100 Japanese Names That Start With “M”
The tender “mmm” a little one makes on day one can inspire many moms to give their baby a name that sounds the same. But when we look at names that start with “M,” many families have claimed plenty over time. But don’t let it lessen your fondness for “M” names for your little one cause Japanese names that start with “M” have something exceptional to offer.
While many Japanese names beginning with the letter “M” are for girls, boys’ names hold their own as well. A wealth of these names are chosen for their positive meanings and cute sounds, so they are perfect for anyone drawn to Japanese names. If you’re in pursuit of Japanese “M” names for boys or girls, we’ve whipped up dozens of them, trying to fulfill everyone’s desire, coming to Japanese names over English ones. And so begins our collection of marvelous Japanese names starting with “M.”
Female Japanese Names That Start With M
Whether the letter “M” is something that appeals to you or your family has the “M” starting naming pattern you want to continue with your little princess, unique Japanese names with “M” for girls in our collection steal hearts with their so beautiful meanings! So, scroll through our list of the best Japanese “M” names and take on the one your little girl will love and feel like she’s part of something special.
- Mizuka
- Meaning: Beautiful flower
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-kah
- Kanji: (美花)
- Maki
- Meaning: True tree
- Pronunciation: Mah-kee
- Kanji: (真木)
- Manami
- Meaning: Beautiful sea
- Pronunciation: Mah-nah-mee
- Kanji: (真奈美)
- Marika
- Meaning: True jasmine
- Pronunciation: Mah-ree-kah
- Kanji: (真理花)
- Marino
- Meaning: Of the sea
- Pronunciation: Mah-ree-noh
- Kanji: (真理乃)
- Masami
- Meaning: Elegant beauty
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-mee
- Kanji: (雅美)
- Mariko
- Meaning: True Jasmine
- Pronunciation: Mah-ree-koh
- Kanji: (真理子)
- Miyara
- Meaning: Beautiful village
- Pronunciation: Mee-yah-rah
- Kanji: (美耶良)
- Mei
- Meaning: Sprout
- Pronunciation: Meh-ee
- Kanji: (芽)
- Michiko
- Meaning: Beautiful child
- Pronunciation: Mee-chee-koh
- Kanji: (美智子)
- Midori
- Meaning: Green
- Pronunciation: Mee-doh-ree
- Kanji: (緑)
- Mieko
- Meaning: Beautiful child
- Pronunciation: Mee-eh-koh
- Kanji: (美恵子)
- Mikasa
- Meaning: Beautiful blossom or three hats
- Pronunciation: Mee-kah-sah
- Kanji: (美笠)
- Miori
- Meaning: Beautiful village or charming bay
- Pronunciation: Mee-oh-ree
- Kanji: (美織)
- Mihiko
- Meaning: Beautiful child
- Pronunciation: Mee-hee-koh
- Kanji: (美彦)
- Mihana
- Meaning: Beautiful flower
- Pronunciation: Mee-hah-nah
- Kanji: (美花)
- Minako
- Meaning: Beautiful child
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-koh
- Kanji: (美奈子)
- Minami
- Meaning: South
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-mee
- Kanji: (南)
- Mio
- Meaning: Beautiful thread
- Pronunciation: Mee-oh
- Kanji: (美緒)
- Mirai
- Meaning: Future
- Pronunciation: Mee-rye
- Kanji: (未来)
- Misaki
- Meaning: Beautiful blossom
- Pronunciation: Mee-sah-kee
- Kanji: (美咲)
- Mitsuki
- Meaning: Beautiful moon
- Pronunciation: Mee-tsoo-kee
- Kanji: (美月)
- Minori
- Meaning: Beautiful Truth
- Pronunciation: Mee-noh-ree
- Kanji: (美紀)
- Miyako
- Meaning: Beautiful night child
- Pronunciation: Mee-yah-koh
- Kanji: (美夜子)
- Miyuki
- Meaning: Beautiful Happiness
- Pronunciation: Mee-yoo-kee
- Kanji: (美幸)
- Misora
- Meaning: Beautiful sky
- Pronunciation: Mee-soh-rah
- Kanji: (美空)
- Momoka
- Meaning: Peach flower
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh-kah
- Kanji: (桃花)
- Momoko
- Meaning: Peach child
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh-koh
- Kanji: (桃子)
- Moriko
- Meaning: Forest Child
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree-koh
- Kanji: (森子)
- Motoko
- Meaning: Origin child
- Pronunciation: Moh-toh-koh
- Kanji: (素子)
Japanese Male Names That Start With M
If you and your partner’s names happen to start with the letter “M” or you’re simply drawn to its charm, these Japanese “M” names could weave their way into your family’s next chapter, bringing beauty to your heritage. We’ve gathered a variety of meaningful names for your little gentleman, from timeless classics to modern favorites, each with its own beautiful meaning and cultural flair.
- Masamune
- Meaning: Model truth
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-moo-neh
- Kanji: (正宗)
- Makoto
- Meaning: Sincerity
- Pronunciation: Mah-koh-toh
- Kanji: (誠)
- Mamoru
- Meaning: Protect
- Pronunciation: Mah-moh-roo
- Kanji: (守)
- Manabu
- Meaning: Learn
- Pronunciation: Mah-nah-boo
- Kanji: (学)
- Manazo
- Meaning: Learning life
- Pronunciation: Mah-nah-zoh
- Kanji: (学造)
- Masaaki
- Meaning: Bright truth
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-ah-kee
- Kanji: (正明)
- Masahiro
- Meaning: Just and broad
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-hee-roh
- Kanji: (正博)
- Masanori
- Meaning: Correct law
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-noh-ree
- Kanji: (正規)
- Masashi
- Meaning: Elegant
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-shee
- Kanji: (雅)
- Masato
- Meaning: Just person
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-toh
- Kanji: (正人)
- Masuhiro
- Meaning: True Abundance
- Pronunciation: Mah-soo-hee-roh
- Kanji: (真博)
- Matsuo
- Meaning: Pine tree
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-oh
- Kanji: (松夫)
- Michihiro
- Meaning: Path of Abundance
- Pronunciation: Mee-chee-hee-roh
- Kanji: (道博)
- Michio
- Meaning: Man of the path
- Pronunciation: Mee-chee-oh
- Kanji: (道男)
- Mikihiro
- Meaning: Tree of Prosperity
- Pronunciation: Mee-kee-hee-roh
- Kanji: (樹博)
- Minoru
- Meaning: Truth
- Pronunciation: Mee-noh-roo
- Kanji: (実)
- Mitsuo
- Meaning: Lightman
- Pronunciation: Mee-tsoo-oh
- Kanji: (光男)
- Mitsuru
- Meaning: Full
- Pronunciation: Mee-tsoo-roo
- Kanji: (満)
- Miura
- Meaning: Three bays
- Pronunciation: Mee-oo-rah
- Kanji: (三浦)
- Miyata
- Meaning: Valley field
- Pronunciation: Mee-yah-tah
- Kanji: (宮田)
- Momotaro
- Meaning: Peach boy
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh-tah-roh
- Kanji: (桃太郎)
- Morita
- Meaning: Forest field
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree-tah
- Kanji: (森田)
- Morio
- Meaning: Forest man
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree-oh
- Kanji: (森男)
- Motoki
- Meaning: Origin tree
- Pronunciation: Moh-toh-kee
- Kanji: (基樹)
- Muneo
- Meaning: Peak man
- Pronunciation: Moo-neh-oh
- Kanji: (宗男)
- Muneto
- Meaning: Origin of truth
- Pronunciation: Moo-neh-toh
- Kanji: (統人)
- Masaki
- Meaning: True tree
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-kee
- Kanji: (真樹)
- Murata
- Meaning: Village field
- Pronunciation: Moo-rah-tah
- Kanji: (村田)
- Musashi
- Meaning: Warrior
- Pronunciation: Moo-sah-shee
- Kanji: (武蔵)
- Mutsu
- Meaning: Harmony
- Pronunciation: Moo-tsoo
- Kanji: (睦)
Japanese Last Names That Start With M
The trend of using last names as first names is still going strong and shows no signs of fading anytime soon. If you too want to follow the ongoing trend with your new arrival, while sticking with an “M” name, Japanese last names starting with “M” offer stunning and meaningful options. Take a stroll through our list below and find the one that speaks to your heart!
- Maeda
- Meaning: Front field
- Pronunciation: Mah-eh-dah
- Kanji: (前田)
- Matsuda
- Meaning: Pine field
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-dah
- Kanji: (松田)
- Matsui
- Meaning: Pine well
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-ee
- Kanji: (松井)
- Matsumoto
- Meaning: Pine origin
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-moh-toh
- Kanji: (松本)
- Matsuno
- Meaning: Pine field
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-noh
- Kanji: (松野)
- Matsushita
- Meaning: Below the pine
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo-shee-tah
- Kanji: (松下)
- Michizawa
- Meaning: Path marsh
- Pronunciation: Mee-chee-zah-wah
- Kanji: (道沢)
- Mikami
- Meaning: Above the water
- Pronunciation: Mee-kah-mee
- Kanji: (水上)
- Minagawa
- Meaning: All rivers
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-gah-wah
- Kanji: (皆川)
- Miyagawa
- Meaning: Palace river
- Pronunciation: Mee-yah-gah-wah
- Kanji: (宮川)
- Miyazaki
- Meaning: Palace cape
- Pronunciation: Mee-yah-zah-kee
- Kanji: (宮崎)
- Mizuhara
- Meaning: Water field
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-hah-rah
- Kanji: (水原)
- Mizuno
- Meaning: Water field
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-noh
- Kanji: (水野)
- Mizutani
- Meaning: Water valley
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-tah-nee
- Kanji: (水谷)
- Mochizuki
- Meaning: Full moon
- Pronunciation: Moh-chee-zoo-kee
- Kanji: (望月)
- Mogami
- Meaning: Most upper
- Pronunciation: Moh-gah-mee
- Kanji: (最上)
- Mori
- Meaning: Forest
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree
- Kanji: (森)
- Morikawa
- Meaning: Forest river
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree-kah-wah
- Kanji: (森川)
- Mukai
- Meaning: Facing
- Pronunciation: Moo-kah-ee
- Kanji: (向井)
- Muraoka
- Meaning: Village hill
- Pronunciation: Moo-rah-oh-kah
- Kanji: (村岡)
Unisex Japanese Names Beginning With M
Unisex names are fewer in numbers than gender-specified names, but despite that, their usage is on the rise. If you can’t find out your baby’s gender before they’re born but are eager to decide on a name ahead of time, “M” starting Japanese unisex names are sure to solve your naming dilemma! Flip through our picks and discover the name that’s darling on your little one.
- Maaya
- Meaning: Elegant arrow
- Pronunciation: Mah-ah-yah
- Kanji: (雅矢)
- Machi
- Meaning: Town
- Pronunciation: Mah-chee
- Kanji: (町)
- Mako
- Meaning: True self
- Pronunciation: Mah-koh
- Kanji: (真己)
- Masa
- Meaning: Elegant
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah
- Kanji: (雅)
- Matsu
- Meaning: Pine tree
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsoo
- Kanji: (松)
- Michi
- Meaning: Path
- Pronunciation: Mee-chee
- Kanji: (道)
- Minato
- Meaning: Harbor
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-toh
- Kanji: (湊)
- Miki
- Meaning: Tree trunk
- Pronunciation: Mee-kee
- Kanji: (幹)
- Misao
- Meaning: Fidelity
- Pronunciation: Mee-sah-oh
- Kanji: (操)
- Mitsu
- Meaning: Light
- Pronunciation: Mee-tsoo
- Kanji: (光)
- Miyu
- Meaning: Beautiful gentleness
- Pronunciation: Mee-yoo
- Kanji: (美優)
- Mizuna
- Meaning: Fresh water plant
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-nah
- Kanji: (瑞菜)
- Momo
- Meaning: Peach
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh
- Kanji: (桃)
- Mone
- Meaning: Sound of roots
- Pronunciation: Moh-neh
- Kanji: (萌音)
- Muga
- Meaning: Selfless
- Pronunciation: Moo-gah
- Kanji: (無我)
- Mui
- Meaning: Sprouting
- Pronunciation: Moo-ee
- Kanji: (萌)
- Mura
- Meaning: Village
- Pronunciation: Moo-rah
- Kanji: (村)
- Musen
- Meaning: Dream spring
- Pronunciation: Moo-sen
- Kanji: (夢泉)
- Mutsumi
- Meaning: Harmony
- Pronunciation: Moo-tsoo-mee
- Kanji: (睦)
- Myō
- Meaning: Sprout
- Pronunciation: Myoh
- Kanji: (萌)
Things You Must Know About Japanese Names Starting With “M”
Japanese names beginning with “M” are quite common, yet, it doesn’t indicate a specific cultural preference for the letter itself. The Japanese language includes many meaningful words and names that happen to start with “M,” which is why you see so many names beginning with this letter.
Some of the most often used Japanese names starting with “M” include Megumi (恵), meaning ‘blessing,’ Miyuki (美雪), meaning ‘beautiful snow,’ and Masahiro (正弘), meaning ‘correct and vast.’ While these names are crowed favorites in Japan, their widespread use might make them less appealing to non-Japanese individuals looking for unique Japanese “M” names. So, we’ve thrown in some less common and distinctive options as well.
In Japan, names beginning with the syllable “Ma” are super trendy, as they often have kanji that signify positive qualities, reflecting parents’ hopes to instill attributes like beauty or honesty in their little ones. Many anime characters, like Monkey D. Luffy, Midoriya, and Masaya Aoyama, as well as some real-life Japanese celebs, have names starting with ‘M,’ inspiring many parents in Japan to name their little ones after them.
Our recommendation: If you’re considering any of these names for your little one, we recommend doing a bit more research on their meanings.
Conclusion
Although the letter “M” itself doesn’t hold specific cultural significance in Japan, many Japanese names starting with this letter do. These timeless Japanese monikers carry centuries of cultural significance, such as the name Makoto, a popular choice in Japan. Makoto means “sincerity” or “truth,” so it holds cultural importance. It is a deeply respected value in Japanese culture, representing honesty, integrity, and a pure heart.
Many of the most famousest Japanese name that starts with “M” have beautiful and positive meanings, but many moms’ hearts wouldn’t allow them to choose such an overused name for their little ones. So, if you want an “M” name that’s a bit different, you can mix and match kanji to craft a unique name that no one has ever had.
Japanese parents not only honor their little ones with “M” names but with “S” names, “K” names, “H” names, “T” names, joyful “J” names, yummy Y names, and “A” names too. Finding the right name is just the first chapter in your baby’s beautiful journey ahead, and we hope our selection helped you find the perfect match for your blessing-to-be, whether a baby boy or a girl.