Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
From nature-inspired, cute Japanese girl names to unique or more popular Japanese girl names, we’ve got the ultimate list to inspire you.
In Japanese culture, it’s traditional for adults to be referred to by their family name – but it’s a different story for children.
This is why you’ll find so many cute Japanese baby girl names, inspired by nature, beauty, and general feelings of happiness.
Whether you’re looking for something rare or want to pay homage to your heritage, here’s the story behind some of the most popular Japanese female names.
Most Popular Japanese Baby Girl Names
- Afuru (溢る): Meaning “overflow”.
- Akabana (アカバナ): Meaning “red flower”.
- Akane (あかね): Got yourself a little pocket rocket? If your baby girl has boundless energy, she may be suited to this Japanese female name, meaning “madder” or “red dye”.
- Akari (丹梨): Japan is also famous for its fruit trees, and the pear tree is no exception. A classic example of nature-inspired nomenclature, this Japanese girl’s name meaning is literally “red pear tree”.
- Akemi (あけみ): Meaning “bright” or “beauty”.
- Aki (あき): Meaning “sparkle”.
- Akiho (あきほ): Meaning “fire fall”.
- Akumu (アクム): Meaning “nightmare”.
- Amaya (あまや): Meaning “night rain”.
- Asuka (あすか): Meaning “tomorrow” or “fly”.
- Aina (アイナ): Meaning “beautiful-eyed woman”.
- Aiya (アイヤ): Meaning “love”.
- Akina (明那): Meaning “beautiful and bright”.
- Amei (あめい): Meaning “heavens” or “sky”.
- Anna (アンナ): Meaning “love” or “water”.
- Aoi (亜桜依): Meaning “reliant on cherry blossoms”.
- Aomi (あおみ): Meaning “ocean”.
- Arisa (光桜): Meaning “light cherry blossoms”.
- Asami (あさみ): Meaning “future”.
- Asana (朝凪): Meaning “calm morning”.
- Au (合う): Meaning “unite”.
- Ayaka (あやか): Meaning “pure flower”.
- Ayako (彩子): Meaning “color” or “design”.
- Azumi (明日実): Meaning “apricot” or “beauty”.
- Bunko (文子): Meaning “art”.
- Chiaki (智昭): Meaning “sparkling light”.
- Chiasa (智朝): Meaning “one thousand mornings”.
- Chieko (千恵子): Meaning “one thousand blessings”.
- Chiharu (千春): Meaning “wisdom” or “spring”.
- Chika (ちか): Meaning “one thousand flowers”.
- Chikako (智佳子): Meaning “friendly”.
- Chinami (千奈美): Meaning “one thousand waves” or “beautiful wisdom”.
- Chitose (千寿-): Meaning “one thousand years”.
- Chiyo (稚葉): Meaning “one thousand generations”.
- Chizu (知瑞): Meaning “one thousand cranes”.
- Cho (蝶): Meaning “butterfly”.
- Dai (大輝): Meaning “generation”.
- Daitan (大胆): Meaning “daring”.
- Den (デン): Meaning “asked for”.
- Doremi (瞳麗美): Meaning “waterway”.
- Eiko (恵倭子): Meaning “flourishing”.
- Eimi (影美): Meaning “ocean”.
- Emi (えみ): Meaning “beautiful painting”.
- Emica (咲花): Meaning “beautiful”.
- Emika (咲佳): Meaning “beautiful bloom”.
- Emiko (えみこ): Meaning “prosperous child”.
- Emiyo (咲佳): Meaning “bloom”.
- Ena (愛菜): Meaning “smile” or “laugh”.
- Erena (えれな): Meaning “water route”.
- Eri (恵理): Meaning “love” or “clever”.
- Erika (英姫): Meaning “English princess”.
- Erity (えりてぃ): Meaning “special one”.
- Etsu (悦): Meaning “rejoice”.
- Etsumi (愛): Meaning “cold water”.
- Etsuko (悦子): Meaning “joyous child”.
- Fumiko (ふみこ): Meaning “child of treasured beauty”.
- Gen (元): Meaning “spring”.
- Gin (銀): Meaning “silver”.
- Gina (銀): Meaning “silvery”.
- Hana (花): Meaning “flower”.
- Hanako (花子): Meaning “flower girl”.
- Hanan (花子): Meaning “flower child”.
- Haruki (春木): Meaning “spring” or “tree”.
- Haruna (榛): Meaning “hazel”.
- Hasumi (華澄): Meaning “serene flower”.
- Hayami (速見): Meaning “hurricane”.
- Hikari (光): Meaning “light”.
- Himari (陽葵): Meaning “good hollyhock”.
- Hina (陽菜): Vegetables aren’t usually a term we’d associate with beautiful Japanese girl names, but their native pronunciation is far easier on the ear! Hina quite literally means “good vegetables” or “edible greens”. A good message to instill in them from birth, we’d say.
- Hinami (陽南): Meaning “southern sunshine”.
- Hiro (柊): Meaning “abundant”.
- Hiroka (恕花): Meaning “generous flower”.
- Hiromi (裕美): Meaning “generous beauty”.
- Hisa (悠): Meaning “long-lasting”.
- Hisano (日彩乃): Meaning “open plain”.
- Hitomi (智美): Meaning “beautiful history”.
- Homura (炎): Meaning “flame”.
- Honoka (火佳): Meaning “beautiful fire”.
- Hoshi (星): Meaning “star”.
- Hotaru (蛍): Meaning “firefly”.
- Ichika (一千花): Meaning “one thousand flowers”.
- Iku (玖): Meaning “jet-black stone”.
- Ine (唯美): Meaning “emphasized beauty”.
- Ito (糸): Meaning “string”.
- Jin (金): Meaning “gold”.
- Jun (純): Meaning “pure” or “genuine”.
- Junko (順): Meaning “obedient child”.
- Kaede (楓): Meaning “maple tree”.
- Kaen (花園): Meaning “flower garden”.
- Kaida (海田): Meaning “little dragon”.
- Kaiya (佳宝): Meaning “beautiful treasure”.
- Kaguya (伽宮夜): Meaning “radiant night”.
- Kaiyo (海容): Meaning “forgiveness”.
- Kameko (亀甲): Meaning “tortoise-child”.
- Kanae (夢): Meaning “dream”.
- Kaori (香織): Meaning “scent”.
- Kana (佳奈): This one’s particularly important because it bucks the trend of diminutive, cute Japanese baby girl names. Contrary to images of hearts and flowers, Kana means “the one who has the power”. There’s a miniature CEO right there!
- Katsuki (花月): Meaning “moon flower”.
- Katsumi (克実): Meaning “gain victory”.
- Kazemi (佳宝): Meaning “water” or “wind”.
- Kazuya (壱): Meaning “one”.
- Kimi (嬉): Meaning “happy”.
- Kiomi (清美): Meaning “pure beauty”.
- Kiyo (綺世): Meaning “beautiful world”.
- Kiyomizu (清水): Meaning “auspicious” or “water”.
- Kohaku (琥珀): Meaning “amber”.
- Koharu (小華): Meaning “small flower”.
- Koko (瑚幸): Meaning “fortune ritual”.
- Kumi (久美): Meaning “beautiful old story”.
- Kuni (光祐): Meaning “light and help of God”.
- Kura (佳宝): Meaning “beautiful treasure”.
- Kuroi (黒い): Meaning “black”.
- Kuroishi (黒石): Meaning “black” and “charisma”.
- Kyoko (杏子): Meaning “apricot child”.
- Kyoto (京都): Meaning “capital city”.
- Machi (摩知): Meaning “friction knowledge”.
- Machiko (眞稚子): Meaning “child who learns truth”.
- Madoka (真努佳): Meaning “try truth”.
- Maemi (麻恵人): Meaning “hemp blessed person”.
- Maiko (舞妓): Meaning “dancing child”.
- Maimi (真): Meaning “truth”.
- Manahimeko (麻那姫湖): Meaning “lake”.
- Mari (真理): Meaning “truth”.
- Mei (明依): Meaning “bright and reliant”.
- Miami (美愛弥): Meaning “beauty and love in process”.
- Mieko (美恵子): Meaning “brightness of light”.
- Miharu (光春): Meaning “spring light”.
- Mihiro (弥尋): Meaning “ask progress”.
- Mika (美佳): Meaning “beautiful and good”.
- Mikazuki (三日月): Meaning “crescent moon”.
- Miki (光姫): Meaning “princess of light”.
- Minori (美乃里): Meaning “beautiful”.
- Mio (心陽): Meaning “heart of the sun”.
- Misaki (美 咲): Meaning “beautiful blossom”.
- Mitsu (実): Meaning “light” or “honey”.
- Miyu (海夢): Meaning “ocean dream”.
- Miyuki (美雪): Meaning “beautiful snow”.
- Mizuki (美月): Meaning “beautiful moon”.
- Moto (智): Meaning “smart”.
- Mutsuko ( 睦子): Meaning “close child”.
- Nagisa (和颯): Meaning “calm beach”.
- Nahoko (奈帆子): Meaning “obedient child”.
- Nani (那仁): Meaning “beauty”.
- Nariko (奈里子): Meaning “thunder child”.
- Nayoko (菜夜子): Meaning “night child”.
- Niko (二湖): A classic female Japanese name meaning “two lakes”. It’s an ideal choice for those immersing their children in different cultures – for example, Nico is a popular name in Greece, Spain, and Italy.
- Nori (乃理): Meaning “you” or “seaweed”.
- Noriko (典子): Meaning “child of ceremony”.
- Nozomi (望み): Meaning “hope”.
- Nyoko (にょこ): Meaning “treasured child” or “madly in love”.
- Okimi (沖 見): Meaning “see off the coast”.
- Reika (冷夏): Meaning “cold summer”.
- Rieko (理恵子): Meaning “blessing child of logic”.
- Rika (俐歌): Meaning “smart song”.
- Rikako (里花子): Meaning “village flower child”.
- Rikona (凛子奈): Meaning “fruit child”.
- Rinako (凜梛子): Meaning “gallant apple tree child”.
- Saki (咲): Meaning “bloom”.
- Sakura (咲良): You can’t picture Japan without imagining those world-famous cherry blossoms in the springtime. Sakura means “cherry blossom” – perfect for little ladies born with rosy cheeks.
- Sara (冴咲): Meaning “vivid blossom”.
- Sayaka (彩): Meaning “vivid color”.
- Sayoko (小夜子): Meaning “evening child”.
- Sunako (砂子): Meaning “sand child”.
- Tadam (忠己)i: Meaning “sincerity”.
- Tatsuo (達桜): Meaning “reach for the cherry blossoms”.
- Tsukiko (月子): Meaning “moon child”.
- Tsumugi (紬希): This one is very specific in its meaning – Tsumugi refers to a “pongee”, which is a soft cloth made of threads of silk.
- Usagi (卯沙伎): Meaning “sand rabbit”.
- Wakumi (惑美): Meaning “bewildering beauty”.
- Yami (闇): Meaning “dark”.
- Yasha (夜叉): Meaning “night devil”.
- Yoru (夜): Meaning “night”.
- Yua (結愛): Meaning “binded by love and affection”.
- Yui (佑泉): Meaning “helpful fountain”.
- Yuika (夢叶): Meaning “dream come true”.
- Yuka (優火): Meaning “superior fire”.
- Yuki (雪): Meaning “snow”.
- Yukina (雪華): Meaning “snow flower”.
- Yurika (揺花): Meaning “swaying flower”.
- Yuzuki (優月妃): Meaning “superior moon princess”.
There you have it ‒ 180 beautiful, popular, and unique Japanese girl’s names for your little akachan.
Which are your favorites? Why not share them with the Peanut community?