japanese names (boys and girls)

[sarasi]

I notice people often give a list of names from that babyname site- they should be aware that a lot of those names are never used in Japan, and a lot of anime names are not ordinary either. From a quick look through this thread, suggestions offered for names that you will never meet a Japanese person with were: Ichigo (means strawberry!), Zakuro (pomegranate), Sushi (do you really think a Japanese person would call their child Sushi??!), Suzuki (this is a common family name, never a first name), Kagami (means mirror), Cho (one meaning of this word is "intestines"! Obviously no-one would give this name to their child), Wattan (I'm not sure if this is supposed to have a meaning, but there is no Japanese girl with this name and it sounds awful), Hachi (means bee), Mizu (means water, is not a name), Botan (as a boy's name even! Botan is a kind of flower and would never be a boy's name- it would be odd enough as a girl's name), Inari (rice), Amarante (this is definitely not a Japanese name), Hotaru (firefly), Kagome (the name of a well-known company in Japan that makes juice) and on and on.

Someone suggested that Tomoko and Seiko could be names for boys or girls- those are very girly names, like calling a boy Sarah or Victoria- just unthinkable. Anyone wanting to give their child a Japanese name, please check very carefully first to make sure the name is actually acceptable in Japan, or the child would be a laughing stock if he or she ever came here.

[bhl88]

What are the less used or unique Japanese names? Can one give a sample?

[Khengi]

I'll always stick to naming my son Kenji (研児). The Kanji I chose that equal his name means "A sharpened kid". Even though Kenji automatically means 'strong second son'.

[Pike]

I kinda like Hitomi. Nana also.

[koizumi]

20000-NAMES.COM: Female Japanese Names, Page 1 of 2--meaning, origin, etymology

here you go. =) this is a list only for female names, though.

i like the name "Chou" most. I didn't encounter any Japanese girl using it, it must be a unique one i guess..

[Miyavifan]

Originally Posted by Khengi

I'll always stick to naming my son Kenji (研児). The Kanji I chose that equal his name means "A sharpened kid". Even though Kenji automatically means 'strong second son'.

This is a name I like too.

I have new ones to add though. Just based on how they sound:

Heihachi and Akira. (both names of characters in Sukiyaki Western Django. but Akira is also a character in Devilman)

[sarasi]

Originally Posted by koizumi

20000-NAMES.COM: Female Japanese Names, Page 1 of 2--meaning, origin, etymology

here you go. =) this is a list only for female names, though.

i like the name "Chou" most. I didn't encounter any Japanese girl using it, it must be a unique one i guess..

As I mentioned just a few posts above, "Chou" can have the meaning of "intestines", and I have not heard it as either a male or female name once in 11 years in Japan. Be really careful with those internet lists- they have obviously not been checked by a Japanese person to see if the names are appropriate or just something someone has made up.

[DSX]

Girls:

Otome
Ami
Asuka
Yumi
Tomo
Yumiko
Akari (Or Akira, it was one of those, but I think both are unisex names)

Boys:

Shin
Shinji
Jin
Kazuya
Heihachi (Never heard of that name outside of Tekken though)

[nobora]

Boys:

Kazuki
Takuya
Ren
kairi


Girls:
Hitomi
Megumi
Aya
Maasa

[LazyPandaHeadache]

Well I like:

Sumire (in japanese violet in dutch summier means summary xD kinda funny)
Kiyoharu
Takanori
Daisuke
Mamoru
Kaoru