato is a 2025 one.
  3. Step 3Make the reading legalSince 2025 the reading must be a recognized one for those kanji.
  4. Step 4Say it in EnglishLong vowels matter: Yūki and Yuki are different names.

Japan's top boy names of 2025

Top boy names in Japan by kanji, 2025 (Meiji Yasuda)
RankKanjiReading
1湊Minato
2伊織Iori
2結翔Yuito, Yūto
4琉生Rui, Ruki
5蓮Ren

Sources: Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance; Nippon.com. Ties share a rank. By reading, Haruto was first for the 17th year running, and 翔 (soar) was the most-used kanji in boys' names.

Japanese men's names by generation

Japan's No. 1 boys' name by year of birth
Born inNo. 1 nameCommon reading
1912正一Shōichi
1920s清Kiyoshi
1945勝Masaru
1950博Hiroshi
Most years 1957 to 1978誠Makoto
1979 to 1986大輔Daisuke
1988 to 1991翔太Shōta
2007 to 2010大翔Hiroto or Haruto
2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021蓮Ren
2025湊Minato

Source: Meiji Yasuda, top boys' names by year. The survey ranks kanji, so the readings shown are the usual ones, not the only ones.

Japan's rules for names

  • Approved kanji only. A given name may use the 2,136 jōyō kanji and the 864 jinmeiyō kanji set aside for names; 勒 was added in June 2026 (Wikipedia).
  • The reading is now registered. Since May 26, 2025, the reading of a child's name is recorded in the family register, and it must be generally recognized as a reading of those kanji. Rejected examples include 太郎 read as George, 健 read as Ken'ichirō, readings that reverse the meaning, and discriminatory or obscene ones (Inagi City).
  • Name order in English. In September 2019, Japan's Cabinet agreed to put the family name first in English on government documents, as in Japanese (Boston Globe, via AP).

Japanese names in the US

Japanese boy names in the US, 2025
NameUS rank or boys
Kai#93, though Kai has Hawaiian and Scandinavian roots too
Kenzo#630
Kenji#944
Ren213 boys
Kaito71 boys
Akira52 boys
Haruto15 boys
Minato12 boys

Source: US Social Security Administration. Hiroshi went to 81 US boys in 1924 and to 7 in 2025.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular Japanese boy name?

In Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance's 2025 survey, 湊 (Minato, harbor) was the top boy name by kanji. By sound, Haruto ranked first for the 17th year in a row.

What are strong Japanese boy names?

Takeshi (warrior), Isamu (courage), Tsuyoshi (strong), Masaru (victory) and Ryū (dragon) all carry strong meanings.

What does -rō or -tarō mean in a Japanese name?

Rō (郎) means son, so Ichirō is first son and Jirō is second son. Tarō means eldest son, and Yamada Tarō is Japan's stock example name, like John Doe.

What are some unique Japanese boy names?

Hiraku (open up), Chikara (power), Hifumi (one, two, three), Katashi (firm) and Yori (rely) are real Japanese names that are rarely heard today. Each can also be written with other kanji.

What are common Japanese names for men?

Takuya, Kazuya, Hiroyuki, Ken'ichi, Shinji and Masahiro are names many grown Japanese men carry. Classics such as Hiroshi, Takashi and Kazuo are typical of older generations.

What were Japanese boys named in the 1980s?

大輔 (Daisuke) was Japan's No. 1 boys' name every year from 1979 to 1986, followed by 翔太 (Shōta) from 1988. 拓也 (Takuya) and 直樹 (Naoki) were also near the top.

Can you use any kanji in a Japanese name?

No. Only the 2,136 jōyō kanji and the 864 jinmeiyō kanji approved for names may be used, and since May 2025 the reading must also be a recognized one for those kanji.

Which Japanese boy names are popular in the US?

Kai (No. 93 in 2025), Kenzo (No. 630) and Kenji (No. 944) are in the US top 1,000. Ren went to 213 US boys, while Japan's favorites Haruto and Minato went to 15 and 12.

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