15 Gorgeous Japanese Girl Names

These Japanese girl names are among the most popular in Japan, and they're all beautiful.

Beautiful baby names come from all over the world. Many Japanese girl names are inspired by nature, and they have a certain simplicity to them that we love.

More parents in Japan are picking these 15 baby girl names than ever before. Which one is your favorite?

Honoka

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The meaning of Honoka, one of Japan’s most popular baby names for girls in 2021, comes from the combination of two roots: Hono means “harmony,” and ka means “flower.”

This graceful, floral-inspired name is shared with many anime characters, along with Japanese actress Honoka Yahagi and Japanese table tennis player Honoka Hashimoto.

Mei

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Mei, another nature-inspired Japanese name, means “sprout of life.”

Representing fresh starts and the excitement of new life, the name Mei was made famous by the Studio Ghibli classic “My Neighbor Totoro,” whose young protagonists are named Satsuki and Mei.

Mio

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In Japanese, mi means “beautiful,” and o represents cherry blossoms.

Japan is famous for its pink and white cherry blossom trees, so it’s no wonder there’s a name capturing them in all their spring glory.

Himari

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Japanese names often combine two or more roots to create new meanings. Hi means “sunshine,” while mari means “hollyhock,” so Himari means “summer hollyhock.”

It can also represent brightly colored sunflowers when written with different characters. Either way, Himari is a cheerful Japanese girl name.

Akira

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Meaning “bright and clear,” Akira is undeniably fierce. Babies named Akira are curious, sharp and discerning. If you like the sound of Akira, Akari is a similar-sounding Japanese name meaning “bright jasmine.”

Either name comes with catchy nicknames: Aki works for either, and Kira and Kari are both cute, too.

Jun

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While Jun looks a lot like June, this Japanese unisex name means “pure.”

Before you worry about outdated purity culture, Jun actually symbolizes simplicity and peace in Japan. It’s a minimalist name with maximum depth.

Kei

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Kei was originally a Japanese boy name meaning “blessed” and “joyous.” Over the past decade, however, it has become a popular nickname for the Japanese girl name, Keiko.

Keiko means “lucky child” or “respectful child” depending on the kanji used to spell it. You really can’t go wrong either way!

Ema

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Ema is a popular Japanese name in the U.S. since it’s so similar to the American name Emma. Ema is usually translated to “reliable,” but it can also be a symbol of the flowering jasmine plant.

We love the name Emi, too, which means “blessed” or “beautiful.”

Ichika

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The thing about Japanese names is that they can have more than one meaning depending on the kanji used. The longer the name, the more possible meanings a name has.

Ichika has multiple meanings, and all of them are lovely. The character options to spell Ichika include roots meaning love, hope, flower, beautiful, beginning and affection, just to name a few.

Yui

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This Japanese name for girls is most commonly translated to “elegant cloth.”

If parents like the sound but not the meaning, different kanji can shift the meaning to represent “reason” and “independence” instead. It can also mean “dream,” which fits the poetic sound of Yui perfectly.

Michi

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Parenting is a journey — and not always an easy one.

Michi, a unisex Japanese name, encapsulates the adventure of life and raising a family with a simple meaning: “pathway.”

Riko

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Being able to customize the meaning of your child’s name is the coolest part of selecting a Japanese baby name. Riko, for example, can either mean “flower child” or “child of logic.” Same sound, totally different meanings.

Funnily enough, you might not know which one fits your baby best until they arrive.

Mika

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The name Mika originates from multiple cultures. In Japan, it’s primarily used as a girl’s name meaning “beautiful fragrance.”

In Eastern Europe, however, Mika is used as a pet name equivalent to Nicholas or Nichola.

Sora

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This smooth, flowing baby girl’s name has an equally graceful meaning: “sky.”

Sora represents clear skies and good fortune, and it’s much more memorable than the overdone Sara.

Yoko

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Yoko, primarily a female Japanese name, usually means “crystals” or “child.”

How fitting, considering the name was held by Yoko Ono, the artist and musician who shared a son with John Lennon.