165+ Rare & Unique Japanese Names With Meanings
So, have you been watching a Japanese anime series and been as inspired that now you want to grant your new arrival a Japanese name? That’s great (and makes sense, too)! As a mama, if you wish to have a baby who stands out and is unique as he grows up, these rare Japanese names are glove-fit. You would, of course, want an uncommon Japanese name for your baby, as these names are approaching popularity, and more kids are sporting them these days.
So, why not go ahead with this? Stop itching your head as we’ve already done it for you. Below we broke down over a hundred rare Japanese names with their meanings and Kanji (so you know how to write) for boys, girls, and, surprisingly, unisex options. So, let’s start the wonder walk!
Unique Japanese Boy Names
If you want your little boy to stand out from the very of his first day, naming him with a unique Japanese male name should be at the top of your list. These names can mean many sorts of things, from fiery to watery and stary to snowy.
We know finding such an uncommon Japanese name is, no doubt, hard, but we’ve done all the legwork and rounded up some awesome unique Japanese male names for your little guy. Now it’s your turn to go through every name and pick the one that appeals to you both!
- Aoto
- Meaning: Blue Wisteria
- Pronunciation: Ah-oh-toh
- Kanji: 青藤
- Itsuki
- Meaning: Tree
- Pronunciation: Eet-soo-kee
- Kanji: 樹
- Kaien
- Meaning: New Beginning
- Pronunciation: Kah-ee-ehn
- Kanji: 海遠
- Kaiya
- Meaning: Peaceful Design
- Pronunciation: Kai-yah
- Kanji: 海矢
- Rikuya
- Meaning: Land Night
- Pronunciation: Ree-koo-yah
- Kanji: 陸夜
- Tsubasa
- Meaning: Wing
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-bah-sah
- Kanji: 翼
- Aokirō
- Meaning: Bright Hero
- Pronunciation: Ah-oh-kee-roh
- Kanji: 青輝郎
- Yuto
- Meaning: Gentle Person
- Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
- Kanji: 優翔
- Hiroto
- Meaning: Broad Soar
- Pronunciation: Hee-roh-toh
- Kanji: 大翔
- Naoji
- Meaning: Honest Second Son
- Pronunciation: Nah-oh-jee
- Kanji: 直次
- Akito (an A-starting Japanese name)
- Meaning: Bright Person
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-toh
- Kanji: 明人
- Minoru
- Meaning: Truthful Achievement
- Pronunciation: Mee-noh-roo
- Kanji: 実
- Raito
- Meaning: Light Flight
- Pronunciation: Rai-toh
- Kanji: 来翔
- Rion
- Meaning: Strong
- Pronunciation: Ree-on
- Kanji: 陸温
- Reiji
- Meaning: Well-Ordered Second Son
- Pronunciation: Ray-jee
- Kanji: 礼司
- Takeru
- Meaning: Strong
- Pronunciation: Tah-keh-roo
- Kanji: 健
- Ryota
- Meaning: Refreshing Great
- Pronunciation: Ree-oh-tah
- Kanji: 涼太
- Akihiro
- Meaning: Bright Broad
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-hee-roh
- Kanji: 明広
- Renzo
- Meaning: Lotus
- Pronunciation: Rehn-zoh
- Kanji: 蓮蔵
- Hideo
- Meaning: Hero, Outstanding
- Pronunciation: Hee-deh-oh
- Kanji: 英雄
- Renjiro
- Meaning: Lotus Son
- Pronunciation: Rehn-jee-roh
- Kanji: 蓮次郎
- Akiya
- Meaning: Autumn Night
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-yah
- Kanji: 秋夜
- Hiroshi
- Meaning: Generous
- Pronunciation: Hee-roh-shee
- Kanji: 寛
- Kazuki
- Meaning: Harmonious Hope
- Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-kee
- Kanji: 一樹
- Ryusei
- Meaning: Flowing Star
- Pronunciation: Ryoo-say
- Kanji: 流星
- Kota
- Meaning: Shining Peace
- Pronunciation: Koh-tah
- Kanji: 幸太
- Shohei
- Meaning: Peaceful Flight
- Pronunciation: Shoh-hey
- Kanji: 翔平
- Ryuto
- Meaning: Dragon Wisteria
- Pronunciation: Ryoo-toh
- Kanji: 龍翔
- Shoma
- Meaning: Bright Truth
- Pronunciation: Shoh-mah
- Kanji: 昌真
- Fumio
- Meaning: Scholarly Man
- Pronunciation: Foo-mee-oh
- Kanji: 文雄
- Naoki
- Meaning: Honest Tree
- Pronunciation: Nah-oh-kee
- Kanji: 直樹
- Isamu
- Meaning: Courage
- Pronunciation: Ee-sah-moo
- Kanji: 勇
- Makoto
- Meaning: Truthful
- Pronunciation: Mah-koh-toh
- Kanji: 誠
- Tetsuya
- Meaning: Iron, Glowing
- Pronunciation: Teht-soo-yah
- Kanji: 鉄也
- Eiji
- Meaning: Prosperous, Eternal
- Pronunciation: Eh-ee-jee
- Kanji: 永次
- Junpei
- Meaning: Pure Peace
- Pronunciation: Joon-pay
- Kanji: 純平
- Rento
- Meaning: Lotus Soaring
- Pronunciation: Rehn-toh
- Kanji: 蓮翔
- Arata
- Meaning: Fresh, New
- Pronunciation: Ah-rah-tah
- Kanji: 新
- Tomoya
- Meaning: Friendly Valley
- Pronunciation: Toh-moh-yah
- Kanji: 智也
- Yuuto
- Meaning: Gentle, Superiority
- Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
- Kanji: 悠翔
- Kenta
- Meaning: Healthy Big
- Pronunciation: Kehn-tah
- Kanji: 健太
- Shoji
- Meaning: Soaring Second Son
- Pronunciation: Shoh-jee
- Kanji: 翔司
- Takumiya
- Meaning: Skilled House
- Pronunciation: Tah-koo-mee-yah
- Kanji: 匠屋
- Rikuto
- Meaning: Land Person
- Pronunciation: Ree-koo-toh
- Kanji: 陸翔
- Hikaru
- Meaning: Light
- Pronunciation: Hee-kah-roo
- Kanji: 光
Rare and Unique Female Japanese Names
Having a daughter is a huge blessing, so it’s worth the effort to find a name that fits your little girl’s unique charm. While it really requires hard work, it was just about reaching our collection. Since you’re here, you’re gonna have a whole plethora of not just cute but unique names for your little pink bundle of joy.
So, if you’re pursuing rare names before your sweet girl arrives, we broke over a dozen unique female Japanese names below that have lovely, flowery, and full of beautiful meanings, just like your little lady.
- Arisawa
- Meaning: Valley of Antlers
- Pronunciation: Ah-ree-sah-wah
- Kanji: 有沢
- Hinano
- Meaning: Sunflower Child
- Pronunciation: Hee-nah-noh
- Kanji: 陽菜乃
- Meika
- Meaning: Bud of Beauty
- Pronunciation: May-kah
- Kanji: 芽佳
- Reiko
- Meaning: Grateful Child
- Pronunciation: Ray-koh
- Kanji: 礼子
- Katsuo
- Meaning: Victory Boy
- Pronunciation: Kah-tsu-oh
- Kanji: 勝雄
- Emiri
- Meaning: Blessed Village
- Pronunciation: Eh-mee-ree
- Kanji: 恵里
- Hiyono
- Meaning: Daylight Field
- Pronunciation: Hee-yoh-noh
- Kanji: 日陽野
- Kaori
- Meaning: Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Kah-oh-ree
- Kanji: 香織
- Nanoka
- Meaning: Seventh Flower
- Pronunciation: Nah-noh-kah
- Kanji: 菜乃花
- Rinka
- Meaning: Cold Flower
- Pronunciation: Reen-kah
- Kanji: 凛花
- Suzuha
- Meaning: Bell Leaf
- Pronunciation: Soo-zoo-hah
- Kanji: 鈴葉
- Kaizuka
- Meaning: Prosperity Peninsula
- Pronunciation: Kai-zoo-kah
- Kanji: 海塚
- Mizuna
- Meaning: Fresh Water Greens
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-nah
- Kanji: 水菜
- Kohana
- Meaning: Little Flower
- Pronunciation: Koh-hah-nah
- Kanji: 小花
- Airin
- Meaning: Love Bell
- Pronunciation: Eye-reen
- Kanji: 愛鈴
- Yukina
- Meaning: Snowy Greens
- Pronunciation: Yoo-kee-nah
- Kanji: 雪菜
- Kaede
- Meaning: Maple Leaf
- Pronunciation: Kah-eh-deh
- Kanji: 楓
- Sena
- Meaning: Fresh Flow
- Pronunciation: Seh-nah
- Kanji: 清奈
- Chikako
- Meaning: Child of Wisdom
- Pronunciation: Chee-kah-koh
- Kanji: 智佳子
- Reina
- Meaning: Wise Beauty
- Pronunciation: Ray-nah
- Kanji: 怜奈
- Natsume
- Meaning: Summer Plum
- Pronunciation: Nah-tsoo-meh
- Kanji: 夏芽
- Souta
- Meaning: Harmonious Calm
- Pronunciation: Soh-tah
- Kanji: 奏田
- Hinari
- Meaning: Sun Jewel
- Pronunciation: Hee-nah-ree
- Kanji: 陽成
- Ririka
- Meaning: Lovely Aroma
- Pronunciation: Ree-ree-kah
- Kanji: 莉里香
- Aihara
- Meaning: Love Field
- Pronunciation: Eye-hah-rah
- Kanji: 愛原
- Nozomi
- Meaning: Rare Hope
- Pronunciation: Noh-zoh-mee
- Kanji: 希美
- Ichika
- Meaning: One Flower
- Pronunciation: Ee-chee-kah
- Kanji: 一花
- Suzuna
- Meaning: Bell Harmony
- Pronunciation: Soo-zoo-nah
- Kanji: 鈴菜
- Ayaka
- Meaning: Colorful Fragrance
- Pronunciation: Eye-yah-kah
- Kanji: 彩香
- Yuna
- Meaning: Kindness Blossom
- Pronunciation: Yoo-nah
- Kanji: 優菜
- Akiha
- Meaning: Autumn Leaf
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-hah
- Kanji: 秋葉
- Haruna
- Meaning: Spring Vegetation
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-nah
- Kanji: 春菜
- Minori
- Meaning: Harvest
- Pronunciation: Mee-noh-ree
- Kanji: 実里
- Sayaka
- Meaning: Clear and Bright
- Pronunciation: Sah-yah-kah
- Kanji: 清香
- Tsubaki
- Meaning: Camellia
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-bah-kee
- Kanji: 椿
- Ayame
- Meaning: Iris Flower
- Pronunciation: Eye-yah-meh
- Kanji: 菖蒲
- Himari
- Meaning: Sunlight Village
- Pronunciation: Hee-mah-ree
- Kanji: 陽茉莉
- Shirakawa
- Meaning: White River
- Pronunciation: Shee-rah-kah-wah
- Kanji: 白川
- Misaki
- Meaning: Beautiful Cape
- Pronunciation: Mee-sah-kee
- Kanji: 美咲
- Akari
- Meaning: Bright Light
- Pronunciation: Ah-kah-ree
- Kanji: 灯
- Chihiro
- Meaning: Thousand Questions
- Pronunciation: Chee-hee-roh
- Kanji: 千尋
- Fuyuko
- Meaning: Winter Child
- Pronunciation: Foo-yoo-koh
- Kanji: 冬子
- Satsuki
- Meaning: May Blossom
- Pronunciation: Sahts-kee
- Kanji: 皐月
- Momoka
- Meaning: Peach Blossom
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh-kah
- Kanji: 桃花
- Rinako
- Meaning: Companion of the Cold
- Pronunciation: Ree-nah-koh
- Kanji: 凛子
Rare Japanese Last Names
Last names can be more fitting for teens, who might notice something off about their names. The same can happen with moms too about their child’s name. Early today when I was going through a forum, a mom posted she wanted to change her baby’s name after 10 months.
She realized she made a mistake and is now regretting it. If you’re dealing with the same thing, we’ve got your six. The following Japanese unique last names are gonna add a charm to your baby’s name. So, scroll through and pick the one that clicks best with the first name.
- Harukawa
- Meaning: Spring River
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kah-wah
- Kanji: 春川
- Takamura
- Meaning: High Village
- Pronunciation: Tah-kah-moo-rah
- Kanji: 高村
- Shimizu
- Meaning: Pure Water
- Pronunciation: Shee-mee-zoo
- Kanji: 清水
- Fujikawa
- Meaning: Wisteria River
- Pronunciation: Foo-jee-kah-wah
- Kanji: 藤川
- Yamashita
- Meaning: Base of the Mountain
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah-shee-tah
- Kanji: 山下
- Akasaka
- Meaning: Red Hill
- Pronunciation: Ah-kah-sah-kah
- Kanji: 赤坂
- Kurosawa
- Meaning: Black Rapids
- Pronunciation: Koo-roh-sah-wah
- Kanji: 黒沢
- Matsuda
- Meaning: Pine Field
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsu-dah
- Kanji: 松田
- Hoshiyama
- Meaning: Star Mountain
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-yah-ma
- Kanji: 星山
- Takeuchi
- Meaning: Bamboo Pond
- Pronunciation: Tah-kee-oo-chee
- Kanji: 竹内
- Chikamatsu
- Meaning: Close Pine
- Pronunciation: Chee-kah-mah-tsu
- Kanji: 近松
- Nakamura
- Meaning: Central Village
- Pronunciation: Nah-kah-moo-rah
- Kanji: 中村
- Kurogawa
- Meaning: Black River
- Pronunciation: Koo-roh-gah-wah
- Kanji: 黒川
- Hayashida
- Meaning: Forest Field
- Pronunciation: Hah-yah-shee-dah
- Kanji: 林田
- Takizawa
- Meaning: Waterfall Marsh
- Pronunciation: Tah-kee-zah-wah
- Kanji: 滝沢
- Inoue
- Meaning: Well
- Pronunciation: Ee-noo-eh
- Kanji: 井上
- Nishikawa
- Meaning: Western River
- Pronunciation: Nee-shee-kah-wah
- Kanji: 西川
- Harutake
- Meaning: Spring Bamboo
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-tah-keh
- Kanji: 春竹
- Kobayashi
- Meaning: Small Forest
- Pronunciation: Koh-bah-yah-shee
- Kanji: 小林
- Yoshimura
- Meaning: Good Village
- Pronunciation: Yoshi-moo-rah
- Kanji: 吉村
- Tsunoda
- Meaning: Year Field
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-noh-dah
- Kanji: 角田
- Shinkawa
- Meaning: New River
- Pronunciation: Sheen-kah-wah
- Kanji: 新川
- Hoshigawa
- Meaning: Star River
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-gah-wah
- Kanji: 星川
- Harada
- Meaning: Spring Rice Field
- Pronunciation: Hah-rah-dah
- Kanji: 原田
- Fujimoto
- Meaning: Wisteria Base
- Pronunciation: Foo-jee-moh-toh
- Kanji: 藤元
- Hayashi
- Meaning: Forest
- Pronunciation: Hah-yah-shee
- Kanji: 林
- Matsumoto
- Meaning: Pine Base
- Pronunciation: Mah-tsu-moh-toh
- Kanji: 松本
- Ueno
- Meaning: Above Well
- Pronunciation: Oo-eh-noh
- Kanji: 上野
- Koshimizu
- Meaning: Small Pure Water
- Pronunciation: Koh-shee-mee-zoo
- Kanji: 小清水
- Osawa
- Meaning: Big Marsh
- Pronunciation: Oh-sah-wah
- Kanji: 大沢
- Mizutani
- Meaning: Water Valley
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-tah-nee
- Kanji: 水谷
- Yoshikawa
- Meaning: Good River
- Pronunciation: Yoshi-kah-wah
- Kanji: 吉川
- Minamida
- Meaning: South Rice Field
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-mee-dah
- Kanji: 南田
- Takahashi
- Meaning: High Bridge
- Pronunciation: Tah-kah-hah-shee
- Kanji: 高橋
- Soekawa
- Meaning: Fresh River
- Pronunciation: Soh-eh-kah-wah
- Kanji: 曽江川
- Harushita
- Meaning: Spring Base
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-shee-tah
- Kanji: 春下
- Fujisawa
- Meaning: Wisteria Marsh
- Pronunciation: Foo-jee-sah-wah
- Kanji: 藤沢
- Osakabe
- Meaning: Big Wall
- Pronunciation: Oh-sah-kah-beh
- Kanji: 大壁
- Tajima
- Meaning: Wisteria Ridge
- Pronunciation: Tah-jee-mah
- Kanji: 田島
- Harumichi
- Meaning: Spring Road
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-mee-chee
- Kanji: 春路
Unique Unisex Japanese Names
If your baby’s birth is a bit late and you’re not sure whether it’ll be a boy or a girl but you can’t wait a minute to choose a name for your next arrival, then unisex names might be the way to go.
These unique unisex Japanese names work for any gender. While it’s not a piece of cake to find a perfect unisex name for little ones, our list still provides the cake. So, bother yourself a bit to pick out a match-making name for your to-be-born.
- Aki
- Meaning: Autumn
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee
- Kanji: 旭
- Haruki
- Meaning: Spring Hope
- Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kee
- Kanji: 陽輝
- Haruka
- Meaning: Lotus
- Pronunciation: Rehn
- Kanji: 蓮
- Sora
- Meaning: Sky
- Pronunciation: Soh-rah
- Kanji: 空
- Riku
- Meaning: Land
- Pronunciation: Ree-koo
- Kanji: 陸
- Kaizen
- Meaning: Continuous Improvement
- Pronunciation: Kai-zen
- Kanji: 改善
- Tao
- Meaning: Harmony, Peach Tree
- Pronunciation: Tah-oh
- Kanji: 陶
- Minato
- Meaning: Harbor
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-toh
- Kanji: 湊
- Kaito (a K-starting Japanese name)
- Meaning: Ocean Flying
- Pronunciation: Kah-ee-toh
- Kanji: 海翔
- Mizu
- Meaning: Water Purity
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo
- Kanji: 水
- Nari
- Meaning: Sound, Vigor
- Pronunciation: Nah-ree
- Kanji: 成
- Mio
- Meaning: Beautiful Sound
- Pronunciation: Mee-oh
- Kanji: 美音
- Shin
- Meaning: True, Heart
- Pronunciation: Sheen
- Kanji: 真
- Niko
- Meaning: Child of Light
- Pronunciation: Nee-koh
- Kanji: 日光
- Kaze
- Meaning: Breeze Calm
- Pronunciation: Kah-zeh
- Kanji: 風
- Renji
- Meaning: Lotus Second
- Pronunciation: Rehn-jee
- Kanji: 蓮司
- Mori
- Meaning: Forest Peace
- Pronunciation: Moh-ree
- Kanji: 森
- Miki
- Meaning: Beautiful Tree
- Pronunciation: Mee-kee
- Kanji: 美希
- Aoi
- Meaning: Blue, Indigo
- Pronunciation: Ah-oh-ee
- Kanji: 葵
- Takumi
- Meaning: Skilled
- Pronunciation: Tah-koo-mee
- Kanji: 匠
- Kazutora
- Meaning: Harmonious Tiger
- Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-toh-rah
- Kanji: 和虎
- Kaio
- Meaning: King of Ocean
- Pronunciation: Kah-ee-oh
- Kanji: 海王
- Momo
- Meaning: Peach
- Pronunciation: Moh-moh
- Kanji: 桃
- Hina
- Meaning: Sunflower
- Pronunciation: Hee-nah
- Kanji: 陽菜
- Yuu
- Meaning: Bravery
- Pronunciation: Yoo
- Kanji: 勇
- Soji (an S-starting Japanese name)
- Meaning: Purity, Politeness
- Pronunciation: Soh-jee
- Kanji: 宗司
- Azuki
- Meaning: Small Red Bean
- Pronunciation: Ah-zoo-kee
- Kanji: 小豆
- Issei
- Meaning: One Life
- Pronunciation: Ee-sey
- Kanji: 一生
- Hosei
- Meaning: Prosperous Life
- Pronunciation: Hoh-sey
- Kanji: 邦生
- Sojiro
- Meaning: Bright Son
- Pronunciation: Soh-jee-roh
- Kanji: 宗次郎
- Min
- Meaning: Water Spring
- Pronunciation: Mee-n
- Kanji: 湊
- Ren
- Meaning: Lotus
- Pronunciation: Rehn
- Kanji: 蓮
- Yama
- Meaning: Mountain
- Pronunciation: Yah-mah
- Kanji: 山
- Nina
- Meaning: Calm, Tranquil
- Pronunciation: Nee-nah
- Kanji: 寧
- Kai
- Meaning: Ocean, Forgiveness
- Pronunciation: Kah-ee
- Kanji: 海
- Tomo
- Meaning: Wise Friend
- Pronunciation: To-moh
- Kanji: 友
- Masumi
- Meaning: Pure, Clear
- Pronunciation: Mah-soo-mee
- Kanji: 正美
- Soutetsu
- Meaning: Strong Iron
- Pronunciation: Soh-teht-soo
- Kanji: 創鉄
- Nana
- Meaning: Seven
- Pronunciation: Nah-nah
- Kanji: 七
- Mitsuki
- Meaning: Light Moon
- Pronunciation: Mee-tsoo-kee
- Kanji: 光月
Things You Must Know About Rare or Unique Japanese Names
Japan, the land of the rising sun, values simplicity and beauty, in names too. Japanese names offer a personalized way to choose a name by blending up different kanji characters.
In Japanese culture, names are super important and carry deep meanings that change depending on the kanji you pick. Not only do these unique Japanese names we’ve shared sound unique, but they also have special meanings that make them stand out.
Plenty of American names have been so popular that many people have turned to Japanese names to find something perfect and unique. One of the reasons why the trend of Japanese name usage keeps going upward could be the surging interest in anime and manga in the West.
If you’ve got Japanese roots or a connection to Japan that you want to sneak peek at, what better than granting your little one an uncommon Japanese name? Following your connection, you might make a mistake, opting for a traditional name, so be careful not to do so. Your little cute pie deserves a cute, unique name that suits his personality, has a beautiful meaning, and sounds pretty too.
If you find writing kanji hard, use katakana or hiragana instead. These are also Japanese languages but are simpler to master, both in jotting down and saying, than kanji. Pick a rare Japanese name that shows how you see your child’s life, personality, and the kind of person you want them to grow into.
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
Since every parent craves a unique name for their little one, many used-to-be unique names are now getting popular. To ease the stress of finding unique ones, people have turned to unique Japanese names, which are now gaining popularity because they sound sweet and pleasing. Many Japanese names are wrapped up with nature, culture, and tradition, and they often have beautiful meanings just like how adorable your little girl looks when napping.
While Japan is now one of the most developed countries, its naming traditions are still tied to culture and heritage. Once you’ve decided with which name you’ll honor your baby, write it on a page till the cows come home. It’ll help you get it right since misspelling or mispronouncing a name can change the whole meaning of a name.
These names took a boost with rising interest in manga and anime. Now that you’ve gone through our list of 150+ cool Japanese names for your desired gender, it speaks to me you must have chosen a perfect one for your new arrival. Choosing a name can be such a fun journey, and we hope you enjoyed finding one that’s filled with meaning, beauty, and a touch of tradition.
If you’re looking for Japanese names that start with a specific letter, charming K names, yummy Y 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.