Attractive Japanese Boy Names You’ll Love!
Looking for some cute Japanese boy names with cool meanings? They are definitely becoming popular in western societies and even around the world. It’s no surprise because Japanese boy names are both beautiful and so very unique with rich history and tradition. You’ll notice many Japanese boy names related to nature, water, and fire just to name a few.
The Japanese language is quite complex so keep in mind that Japanese names for boys can often have multiple meanings because of the characters used. Typically you’ll see Japanese names written in kanji (meaning Han character), although some also use hiragana or katakana and others use a mix. Therefore, depending on which type is used, the meanings can vary.
This means any given name can have tens or even hundreds of different meanings depending on which characters are used (the combinations are endless). I’ll try to include the most common meanings but if you see a name you particularly love and want to explore more alternate meanings you can use word hippo for translations from Japanese kanji characters to English.
Japan doesn’t have a trending baby names list in the same way the US does, there’s nothing officially released yearly by the government.
Instead, other organizations take on this task from time to time. The unofficial list of top baby names in Japan usually comes from an insurance company called Meiji Yasuda which polls its customers (so it’s obviously not as extensive) and reports the top names in their yearly name list.
Meiji Yasuda said that the character for blue was super popular in 2020 because it represented a feeling of freedom and is considered hopeful names for babies in light of current circumstances.
Let’s take a look at some male Japanese names, shall we?
Just a side note, I’ve tried to list all the Japanese boy names alphabetically from a-z, however, you’ll notice a few are missing ( L,Q,V,X) because those don’t exist in Japanese names.
JAPANESE NAMES FOR BOYS
A
Agito
Agito – this cute and handsome boy name means ‘bright person’ or ‘ reach’
Aiko
Aiko – is a Japanese name boy name meaning ‘love’ or ‘tiger’
Aito
Aito – this short boy name means ‘ocean, sea’, or ‘darling child’
Aizen
Aizen – this a cool Japanese boy name meaning ‘love, good’, ‘indigo’ or ‘dyed’
Akane
Akane – this boy name means ‘ is bright sound’, or ‘beautiful, lovely sound’
Akihiko
Akihiko – this strong and beautiful boy name means ‘bright prince’
Akira
Aikira- this cute and unique Japanese boy name can mean ‘wise man, ‘bright, light, shining’ or ‘cheerfulness’
Akio
Akio – is a cute name that combines the kanji characters for ‘bright, luminous and ‘man, hero or manly’
Akito
Akito – this Japanese boy name means ‘morning sun climbing’, ‘autumn and winter’ or ‘friend’
Akiro
Akiro – is such a cute and handsome boy name, it means ‘bright boy’
Aoi
Aoi – is currently the #6 Japanese baby name topping the charts for 2020 and it means ‘bluish’
Aoto
Aoto – is 7th on the list and means ‘blue green’
Arai
Arai – is a Japanese male name meaning ‘love, thunder’
Arakan
Arakan – this stunning Japanese boy name means ‘hero’ or ‘worthy one’ and is also a mountain range
Arashi
Arashi – this beautiful boy name means ‘storm’, ‘new heart’ , ‘new samurai’ or ‘ to be affectionate’
Arata
Arata – this rare Japanese boy name means ‘new field’ or ‘fresh, new’
Asahi
Asahi – this is one of the top 10 Japanese names for boys of 2020 and it means ‘morning, sunlight’
Ayato
Ayato – is a cool and unique sounding boy name that means ‘logic, reason’ and ‘justice’
Azu
Azu – this short and cute boy name means ‘bright, long life’, ‘sky’ or ‘crane’
B
Banko
Banko – this Japanese boy name’s meaning is ‘everlasting’ or ‘perpetuity’
Benjiro
Benjiro – this cool and unique Japanese boy name means ‘peaceful’ or ‘enjoy peace’ and could easily translate to an American name too with the nickname Ben
Botan
Botan – this Japanese baby boy name means ‘peony’
C
Chako
Chako – is a boy name that’s a combination of ‘tea’ and ‘child’
Chibi
Chibi – is a Japanese word that means ‘small’ or ‘short’
Chihiro
Chihiro – is a cool Japanese boy name that means ‘thousand abundance’ or ‘thousand gains’
Chikaru
Chikaru – is a strong boy name that’s a combination of ‘harmonious and ‘dragon’ or ‘lapis lazuli’
Chisen
Chisen – this boy name means ‘thousand foundation’
Chitora
Chitora – is a strong and powerful Japanese boy name that means ‘thousand tiger’
D
Dai
Dai – is a shot and cute Japanese boy name meaning ‘large’ or ‘thick’
Daichi
Daichi – this baby boy name means ‘large, great’ combined with ‘earth, land’
Daigo
Daigo – is similar to the above names where the first symbol means ‘large’ but this one is combined with ‘enlightenment’
Daiki
Daiki – is another cute name, this one means ‘big, shining’
Daimon
Daimon – this boy name is a combination of words that means ‘big’ and ‘gate’
Daisho
Daisho – is another top 10 Japanese boy name and it means ‘big little’ and refers to pair of matched traditional Japanese swords worn by samurai
Daisuke
Daisuke- is a boy name meaning ‘impressive’ or ‘great help’
Daizen
Daizen- is a very cool sounding name, it means ‘big’ combined with ‘meal’
Danto
Danto – combines the symbols for ‘warm’ and ‘come true’
E
Eiji
Eiji – is a Japanese boy name with many variations in Kanji so there are tons of meanings, some of the most common ones are ‘excellent, ‘to succeed’, ‘prosperity, peace’ and ‘second born’
Eita
Eita – is an uncommon boy name that means ‘thick crystal’
Eito
Eito – boy name meaning ‘prosperous person’ or ‘glory, honor’
Eiza
Eiza – this name is a combination of the words meaning ‘flourish’ and ‘three’
Emihiko
Emihiko – is a strong boy name meaning ‘laugh and ‘respectable man of virtue and wit’
Enju
Enju – is a cool unisex Japanese name that means ‘longevity
Enmei
Enmei – is a baby name meaning ‘life-sustaining or ‘bright circle’
Eren
Eren – is a beautiful Japanese male name meaning ‘love, affection’
Eriya
Eriya – this unique and beautiful name means ‘blessed’
Ezumi
Ezumi – is a boy name combining ‘river, fountain, spring’ and ‘pure’
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F
Fuji
Fuji – is a short and sweet boy name meaning ‘wisteria’
Fujitora
Fujitora – sounds like a pretty cool and futuristic boy name, it means ‘wisteria’ and ‘tiger’
Fumihiro
Fumihiro – combines the symbols for the words ‘wide, large’ and ‘sentence, writing’
Furio
Furio – this unique and cool boy name means ‘wind’ and ‘village’
G
Garon
Garon – this name combines the meanings ‘to be delighted’ and ‘logical’
Genjiro
Genjiro – also has many possible combinations in kanji and therefore many meanings, some common ones include ‘origin’ ‘two’ ‘second son’ and ‘cheerfulness’
Genri
Genri – this cute name means ‘fundamental truth’ or ‘expert’ and ‘fortunate’
Gidou
Gidou – this boy baby name means ‘righteousness and ‘child’
Ginnan
Ginnan – is an uncommon boy name that means ‘silver’ and ‘apricot’
Gohan
Gohan – this cool Japanese boy name actually means ‘cooked rice’ or ‘meal of any sort’
Goki
Goki – is another cute name and it means ‘each other’ and ‘strong intention’
Goku
Goku – this popular Japanese baby boy name means ‘awakening to emptiness’
Goro
Goro – name meaning is ‘fifth son’ or ‘enlightened son’
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H
Hachiro
Hachiro – this cool and cute boy name means ‘eighth son’
Hakaku
Hakaku – sounds almost melodic and this strong boy name means ‘white crane’
Hakaru
Hakaru – has many combinations and meanings, some common ones include ‘to measure’ ‘make progress’, ‘research’ and ‘ even, level, flat’
Han
Han – can mean ‘sail’, or ‘companion’ depending on the kanji used
Haru
Haru – this short and cute baby name’s meaning is ‘spring’ like the season and it’s a unisex name
Haruki
Haruki – is another version of the above name and it means ‘spring child’
Haruko
Haruko – this Japanese unisex baby name means ‘spring child’
Haruto
Haruto – is the #1 Japanese baby boy name of 2020 and it means ‘sunlight, bright’ ‘soar’ ‘person’, and ‘spring’
Hayato
Hayato – this boy name can mean ‘falcon person’, ‘bravery’, ‘speedy’ and ‘sounds of the wind
Hideki
Hideki – this baby boy name has many meanings including ‘timber trees’, ‘excellence, superior’, ‘ pleasure’
Hijiri
Hijiri – can mean a ‘holy man, saint’ or ‘fire’
Hinata
Hinata – is a cool unisex Japanese name and it means ‘sunny place’ or ‘toward the sun’
Hinote
Hinote – is a Japanese boy name meaning ‘fire’ or ‘blast’
Hikaru
Hikaru – this super cute and uncommon baby name means ‘to shine’ ‘light’ and ‘radiance’
Hiro
Hiro – is a strong and short boy name with multiple meanings, some common ones include ‘abundant’, ‘knowledgable’ ‘generous’, ‘broad, widespread’, and ‘prosperous’
Hiroaki
Hiroaki – also has many combinations and meanings like ‘achievement, bright’, ‘spreading brightness’ , or ‘widespread light’
Hiroki
Hiroki – is a baby name meaning ‘abundant radiance or ‘large woods’
Hiroto
Hiroto – is a cute and popular Japanese boy name that refers to the constellation Ursa Major and means ‘great soaring’ or ‘great flight’
Hitoshi
Hitoshi – this baby name means ‘compassionate, benevolent’, ‘equal, level’ and ‘cleaning, purifying’
Hoshi
Hoshi – this cute baby boy name means ‘star’
Hotaru
Hotaru – this super cute nature inspired boy name means ‘firefly’ or ‘lightning bug’
I
Ichiro
Ichiro – is a boy name with many meanings and common is ‘firstborn son’
Inari
Inari – as a baby name can mean ‘successful one’, ‘rice load’, and ‘responsible’ and is a unisex name
Iroha
Iroha – unisex Japanese name that means ‘coloring leaf or feather’, or ‘basics’
Ishin
Ishin – this baby boy name can mean ‘stone, under’ , ‘ reason true’, and ‘depending, true’
Itaru
Itaru – has many meanings including ‘dictates’, ‘arrival’, ‘ to stretch, relax’ and ‘charcter, rank’
Itsuki
Itsuki – this cute name can mean ‘tree’, ‘the one moon’, and ‘servant of God’
Izumi
Izumi – is a unisex baby name meaning ‘spring’ or ‘fountain’
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J
Jinsei
Jinsei – this handsome boy name’s meaning is ‘life’, ‘life force’
Jinzo
Jinzo – depending on the kanji used this name can mean ‘man made’, ‘synthetic’ or ‘kidney’
Jiren
Jiren – has multiple kanji as well, it can mean ‘stove’, ‘lotus, compassion’, ‘plant’
Jiro
Jiro – is a short and cute boy name that means ‘second-born son’
Joben
Joben – this boy name means ‘enjoys cleanness’
Jotaro
Jotaro – this attractive Japanese boy name means ‘turtle’ or ‘six’ depending on the kanji used
Junan
Junan – also has many variations and meanings, the most common is ‘passion’
K
Kai
Kai – this cute classic boy name can be found in so many different cultures, it has a number of meanings in Japanese including ‘ocean,’, ‘shell’, ‘restoration’, ‘forgiveness’, and ‘open’
Kaien
Kaien – this water-inspired baby name can mean ‘ocean, swallow’, ‘nori, seaweed’, or ‘deep ocean’
Kaiyo
Kaiyo – this baby name can mean ‘ocean’ or ‘forgiveness’
Kakashi
Kakashi – this cool baby name from Japan means ‘scarecrow’
Kame
Kame – is a short and cute baby boy name meaning ‘tortoise’ or ‘turtle’
Katsuki
Katsuki – has many different kanji but common meanings include ‘summer’ combined with ‘moon’
Katsumi
Katsumi – is used as names for girls and boys in Japan, it means different things depending on the characters used including ‘overcome, self’, ‘overcome, sixth earthly branch’, or ‘overcome, beauty’
Kazue
Kazue – is a unique boy name meaning ‘one branch’, ‘harmony, peace’, or ‘favor, benefit’
Kazuki
Kazuki – sounds really cool and modern, it means ‘peaceful tree’, ‘hope of peace’, or ‘one, shine’
Kazumi
Kazumi – is a gender-friendly name that’s given to Japanese baby girls and boys, it means ‘harmony, peace’ along with ‘beautiful’
Kaito
Kaito – this name sounds super cute and means ‘ocean, sea’ combined with ‘soar, fly’
Kenji
Kenji – is another popular name and its meaning is ‘intelligent second child’, ‘strong and vigorous’ or ‘healthy child’
Kenrō
Kenrō – is a Japanese name meaning ‘robustness’, or ‘firm, rooted, hard and solid’
Kenshiro
Kenshiro – if you want a Japanese boy name with an English language version, this could be the one! This name’s meaning is ‘strong and robust fourth son’ or ‘white sword’ depending on the kanji used. You could use Ken as a nickname.
Kenzo
Kenzo – is another modern Japanese name that’s rising in popularity in the west, it means ‘strong and healthy’
Kirito
Kirito – is a name taken from a popular Japanese fictional character and is a made-up name so it doesn’t have a true meaning but does take some elements that could mean ‘person who brings peace’
Kiyoshi
Kiyoshi – this boy name meanings include ‘pure’, ‘clear, and ‘quiet child’
Kiryu
Kiryu – is such a beautiful sounding boy name and it also has many meanings including ‘cleanse, pure, holy’, ‘joy, dragon’, and ‘vigor’
Kobe
Kobe – comes from a city name in Japan, and it’s meaning is ‘god, door’
Koki
Koki – this cute name means ‘bright light’ and ‘hopeful, good fortune’
Kota
Kota – is another beautiful name for boys, it means ‘happiness, good fortune’
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M
Makoto
Makoto – is a gender-neutral name but is commonly used by males, it means ‘sincerity’ or ‘truth’
Masato
Masato – this strong male Japanese name meaning is ‘true man’ or ‘holy man’
Miko
Miko – was historically a female name but is now considered a gender-neutral name and means ‘godly child’, ‘beautiful child’, ‘red truth’ or ‘shrine maiden’
Minato
Minato – this unique and handsome boy name means ‘harbor’
Mitsu
Mitsu – is another gender-neutral name with meanings including ‘light’, ‘honey’, or a combination of ‘beautiful, haven’
Mitsuya
Mitsuya – is a Japanese name meaning is ‘three, arrow’
Mochi
Mochi – this cute Japanese name means ‘rice cake’
N
Nijio
Nijio – is a boy name that combines the kanji characters meaning ‘rainbow’ and ‘husband’
Nikko
Nikko – is a cute sounding boy name meaning ‘sunshine’ or ‘daylight’
Ninja
Ninja – this strong warrior name means ‘ a person who persevere’ or ‘ conceal, person’
Nobu
Nobu – is a short and sweet Japanese male name, it means ‘trust’ or ‘prolong, stretch’
Nori
Nori – is a unisex name that’s perfect for girls and boys, it means ‘doctrine’, ‘ceremony, rites’ or ‘belief
O
Oda
Oda – this name was a place name and surname, it means ‘small rice paddy’
Oko
Oko – this short name means ‘child
Ozu
Ozu – this short boy name meaning is ‘little, small’ combined with ‘haven, port, harbor’
R
Rai
Rai – is a cool strong name for boys, it means ‘lightening, thunder’ and ‘trust’
Raidon
Raidon – this uncommon boy name means ‘thunder god’
Raiyu
Raiyu – is another strong and powerful boy name meaning ‘the next great coming’ or ‘thunder’ combined with ‘to play’
Ren
Ren – is one of the most popular Japanese boy names and it’s short, cute and easy to pronounce, making it a popular choice in western countries as well, it means ‘water lily’ or ‘lotus’
Renjiro
Renjiro – is a handsome and unique boy name meaning ‘clean, upright, honest’
Riku
Riku – also has many kanji characters and meanings including ‘land’, and ‘handsome’
Ringo
Ringo – this cute baby name means ‘apple’
Ritsu
Ritsu – is a boy name meaning combining ‘law, regulation’ with ‘boy, prince’
Riso
Riso – this cute baby boy name means ‘ideal’
Ritsu
Ritsu – is a boy name meaning ‘regulation, law’, ‘rhythm, control’
Rokuro
Rokuro – this handsome boy name means ‘ sixth son’
Rukia
Rukia – this boy name combines the kanji characters meaning ‘precious stone or gem’ with ‘star, dot, or mark’
Ryota
Ryota – this intriguing boy name’s meaning combines ‘refreshing, cool’ with ‘big, thick, or plump’
Ryu
Ryu – this strong and cool baby boy name means ‘dragon’
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S
Sanji
Sanji – is a baby boy name meaning ‘third son’
Satoru
Satoru – this word comes from Japanese Buddhism and means ‘to know’ or ‘to understand’ and refers to spiritual awakening and enlightenment
Satoshi
Satoshi – this handsome Japanese boy name means ‘clear thinking, quick witted’ or ‘wise’
Shinji
Shinji – is a tough and strong boy name that means ‘careful, prudent’ combined with ‘warrior’
Shinjiro
Shinjiro – is a beautiful boy name meaning ‘genuine, true’ and ‘second son’
Shiro
Shiro – is a cute sounding yet fierce boy name can mean ‘samurai male’, ‘white’ or ‘castle’
Shinobu
Shinobu – is considered a unisex gender-neutral name and it means ‘endurance, patience’
Shinta
Shinta – is a masculine name that means ‘lengthen, cultivate, develop’ or ‘real, genuine’ combined with ‘big, thick’
Sho
Sho – is a short yet strong boy name meaning ‘Commander’ or ‘General’, it can also mean ‘soar, fly’
Sosuke
Sosuke – this name can mean ‘smooth’, ‘complete’ or ‘clever’ depending on the kanji used
Soma
Soma – name meaning combines ‘sound of the wind’ with ‘real, genuine’; alternate kanji suggest its meaning to be ‘inter, mutual’ combined with ‘horse’
Sota
Sota – this boy name can mean ‘port, harbor’ or ‘thick, plump and big’
Soto
Soto – this boy name simply means ‘outside’
T
Tadashi
Tadashi – this handsome Japanese boy name means ‘correct, right, true’ combined with ‘lucky, auspicious’ and ‘loyal, devotion’ – if it sounds familiar, it’s probably because you heard it in Big Hero 6 (he’s the big bro and certainly lives up to his name)
Taichi
Taichi – is a boy name combining the kanji for ‘thick, big’ and ‘one’
Taizen
Taizen – this boy name combines the characters for ‘big’ and ‘good’
Takamori
Takamori – is a nature-inspired Japanese name meaning ‘tall or high forest’
Takumi
Takumi – this cute baby boy name means ‘artisan’ or ‘skillful’
Takuya
Takuya – is a boy name that can mean ‘superb’ or ‘ to expand, to cultivate’
Tatsuki
Tatsuki – is considered a unisex baby name and it means ‘standing trees’ or ‘timber trees’
Tomoharu
Tomoharu – is a popular name meaning ‘wisdom, intellect’ or ‘friend’ combined with ‘spring’
Tanoshi
Tanoshi – this sweet and cute boy name means ‘enjoyable, pleasant, delightful’
Torashi
Torashi – this boy name’s meaning combines ‘sign of the tiger’ with ‘history, chronicle
Toshi
Toshi – is another cute option and has quite a few different meanings and kanji including ‘goodness, worth’, ‘handsome’, ‘mirror, reflection, and ‘wisdom, intellect, and reason’
Toshiro
Toshiro – this baby boy name means ‘talented, intelligent’ or ‘clever son’
U
Uri
Uri – this short and cute name means ‘melon’
Ushio
Ushio – is a beautiful nature inspired name meaning ‘tide’, ‘salt water’ or ‘edges of water’ or depending on the kanji it could also mean ‘cow’
W
Wahiro
Wahiro – this name means ‘great harmony’
Wataru
Wataru – this boy name meaning is ‘navigate’ or ‘cross over’
Y
Yahiko
Yahiko – combines the kanji characters for ‘night, dark’ with ‘boy or prince’
Yakumo
Yakumo – this cute name means ‘thick clouds’
Yama
Yama – this short, cute and strong baby name means ‘mountain’
Yamato
Yamato – if you want to impart a little bit of heritage on your little one, this was one of the oldest names for Japan itself and it means ‘great harmony and peace’
Yami
Yami – this Japanese boy name meaning is ‘dark’ or ‘darkness’
Yoru
Yoru – this name means ‘night’
Yoshio
Yoshio – this cute Japanese boy name means ‘courageous one’ or ‘righteous man’ or ‘good fortune, lucky’
Yuito
Yuito – this popular Japanese boy name means ‘solely’, ‘only’ or ‘simply’ combined with ‘person’
Yuki
Yuki – is a gender neutral baby name meaning ‘snow’ or ‘lucky’
Yukio
Yukio – this sweet Japanese name for boys means ‘snow boy’
Z
Zen
Zen – this cool and short boy name means ‘meditation’ or ‘contemplation’ and is related to Buddhism
Zenaku
Zenaku – is a name that strives for balance and means ‘good and evil’
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WRAPPING UP JAPANESE MALE NAMES AND MEANINGS
Hopefully, this list of beautiful male Japanese names has given you some inspiration on your baby name search to find something unique, powerful, and with strong meanings. There’s a variety to choose from and you can give your child just the meaning you want because there are so many different kanji variations to choose from.
Japanese parents take their time in choosing just the right combination for their little one because it is the first gift you bestow upon your child and with it you share your hopes and dreams for your little one.
This could be one of the reasons that the unisex name Aoi keeps topping the list for both boys and girls. It is the name for the hollyhock flower and the kanji character means blue, as we noted this is equated with freedom, ambition, and hopefulness.
If you’re still looking for more baby name inspiration, don’t forget to check out some of the other name posts listed above!