How to name a baby in Japan

When thinking about baby names in Japan, check out the basic rules and points that you should know to help you name your baby.

The Basic Rules of Japanese Naming

Kanji and characters that can be used

The following kanji and characters can be used in the Japanese name.

  • common-use kanji
  • Jinmeiyō kanji, , , ,
  • Hiragana
  • Katakana
  • repeated character(々、ゞ)e.g. 菜々(nana)、みすゞ(misuzu)..
  • long sound symbol(ー)マリー(mary)、ローラ(rola)、など

Some of the kanji that can be used include some of the old and variant characters e.g. 亜(a) to 亞(a), 真(ma) to 眞(ma), etc..

You can also use hiragana and katakana for "ゐ", "ゑ", "ヰ", "ヱ".

In Japan, letters other than those that can be used in the above names will not be accepted as names.

You must register the birth of your child within 14 days of delivery, so be sure to check to see if the kanji can be used in your name.

Some of the kanji that can be used, such as "弱(weak)", "(痛)pain", and "(殺)kill", are not appropriate for naming.

Avoid using kanji with a negative image and name your child after a kanji that is easy to write and familiar to you.

readding it any way you want

There are no restrictions on how the name can be read.

You can use "kirari(流星)", "runa(月)", or any other character that is not the original pronunciation.

While a phonetic equivalent can be original, it can also be inconvenient in everyday life, so think carefully before you name your child.

Any number of characters

There is no limit to the number of characters.

However, if you have more than 5 characters, it may be difficult to write or for people to remember you, and this may cause some inconvenience, so keep the number of characters in moderation.

Tips for a good name

Even if the name looks ideal on its own, when combined with the surname, there may be problems such as unbalanced kanji characters or difficult pronunciation.

When deciding on a name, always check the balance of kanji and sound in combination with your last name.

The following is a list of points to check when deciding on "kanji" and "reading".

Check the kanji

Too many or too few words.

Example images: Too many or too few words.

Too many words give the impression of being drawn out. Too few words give the impression of being incomplete.

Adjust the number of letters in your name to match your last name.

Too many or too few total strokes

Too many or too few total strokes

In the case of Chinese character cultures, there is a concept of the number of strokes.

If there are too many strokes, it gives the impression of being heavy, and if there are too few, it gives the impression of being lonely.

The total number of strokes in your full name should be less than 20-40.

Avoiding vertical cracks

Avoiding vertical cracks

A vertical split is a name in which all of the kanji are split into two parts, one for the left side and the other for the right side.

It splits in half from the middle, making it look less stable. Insert one character that is not split in two.

Easy to pronounce

Make it sound easy to pronounce

Overuse and repetition of the same sound can lead to difficulty in saying it.

As for sounds that are difficult to follow, Ka, Sa, Ta, and Ha lines, especially Ki, Ku, Shi, Sh, Shu, Su, Chi, Tsu, Hi, Fu, Bi, and Bu, are better not to follow.

hidden unintended meanings

Check for hidden unintended meanings

Be careful not to get an unintended meaning when you connect your last name to your first name.

Some people think that they dare to add it to make it easier to remember and more familiar, but they should also consider it with the understanding that it can be an easy target for teasing.

Notes on the Japanese name

Be careful not to add too much personality to your name.

There are restrictions on the characters that can be used in a name, but in principle, there are no restrictions on how the name can be read or the number of characters.

I have the impression that the use of "a(あ)" for "sora(空)" and "Kokoro(心)" for "ko(こ)" is more common than in the past. However, it is better to keep it within the bounds of common sense.

Names that are difficult to read or that are too long are often inconvenient in everyday life and can affect your child's life in the future.

Names are not easy to change in Japan, so decide carefully, including getting a third party's opinion.

The most common Japanese surnames avoid the same name

Those with popular Japanese surnames, such as Sato and Suzuki, have a higher rate of having exact same name when it comes to popular names.
As the child grows up, it is expected that their friendships will expand, so it is important to find ways to read the name and use different kanji characters. Be aware of the individuality of the individual and reduce the rate of having exact same name.

Named after a celebrity.

Dad, Mom's favorite celebrity, or the name of a celebrity who is active at the time, is a good place to get a name inspiration. No problem.

However, be cautious because the celebrity could cause a scandal. The smart way to do it is to only get one letter or part of the reading the same. is safe.

Beware of brothers and sisters with similar names.

In many cases, brothers and sisters will have their names together.

When doing so, make sure that the pronunciation is not similar and that they are not the same nickname.

If your sister is Riho and your sister is Rio, the pronunciation is similar, which complicates things.

If the older brother is Hiroaki and the younger brother is Hirotaka, they both tend to be called "Hiro-chan" and it's hard to tell them apart.

Avoiding the same name as someone close to you

Unless you are very particular about your name, avoid giving it the same name as someone close to you.

You may call your child's name and scold him or her, so you want to avoid not only the name of the child, but also the name of his or her husband (wife) and brother (sister).

Once you've decided on a potential name, check with your best friends and relatives.

How to use NazukePon

NazukePon offers various naming support services, including a search box that allows you to find names by favorite pronunciation or kanji characters, and popular rankings by gender.

Usage Tips

On NazukePon, you can search for a baby's name by reading or kanji, such as "I'd like to call my baby this way" or "I'd like to use this kanji".

Search by reading

If you search for "Himari", you'll see a list of names pronounced as "Himari" with various kanji characters.

Search by Kanji

A search for "月(monn in english)" will list a variety of names with the word "月".

If you change the conditions.

A boy's name that first with the word ""

A girl's name that ends with the word ""

As you can see, there are many different ideas to look for.

If you like the name, press the star icon. You will be able to save it for a certain period of time.

Press the heart icon for your favorite name. They will appear in the order of everyone's favorite name.

Do you have a question or feedback? Let me know on Twitter or here.

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