Popular Japanese boy names in kanji
The most popular male names, their kanji and what each kanji means.
This is the ranking of the most popular Japanese boy names by reading, from the Meiji Yasuda baby name survey, 2025. The rank is the one Meiji Yasuda publishes, and names with the same count share a rank. Kanji spellings and their meanings come from JMnedict (version of 2026-09-29) and KANJIDIC2. One reading can be written with many kanji, so each row shows up to 5 spellings: first the names from the Meiji Yasuda top 100 for boys that use the reading, then spellings from JMnedict, the ones it types as male first.
A reading that is ranked for both genders is on both lists, with its own rank. Some readings have no kanji spelling in JMnedict, so they show none.
Names
- 2Minatoみなとミナト
- 湊Top 100 spelling, rank 1湊 port, harbor
- 湊斗Top 100 spelling, rank 14湊 port, harbor; 斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol)
- 湊音Top 100 spelling, rank 45湊 port, harbor; 音 sound, noise
- 南斗南 south; 斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol)
- 皆十皆 all, everything; 十 ten
- 3Aotoあおとアオト
- 蒼大Top 100 spelling, rank 25蒼 blue, pale; 大 large, big
- 蒼翔Top 100 spelling, rank 45蒼 blue, pale; 翔 soar, fly
- 碧杜Top 100 spelling, rank 45碧 blue, green; 杜 woods, grove
- 碧斗Top 100 spelling, rank 77碧 blue, green; 斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol)
- 蒼和Top 100 spelling, rank 93蒼 blue, pale; 和 harmony, Japanese style
- 4Senaせなセナ
- 5Hinataひなたヒナタ
- 陽向Top 100 spelling, rank 8陽 sunshine, yang principle; 向 yonder, facing
- 陽太Top 100 spelling, rank 25陽 sunshine, yang principle; 太 plump, thick
- 陽大Top 100 spelling, rank 57陽 sunshine, yang principle; 大 large, big
- 陽葵Top 100 spelling, rank 93陽 sunshine, yang principle; 葵 hollyhock
- 日向汰日 day, sun; 向 yonder, facing; 汰 washing, sieving
- 6Yuitoゆいとユイト
- 7Rikuりくリク
- 9Ritoりとリト
- 10Soutaそうたソウタ
- 蒼大Top 100 spelling, rank 25蒼 blue, pale; 大 large, big
- 颯太Top 100 spelling, rank 30颯 sudden, quick; 太 plump, thick
- 奏太Top 100 spelling, rank 65奏 play music, speak to a ruler; 太 plump, thick
- 想太Top 100 spelling, rank 65想 idea, thought; 太 plump, thick
- 奏多Top 100 spelling, rank 93奏 play music, speak to a ruler; 多 many, frequent
- 11Harukiはるきハルキ
- 悠希Top 100 spelling, rank 93悠 permanence, distant; 希 hope, beg
- 陽葵Top 100 spelling, rank 93陽 sunshine, yang principle; 葵 hollyhock
- 温貴温 warm; 貴 precious, value
- 温樹温 warm; 樹 timber, trees
- 晴喜晴 clear up; 喜 rejoice, take pleasure in
- 12Haruはるハル
- 暖Top 100 spelling, rank 14暖 warmth
- 治治 reign, be at peace
- 尚尚 esteem, furthermore
- 13Sakuさくサク
- 朔Top 100 spelling, rank 6朔 conjunction (astronomy), first day of month
- 作作 make, production
- 索索 cord, rope
- 佐公佐 assistant, help; 公 public, prince
- 14Nagiなぎナギ
- 凪Top 100 spelling, rank 14凪 lull, calm
- 奈岐奈 Nara, what?; 岐 branch off, fork in road
- 凪樹凪 lull, calm; 樹 timber, trees
- 15Ruiるいルイ
- 琉生Top 100 spelling, rank 4琉 precious stone, gem; 生 life, genuine
- 塁塁 bases, fort
- 瑠偉瑠 lapis lazuli; 偉 admirable, greatness
- 琉琉 precious stone, gem
- 類類 sort, kind
- 16Soumaそうまソウマ
- 颯真Top 100 spelling, rank 20颯 sudden, quick; 真 true, reality
- 爽真爽 refreshing, bracing; 真 true, reality
- 草馬草 grass, weeds; 馬 horse
- 宋馬宋 dwell, Sung dynasty; 馬 horse
- 爽馬爽 refreshing, bracing; 馬 horse
- 17Ioriいおりイオリ
- 伊織Top 100 spelling, rank 2伊 Italy, that one; 織 weave, fabric
- 以織以 by means of, because; 織 weave, fabric
- 位織位 rank, grade; 織 weave, fabric
- 維織維 fiber, tie; 織 weave, fabric
- 五百里五 five; 百 hundred; 里 ri, village
- 碧Top 100 spelling, rank 6碧 blue, green
- 蒼空Top 100 spelling, rank 13蒼 blue, pale; 空 empty, sky
- 蒼Top 100 spelling, rank 39蒼 blue, pale
- 葵Top 100 spelling, rank 45葵 hollyhock
- 葵絵葵 hollyhock; 絵 picture, drawing
- 19Aoあおアオ
- 碧Top 100 spelling, rank 6碧 blue, green
- 蒼Top 100 spelling, rank 39蒼 blue, pale
- 亜夫亜 Asia, rank next; 夫 husband, man
- 亜雄亜 Asia, rank next; 雄 masculine, male
- 21Itsukiいつきイツキ
- 樹Top 100 spelling, rank 39樹 timber, trees
- 逸亀逸 deviate, idleness; 亀 tortoise, turtle
- 逸喜逸 deviate, idleness; 喜 rejoice, take pleasure in
- 聿畿聿 brush, finally; 畿 capital, suburbs of capital
- 済済 settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden)
- 21Kanatoかなとカナト
- 23Ayatoあやとアヤト
- 23Yuutoゆうとユウト
- 結翔Top 100 spelling, rank 2結 tie, bind; 翔 soar, fly
- 陽斗Top 100 spelling, rank 30陽 sunshine, yang principle; 斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol)
- 悠翔Top 100 spelling, rank 45悠 permanence, distant; 翔 soar, fly
- 結斗Top 100 spelling, rank 57結 tie, bind; 斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol)
- 悠Top 100 spelling, rank 65悠 permanence, distant
- 25Asahiあさひアサヒ
- 25Yuuseiゆうせいユウセイ
- 25Ritsukiりつきリツキ
- 里月里 ri, village; 月 month, moon
- 律輝律 rhythm, law; 輝 radiance, shine
- 立輝立 stand up, rise; 輝 radiance, shine
- 28Ibukiいぶきイブキ
- 28Souそうソウ
- 湊Top 100 spelling, rank 1湊 port, harbor
- 颯Top 100 spelling, rank 25颯 sudden, quick
- 蒼Top 100 spelling, rank 39蒼 blue, pale
- 総総 general, whole
- 装装 attire, dress
- 30Reoれおレオ
- 伶央伶 actor; 央 center, middle
- 麗央麗 lovely, beautiful; 央 center, middle
- 怜王怜 wise; 王 king, rule
- 礼夫礼 salute, bow; 夫 husband, man
- 礼於礼 salute, bow; 於 at, in
- 蓮Top 100 spelling, rank 5蓮 lotus
- 漣漣 ripples
- 連連 take along, lead
- 斂斂 tighten, stiffen
- 鎌鎌 sickle, scythe
- 32Koukiこうきコウキ
- 光希Top 100 spelling, rank 93光 ray, light; 希 hope, beg
- 興起興 entertain, revive; 起 rouse, wake up
- 公希公 public, prince; 希 hope, beg
- 向希向 yonder, facing; 希 hope, beg
- 航希航 navigate, sail; 希 hope, beg
- 33Kanataかなたカナタ
- 湊Top 100 spelling, rank 1湊 port, harbor
- 奏大奏 play music, speak to a ruler; 大 large, big
- 加那多加 add, addition; 那 what?; 多 many, frequent
- 伽那多伽 nursing, attending; 那 what?; 多 many, frequent
- 伽那汰伽 nursing, attending; 那 what?; 汰 washing, sieving
- 33Rioりおリオ
- 璃和璃 glassy, lapis lazuli; 和 harmony, Japanese style
- 籬男籬 rough-woven fence, bamboo hedge; 男 male
- 律織律 rhythm, law; 織 weave, fabric
- 理夫理 logic, arrangement; 夫 husband, man
- 利央利 profit, advantage; 央 center, middle
- 35Gakuがくガク
- 岳岳 point, peak
- 賀句賀 congratulations, joy; 句 phrase, clause
- 学学 study, learning
- 鶴鶴 crane, stork
- 學學 learning, knowledge
- 35Hayatoはやとハヤト
- 37Tokiときトキ
- 杜紀杜 woods, grove; 紀 chronicle, account
- 旬旬 decameron, ten-day period
- 年希年 year, counter for years; 希 hope, beg
- 東樹東 east; 樹 timber, trees
- 徳基徳 benevolence, virtue; 基 fundamentals, radical (chem)
- 38Kaiかいカイ
- 壊壊 demolition, break
- 改改 reformation, change
- 解解 unravel, notes
- 魁魁 charging ahead of others
- 楷楷 square character style, correctness
- 38Suiすいスイ
- 翠Top 100 spelling, rank 30翠 green, kingfisher
- 寿以寿 longevity, congratulations; 以 by means of, because
- 翆翆 color green, kingfisher
- 38Towaとわトワ
- 図和図 map, drawing; 和 harmony, Japanese style
- 燈和燈 lamp, light; 和 harmony, Japanese style
- 38Yamatoやまとヤマト
- 42Otoおとオト
- 於莵於 at, in; 莵 dodder (plant)
- 於菟於 at, in; 菟 dodder (plant)
- 朗杜朗 melodious, clear; 杜 woods, grove
- 於兎於 at, in; 兎 rabbit, hare
- 呂呂 spine, backbone
- 42Sousukeそうすけソウスケ
- 惣亮惣 all; 亮 clear, help
- 相助相 inter-, mutual; 助 help, rescue
- 総助総 general, whole; 助 help, rescue
- 総右総 general, whole; 右 right
- 総介総 general, whole; 介 jammed in, shellfish
- 42Toaとあトア
- 冬聖冬 winter; 聖 holy, saint
- 土亜土 soil, earth; 亜 Asia, rank next
- 都亜都 metropolis, capital; 亜 Asia, rank next
- 斗吾斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol); 吾 I, my
- 42Yuumaゆうまユウマ
- 悠真Top 100 spelling, rank 23悠 permanence, distant; 真 true, reality
- 右磨右 right; 磨 grind, polish
- 侑真侑 urge to eat; 真 true, reality
- 雄馬雄 masculine, male; 馬 horse
- 裕馬裕 abundant, rich; 馬 horse
- 46Toumaとうまトウマ
- 東馬東 east; 馬 horse
- 藤馬藤 wisteria; 馬 horse
- 透真透 transparent, permeate; 真 true, reality
- 騰舞騰 leaping up, jumping up; 舞 dance, flit
- 斗真斗 Big Dipper, ten sho (vol); 真 true, reality
- 46Reiれいレイ
- 冷冷 cool, cold (beer, person)
- 齢齢 age
- 励励 encourage, be diligent
- 霊霊 spirits, soul
- 聆聆 listening, realizing
- 48SakutoさくとサクトNo kanji spelling in JMnedict
- 48Hirotoひろとヒロト
- 50Akitoあきとアキト
- 50Chihayaちはやチハヤ
- 智勇智 wisdom, intellect; 勇 courage, cheer up
- 千捷千 thousand; 捷 victory, fast
- 千粛千 thousand; 粛 solemn, quietly
- 千劔破千 thousand; 劔 sword; 破 rend, rip
Ranking source: Meiji Yasuda Life, baby name survey 2025, reading ranking