Japanese Name Generator
Japanese names follow surname-first convention (Tanaka Hiroshi, not Hiroshi Tanaka). Given names carry kanji-dependent meanings - Akira "bright", Sakura "cherry blossom", Hiroshi "generous". Surnames are heavily place-of-origin compounds (Yamamoto "base of the mountain", Tanaka "in the rice field"). 95+ entries with etymological glosses.
Example output: Tanaka Hiroshi · Yamamoto Sakura · Saito Kaori · Sato Akira
Featured names from this generator
A sample drawn from the japanese pool. Each name carries its documented etymology. Click Generate above for a fresh batch.
Frequently asked questions
›Why surname first in Japanese?
Traditional East Asian convention. Family identity precedes individual identity. The Japanese Foreign Ministry uses given-name-first when communicating in English; in Japanese contexts, surname-first is universal. Our generator preserves the traditional order.
›What does the wisteria pattern in surnames mean?
Many top Japanese surnames contain to (wisteria), the symbol of the Fujiwara clan: Saito "purified wisteria", Ito "this wisteria", Kato "increase wisteria", Sato "help wisteria". Indicates historical Fujiwara lineage or branch families.
›Can I get just first names?
Yes - switch to "First name" type. Note that Japanese given-name meanings depend on which kanji are used to write the name; we ship phonetic readings with common interpretations.