Japanese Names That Start With “Y” With Meanings
“Y” itself asks, “Why not pick a Y-name for your sweet new baby? It’s the only letter that looks like a tree branching out, ready to grow in any direction, just like a child’s future. That kind of growth might inspire moms like you to go for a “Y” starting name. But when you gaze at Y-names, you might notice limited and the same old options over and over.
Japanese names starting with “Y” step in at the right time, breaking the limits and giving you plenty of options. These names don’t stick to just one meaning, but give you lots of options so you can find one with your desired meaning while still starting with “Y.” Whether you’ve noticed a baby boy or a girl in your womb, we’ve brewed up a perfect collection of Japanese “Y” names. We hope you won’t leave this page without yelling, “YAY! We found the name we craved!” So, let’s get exploring!
Japanese Boy Names Starting With “Y”
If you were first exploring “Y” names in English, the list might have ended too soon, right? Yes, there aren’t many! But if you want quite a unique name for your little boy while still having the touch of the letter you love, the “Y,” Japanese names for boys starting with “Y” have plenty to offer. Explore our following list with your partner and go for the name that makes you go ‘yep, that’s it!’
- Yaichi
- Meaning: First Arrow
- Pronunciation: Yah-ee-chee
- Kanji: (矢一)
- Yamato
- Meaning: Great Harmony
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-toh
- Kanji: (大和)
- Yasuhiro
- Meaning: Peaceful Broad
- Pronunciation: Yah-soo-hee-roh
- Kanji: (康宏)
- Yasuki
- Meaning: Joyous Hope
- Pronunciation: Yah-soo-kee
- Kanji: (靖希)
- Yoshiharu
- Meaning: Good Spring
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-hah-roo
- Kanji: (義春)
- Yasuto
- Meaning: Peaceful Flight
- Pronunciation: Yah-Soo-Toh
- Kanji: (義人)
- Yoshinari
- Meaning: Good Truth
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-nah-ree
- Kanji: (善成)
- Yoshimitsu
- Meaning: Good Light
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-mee-tsoo
- Kanji: (義光)
- Yoshihiko
- Meaning: Virtuous Prince
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-hee-koh
- Kanji: (良彦)
- Yukiaki
- Meaning: Snow Bright
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-ah-kee
- Kanji: (雪明)
- Yukito
- Meaning: Happy Person
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-toh
- Kanji: (幸人)
- Yusaku
- Meaning: Abundant Work
- Pronunciation: Yoo-sah-koo
- Kanji: (裕作)
- Yusei
- Meaning: Gentle Star
- Pronunciation: Yoo-say
- Kanji: (優星)
- Yuuto
- Meaning: Courageous Flight
- Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
- Kanji: (悠翔)
- Yuudai
- Meaning: Grand Bravery
- Pronunciation: Yoo-die
- Kanji: (雄大)
- Yukihiro
- Meaning: Snow Abundance
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-hee-roh
- Kanji: (幸宏)
- Yuuma
- Meaning: Calm Truth
- Pronunciation: Yoo-mah
- Kanji: (悠真)
- Yutaka
- Meaning: Abundant Prosperity
- Pronunciation: Yoo-tah-kah
- Kanji: (豊)
- Yoshikazu
- Meaning: Good Harmony
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-kah-zoo
- Kanji: (義一)
- Yuuji
- Meaning: Gentle Second Son
- Pronunciation: Yoo-jee
- Kanji: (優二)
- Yoruki
- Meaning: Reliable Hope
- Pronunciation: Yoh-roo-kee
- Kanji: (頼希)
- Yutaro
- Meaning: Abundant Son
- Pronunciation: Yoo-tah-roh
- Kanji: (裕太郎)
- Yukiya
- Meaning: Gentle Night
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-yah
- Kanji: (幸夜)
- Yuudori
- Meaning: Gentle Bird
- Pronunciation: Yoo-do-ree
- Kanji: (優鳥)
- Yuzuki
- Meaning: Gentle Moon
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zoo-kee
- Kanji: (悠月)
- Yaeka
- Meaning: Gentle Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yah-eh-kah
- Kanji: (八重花)
- Yousuke
- Meaning: Supportive Assistance
- Pronunciation: Yoh-soo-keh
- Kanji: (陽介)
- Yoshirou
- Meaning: Righteous Son
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-roh
- Kanji: (良郎)
- Yuuhei
- Meaning: Gentle Peace
- Pronunciation: Yoo-hey
- Kanji: (優平)
- Yuzan
- Meaning: Gentle Mountain
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zan
- Kanji: (悠山)
Japanese Girl Names That Start With “Y”
If you want your little girl to grow strong and steady like a tree (who wouldn’t?), Japanese names that start with “Y” will fill you up with joy, not just in how they sound but also in their beautiful meanings. Our list below breaks down “Y” Japanese names for girls, where we hope you’ll find a meaningful name for your little lady.
- Yakura
- Meaning: Night’s Treasure
- Pronunciation: Yah-koo-rah
- Kanji: (夜倉)
- Yamika
- Meaning: Dark Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Yah-mee-kah
- Kanji: (闇香)
- Yasuna
- Meaning: Gentle Harmony
- Pronunciation: Yah-soo-nah
- Kanji: (安奈)
- Yayoi
- Meaning: New Life (Spring)
- Pronunciation: Yah-yoh-ee
- Kanji: (弥生)
- Yorika
- Meaning: Reliable Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Yoh-ree-kah
- Kanji: (頼香)
- Yoshino
- Meaning: Good Fields
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-noh
- Kanji: (吉野)
- Yurika
- Meaning: Lily Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ree-kah
- Kanji: (百合香)
- Yui
- Meaning: Gentle Tie
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ee
- Kanji: (結衣)
- Yume
- Meaning: Dream
- Pronunciation: Yoo-meh
- Kanji: (夢)
- Yumeka
- Meaning: Dream Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yoo-meh-kah
- Kanji: (夢花)
- Yukari
- Meaning: Affinity or Connection
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kah-ree
- Kanji: (縁)
- Yukine
- Meaning: Snow Sound
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-neh
- Kanji: (雪音)
- Yuzuna
- Meaning: Citrus Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zoo-nah
- Kanji: (柚菜)
- Yukiko
- Meaning: Snow Child
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-koh
- Kanji: (雪子)
- Yuina
- Meaning: Gentle Vegetation
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ee-nah
- Kanji: (結菜)
- Yukiho
- Meaning: Snow Ear of Rice
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-hoh
- Kanji: (雪穂)
- Yorimi
- Meaning: Dependable Beauty
- Pronunciation: Yoh-ree-mee
- Kanji: (頼美)
- Yumeha
- Meaning: Dream Feather
- Pronunciation: Yoo-meh-hah
- Kanji: (夢羽)
- Yuwari
- Meaning: Gentle Warmth
- Pronunciation: Yoo-wah-ree
- Kanji: (優和里)
- Yoshika
- Meaning: Good Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-kah
- Kanji: (善花)
- Yuzue
- Meaning: Gentle Branch
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zoo-eh
- Kanji: (柚枝)
- Yasunae
- Meaning: Peaceful Sprout
- Pronunciation: Yah-soo-nah-eh
- Kanji: (安苗)
- Yumeno
- Meaning: Field of Dreams
- Pronunciation: Yoo-meh-noh
- Kanji: (夢野)
- Yuzuha
- Meaning: Citrus Leaf
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zoo-hah
- Kanji: (柚葉)
- Yurano
- Meaning: Lily Field
- Pronunciation: Yoo-rah-noh
- Kanji: (百合野)
- Yuhime
- Meaning: Gentle Princess
- Pronunciation: Yoo-hee-meh
- Kanji: (優姫)
- Yowaka
- Meaning: Gentle Harmony
- Pronunciation: Yoh-wah-kah
- Kanji: (柔和花)
- Yuorika
- Meaning: Gentle Weaving Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Yoo-oh-ree-kah
- Kanji: (優織香)
- Yumiyo
- Meaning: Beautiful Dream Night
- Pronunciation: Yoo-mee-yoh
- Kanji: (夢夜)
- Yusae
- Meaning: Gentle Blessing
- Pronunciation: Yoo-sah-eh
- Kanji: (優冴)
Japanese Last Names That Start With “Y”
Many are jumping on the last-names-as-first trend. So, to follow the trend while making a unique choice and sticking to your fav letter, “Y,” nodding yes to Japanese last names with “Y” makes sense. No matter what’s motivating you to choose a name starting with this letter, the following Japanese last names starting with “Y” are optimistic to bring smiles. 🙂
- Yabuki
- Meaning: Graceful Tree
- Pronunciation: Yah-boo-kee
- Kanji: (矢吹)
- Yakumo
- Meaning: Eight Clouds
- Pronunciation: Yah-koo-moh
- Kanji: (八雲)
- Yamada
- Meaning: Mountain Field
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-dah
- Kanji: (山田)
- Yamagata
- Meaning: Mountain Shape
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-gah-tah
- Kanji: (山形)
- Yamaguchi
- Meaning: Mountain Entrance
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-goo-chee
- Kanji: (山口)
- Yamashita
- Meaning: Below the Mountain
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-shee-tah
- Kanji: (山下)
- Yanagi
- Meaning: Willow Tree
- Pronunciation: Yah-nah-gee
- Kanji: (柳)
- Yanase
- Meaning: Willow Rapids
- Pronunciation: Yah-nah-seh
- Kanji: (梁瀬)
- Yaotani
- Meaning: Eight Valleys
- Pronunciation: Yah-oh-tah-nee
- Kanji: (八谷)
- Yashiro
- Meaning: Wide Settlement
- Pronunciation: Yah-shee-roh
- Kanji: (社)
- Yasuda
- Meaning: Peaceful Rice Field
- Pronunciation: Yah-soo-dah
- Kanji: (安田)
- Yatabe
- Meaning: Eight Rice Fields
- Pronunciation: Yah-tah-beh
- Kanji: (谷田部)
- Yoshida
- Meaning: Good Rice Field
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-dah
- Kanji: (吉田)
- Yoshimura
- Meaning: Good Village
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-moo-rah
- Kanji: (吉村)
- Yoshikawa
- Meaning: Good River
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-kah-wah
- Kanji: (吉川)
- Yoshitake
- Meaning: Good Bamboo
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-tah-keh
- Kanji: (吉竹)
- Yotsuya
- Meaning: Four Valleys
- Pronunciation: Yoh-tsoo-yah
- Kanji: (四谷)
- Yuasa
- Meaning: Gentle Shallow Waters
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ah-sah
- Kanji: (湯浅)
- Yuge
- Meaning: Hot Springs Bay
- Pronunciation: Yoo-geh
- Kanji: (弓削)
- Yura
- Meaning: Calm Bay
- Pronunciation: Yoo-rah
- Kanji: (由良)
- Yoshitani
- Meaning: Good Valley
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-tah-nee
- Kanji: (吉谷)
- Yano
- Meaning: Arrow Plains
- Pronunciation: Yah-noh
- Kanji: (矢野)
- Yoshimine
- Meaning: Good Peak
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-mee-neh
- Kanji: (吉峰)
- Yoshinaga
- Meaning: Good and Long-lasting
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-nah-gah
- Kanji: (吉永)
- Yuzawa
- Meaning: Gentle Swamp
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zah-wah
- Kanji: (湯沢)
- Yokoyama
- Meaning: Side of the Mountain
- Pronunciation: Yoh-koh-yah-mah
- Kanji: (横山)
- Yoneda
- Meaning: Rice Field by the Bay
- Pronunciation: Yoh-neh-dah
- Kanji: (米田)
- Yuguchi
- Meaning: Hot Water Entrance
- Pronunciation: Yoo-goo-chee
- Kanji: (湯口)
- Yotsumoto
- Meaning: Four Origins
- Pronunciation: Yoh-tsoo-moh-toh
- Kanji: (四本)
- Yachiyo
- Meaning: Eight Generations
- Pronunciation: Yah-chee-yoh
- Kanji: (八千代)
Japanese Unisex Names That Start With “Y”
If your relatives or someone you know have started following the trend of giving unisex names to their children, and now you too want to embark on the same boat, Japanese names with “Y” stand along with you here too. Or if no name from the lists above speaks to your heart, we hope a name from the following list will. Your baby’s perfect name awaits in this carefully crafted collection. So take a plunge into it and discover the name that’s meant to be!
- Yaemi
- Meaning: Multilayered Smile
- Pronunciation: Yah-eh-mee
- Kanji: (八重美)
- Yahana
- Meaning: Night Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yah-hah-nah
- Kanji: (夜花)
- Yakari
- Meaning: Gentle Light
- Pronunciation: Yah-kah-ree
- Kanji: (優光)
- Yamari
- Meaning: Calm Village
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-ree
- Kanji: (安里)
- Yanagiha
- Meaning: Willow Leaf
- Pronunciation: Yah-nah-gee-hah
- Kanji: (柳葉)
- Yasane
- Meaning: Peaceful Sound
- Pronunciation: Yah-sah-neh
- Kanji: (安音)
- Yatora
- Meaning: Colorful Sky
- Pronunciation: Yah-toh-rah
- Kanji: (弥空)
- Yayura
- Meaning: Evening Ripples
- Pronunciation: Yah-yoo-rah
- Kanji: (夜揺)
- Yorine
- Meaning: Reliable Sound
- Pronunciation: Yoh-ree-neh
- Kanji: (頼音)
- Yoshiha
- Meaning: Good Leaves
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-hah
- Kanji: (吉葉)
- Yoshine
- Meaning: Good Sound
- Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-neh
- Kanji: (吉音)
- Yoruka
- Meaning: Night Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Yoh-roo-kah
- Kanji: (夜香)
- Yorume
- Meaning: Night Dream
- Pronunciation: Yoh-roo-meh
- Kanji: (夜夢)
- Yozane
- Meaning: Night Mountain Sound
- Pronunciation: Yoh-zah-neh
- Kanji: (夜山音)
- Yuharu
- Meaning: Gentle Spring
- Pronunciation: Yoo-hah-roo
- Kanji: (優春)
- Yumito
- Meaning: Dream Capital
- Pronunciation: Yoo-mee-toh
- Kanji: (夢都)
- Yunari
- Meaning: Gentle Thunder
- Pronunciation: Yoo-nah-ree
- Kanji: (優鳴)
- Yusaka
- Meaning: Gentle Hill
- Pronunciation: Yoo-sah-kah
- Kanji: (優坂)
- Yutake
- Meaning: Abundant Bamboo
- Pronunciation: Yoo-tah-keh
- Kanji: (豊竹)
- Yuori
- Meaning: Gentle Weave
- Pronunciation: Yoo-oh-ree
- Kanji: (優織)
- Yusana
- Meaning: Peaceful Sprout
- Pronunciation: Yoo-sah-nah
- Kanji: (優芽)
- Yuito
- Meaning: Bind, Unite
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ee-toh
- Kanji: (結翔)
- Yusono
- Meaning: Gentle Garden
- Pronunciation: Yoo-soh-noh
- Kanji: (優苑)
- Yuzari
- Meaning: Citrus Village
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zah-ree
- Kanji: (柚里)
- Yuhana
- Meaning: Gentle Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yoo-hah-nah
- Kanji: (優花)
- Yukaru
- Meaning: Fragrant Dew
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kah-roo
- Kanji: (雪露)
- Yureno
- Meaning: Gentle Wildflower
- Pronunciation: Yoo-reh-noh
- Kanji: (優野)
- Yusaki
- Meaning: Calm Cape
- Pronunciation: Yoo-sah-kee
- Kanji: (優崎)
- Yutora
- Meaning: Gentle Tiger
- Pronunciation: Yoo-toh-rah
- Kanji: (優虎)
- Yuzora
- Meaning: Gentle Sky
- Pronunciation: Yoo-zoh-rah
- Kanji: (優空)
Things You Must Know About Japanese Names Starting With “Y”
There’s no big reason for Japanese people to use the letter “Y”, but they don’t say No to it when naming their newborns either. In Japanese, the letter “Y” stands for kana sounds like ya, yu, and yo, and it’s used in combinations (yōon). Culture wise, “Y” appears in the yen symbol (¥). Back in the day, some “Y” sounds, like “ye,” were a thing, but disappeared in modern Japanese.
Some Japanese parents don’t care about the first letter of the name, but the meaning like they can go for windy, firey, or sunny. If they find a name starting with “Y” that has the meaning they want, they go for it without worrying about the letter itself.
But some parents do specifically look for Japanese names starting with “Y” to stick with their family naming tradition or honor an ancestor. Some give their children a name of a celebrity they’re inspired by.
Just like that, anime play a role too. Anime is loved by many Japanese, so it can inspire parents to name their little one after a favorite character. One of the most famous Japanese name with “Y” is Yuki, which means “happiness” or “snow.”
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
People who love the letter “Y” for whatever reason, might feel lackness of beautiful names starting with this in English. But Japanese “Y” names have stepped in with a plethora of options to fill the gap. If you want a baby name that surprises people, one they’ve probably never heard before, Japanese names that start with “Y” can make that happen.
The uniqueness of these make them stand apart from the crowd and convey positive attributes if you choose a name with positive meaning. Whether you were looking for unisex name or wanted to follow the last names trend, whether for your baby boy or girl, we hope these Japanese options have surely delivered what you wanted!
Plus, if this is your second-to-last baby, what better way to honor them than with the second-to-last letter of the alphabet? Every parent knows when they’ve found ‘the’ name – that moment when their heart whispers ‘Yes.’ We hope our collections have helped you find that special moment.
If you’re looking for Japanese names that start with a specific letter, charming K names, stylish S names, amazing A names, heartfelt H names, joyful J names, meaningful M names, and timeless T names offer a variety of great choices.