Japan is known for balancing its history and rapid technological and cultural advances. Japanese naming conventions have traditionally been rooted in gender specificity, but in recent years, a growing movement has emerged for gender neutrality in names. We have curated lists of gender-neutral Japanese names and meanings organized by popularity.
Japanese Unisex Names and Meanings
Gender-neutral names have risen in popularity, fueled by a desire to promote inclusivity, challenge societal norms, and give individuals the freedom to express their identities. The demand for gender-neutral names has grown. Gender-neutral names embrace the fluidity of gender identities, are inclusive of all genders, and acknowledge that gender exists on a spectrum rather than a fixed binary.
Gender-neutral names have existed in Japan for many years, and Japan is becoming increasingly open to diverse gender identities. Acceptance of more gender-neutral names and their popularity has surged in recent years, showing a positive shift towards greater inclusivity in Japanese society. Japanese names are written in Kanji, which was borrowed from Chinese characters. The most popular gender-neutral Japanese names include Nao, Yuki, and Akira. Here you’ll find our expertly created lists of the most popular, unique, cute, and cool Japanese gender-neutral names. Please note these names may have multiple Kanji variations, and their meanings can slightly differ based on the chosen characters.
Top 100 Japanese Gender-Neutral Names
Gender-neutral Japanese names have gained popularity in recent years, reflecting a growing acceptance of diverse gender identities and a desire for inclusive naming practices. Here you will find a list of unisex names and their Kanji meanings sorted by popularity.
- Akira – Bright, clear
- Haru – Spring
- Hikaru – Radiance
- Yuki – Abundant joy
- Makoto – Sincerity or truth
- Kaoru – Fragrance
- Asa – Morning
- Sora – Sky
- Kyo – Capital, Kyoto
- Aoi – Hollyhock, blue
- Hiro – Vast or wide
- Jun – Moisture, Excellence
- Naoki – Honest Tree
- Ren – Lotus
- Nao – Honest center
- Shun – Excellent
- Rei – Beautiful
- Ryo – Refreshing, Cool
- Yu – Gentleness or Superior
- Koi – Love
- Yuma – Brave or courageous and true or genuine
- Rui – Lapis lazuli and clothing
- Minato – Harbor or port
- Yuuki – Courage
- Arata – New, fresh
- Kaito – Sea flight or Ocean person
- Noa – Love
- Yui – Tie, bind or Reason, cause
- Akari – Bright village
- Hina – Sun, day or Green
- Honoka – Harmony flower or Deep, true
- Yuna – Gentle
- Mio – Beautiful cherry blossom
- Tsukasa – Administer or to govern
- Kotaro – Small boy
- Izumi – Spring, fountain
- Yoru – Night
- Asahi – Morning sun
- Ayumu – Walk dream or Progress
- Nagisa – Seashore
- Mitsuki – Light and hope
- Yuuma – True bow or Gentle truth
- Natsuki – Summer hope
- Yuina – Tie, bind + vegetables, greens
- Hiroshi – Generous or Tolerant
- Michi – Path, way
- Yoshi – Good or excellent
- Shiori – Bookmark
- Riku – Land or sixth
- Haruka – Distant or far
- Kazuki – Harmony hope
- Tomo – Friend
- Kana – Beautiful Nara
- Hoshi – Star
- Kiri – Mist or Paulownia tree
- Ayaka – Colorful flower
- Kanata – To play music or to perform
- Chiharu – A thousand and spring
- Minori – Fruit record
- Yuta – Brave, thick
- Mizuki – Beautiful and moon
- Eri – Blessing, favor and reason, cause or pear
- Sayuri – Small lily
- Nozomi – Hope or desire
- Tsukiko – Moon child
- Yoichi – Positive first (son) or Sunshine one
- Manami – Love or affection and beauty
- Shizuka – Quiet
- Narumi – Beautiful growth or Grow beauty
- Atsushi – Industrious, diligent
- Seiji – Pure Ruler
- Shou – Fly or Soar
- Yasu – Peace
- Shin – Truth
- Kei – Blessing, Grace
- Aki – Autumn
- Masa – Correct, Just
- Umi – Sea or Ocean
- Iku – Live or Going
- Sachi – Happiness
- Mitsu – Light
- Yuka – Gentle or superior and flower
- Chika – Near, close + fragrant, smell or wisdom
- Tsubasa – Wings
- Natsu – Summer
- Yuu – Gentle, superior
- Kiku – Chrysanthemum
- Sayo – Night generation or Small world
- Masaki – Correct Tree
- Kazumi – Harmony, beauty
- Nori – Rule, govern
- Hikari – Light
- Mayu – Genuine or Cocoon
- Yume – Dream
- Hitoshi – Even, equal
- Toshi – Benefit, advantage
- Nobu – Trust or faith
- Sana – Silk or vegetables
- Rio – Jasmine and center or core
- Jin – Benevolence
Unique Japanese Gender-Neutral Names
Choosing a gender-neutral Japanese name can be a way for parents to celebrate individuality and provide their child with a name that allows self-expression and flexibility in their identity. Our list of unique Japanese gender-neutral names will help you find a name that fits your child.
- Akito – Autumn and Big Dipper
- Ataru – Sun
- Chikafusa – Near room
- Daitan – Boldness
- Danuja – Rice paddy state
- Ei – Eternity or perpetual
- Enkai – Flame and sea
- Eriko – Child blessed with reason
- Etsu – Joy
- Etsuko – Joyful child
- Fumitaka – Abundant literature
- Hachi – Eight
- Hamako – Child of the beach
- Haranu – Spring greens
- Hatsu – First or beginning
- Hidehisa – Excellent and long-lasting
- Hidetaka – Excellent nobility
- Hideyoshi – Excellent luck
- Hiromu – Vast or wide and dream
- Ikuya – Fragrant and increasing
- Ishiko – Stone child
- Isoko – Beach child
- Itsuko – Child of the tree
- Kagerō – Heat haze or shimmering
- Kaki – Persimmon
- Kanao – Essence or core
- Kanon – Flower sound
- Karou – Flower, fragrance
- Katsumi – Beautiful victory
- Kayo – Beautiful and generation
- Kayoko – Child of addition
- Keiko – Blessed child
- Kimiko – Noble child
- Kin – Gold, money
- Kozue – Tree branches
- Kunie – Nation and defense
- Kuniyuki – Country journey
- Matoi – To wrap or to enfold
- Midori – Green
- Minowa – Name of a place in Japan
- Mitsue – Light and blessing
- Mitsuru – Fullness
- Mitsuyo – Light and generation
- Motoye – Original blessing
- Motoyo – Original generation
- Mukuro – Corpse or remains
- Naoto – Straight or honest and Big Dipper
- Nariko – Becoming child
- Nishi – West
- Okimi – Fruit of the open sea
- Reiji – Zero hour
- Retsu – Fierce or intense
- Riichi – Reason one
- Ryuko – Dragon and child
- Sachiko – Child of happiness
- Sachio – Fortunate hero
- Sachiye – Fortunate blessing
- Sadayo – Loyal generation
- Sakae – Prosperity or glory
- Sayeko – Helper branch child
- Shohei – Prosperous peace
- Shouta – Soaring, big
- Shunpei – Obedient and level
- Shusuke – Disciplined assistance
- Shuya – To mend and increase
- Soji – Religious second son
- Suzuki – Bell tree
- Takami – High or tall and to see
- Takato – Noble person
- Takemi – Warrior and snake
- Taru – Barrel
- Tatsu – Dragon
- Tatsuki – Dragon and radiance or brilliance
- Teru – Shine or radiance
- Teruko – Shining child
- Terumi – Illumination and beauty
- Tetsu – Philosophy
- Tetsuya – Wise one
- Toki – Time
- Toshiko – Clever child
- Toshiyuki – Intelligent ruler
- Towa – Eternity or perpetual
- Toyo – Abundance or plentiful
- Tsuneko – Child of constancy
- Tsuyoshi – Strong
- Yoshie – Beautiful and bay or inlet
- Yoshika – Good or excellent and beautiful
- Yoshimi – Beautiful and beauty
- Yosuke – Foreign assistant
- Yukia – Love of history
- Yukino – Child of the snow
- Yuya – Brave arrow
- Zen – Goodness, Virtue
Cute Japanese Gender-Neutral Names
Gender-neutral names are charming and beautiful and are not limited to stereotypical ideas of cuteness. Our list of cute Japanese gender-neutral names showcases perfectly adorable names for all gender expressions.
- Akemi – Bright or clear and beauty
- Akiara – Autumn Love
- Akiho – Autumn and grain or ear
- Akiko – Bright child
- Akimi – Bright or clear and beauty
- Amane – Heaven and sound or music
- Anri – Apricot and village
- Aoko – Blue child
- Asahise – World of the morning sun
- Asako – Morning child
- Chisato – A thousand miles
- Chiyo – Eternal, thousand generations
- Dai – Great
- Daiki – Great radiance
- Eiji – Heroic Rule
- Fuku – Good fortune or happiness
- Fumiyo – Literature or writing and generation
- Harue – Spring river
- Haruhi – Spring day
- Haruko – Spring child
- Hazuki – Leaf and moon
- Hibiki – Sound or echo
- Hifumi – One, two, three
- Homare – Honor
- Hotaru – Firefly
- Ichigo – Strawberry
- Ichiko – Child of the market
- Ikuko – Fragrant child
- Inari – Name Of A Shinto Deity associated with Rice And Foxes
- Iori – To breathe and weave
- Isako – Brave child
- Itsuki – Tree
- Junpei – Pure peace
- Kazane – Wind sound
- Kimi – Noble, ruler
- Kioko – Happy thread child
- Kirara – Shining or glittering
- Kitsune – Fox
- Kohaku – Amber
- Koharu – Small spring
- Koji – Peaceful Second Son
- Kou – Emperor or royal
- Kuma – Bear
- Kumi – Long-lasting beauty
- Kuniko – Child of the nation
- Kurumi – Walnut
- Maki – True Hope
- Mieko – Beautiful blessing child
- Mirai – Future
- Mochi – Rice cake
- Momiji – Maple leaf
- Momo – Peach
- Nagi – Calm or lull
- Nana – Seven
- Nara – Nara
- Natsuko – Summer child
- Riki – Power, Strength
- Ruka – Lapis lazuli and excellent or good
- Saku – First day of the month
- Sanyu – Three knots
- Satoko – Child of the village
- Setsuko – Child of principles
- Setsuna – Moment or instant
- Shio – Tide or saltwater
- Shizu – Quiet
- Shoya – Soar at night
- Soma – Blue truth
- Tamiko – Many beautiful child
- Tomi – Wealth
- Tomiko – Wealthy child
- Tomoe – Circle, comma shape
- Tomoko – Child of wisdom
- Tomomi – Friend and beauty
- Tomori – Wisdom and reason or logic
- Tomoyo – Friendly leaf
- Umeji – Plum and next or successor
- Utako – Child of song
- Utano – Poem field
- Yachi – Eight thousand
- Yō – Sunlight or positive
- Yoko – Child of the sun
- Youko – Child of the ocean
- Yū – Superiority or excellence
- Yuichi – Heroic first son
- Yuri – Lily
Cool Japanese Gender-Neutral Names
This list of cool Japanese gender-neutral names, from manga heroes to Japanese myths, has an extra edge. The Kanji of these names reference themes like courage, strength, and loyalty.
- Asuka – Tomorrow and fragrance
- Chiaki – A thousand and autumn
- Chihiro – A thousand and search
- Daichi – Great earth
- Doi – Earth well
- Eiichi – Excellent one
- Fuji – Wisteria
- Fukiko – Child of wealth and nobility
- Hayate – Gale, swift wind
- Hideki – Excellent tree
- Jona – South Of The Castle
- Kairi – Sea Village
- Kaname – Essence or core
- Katsu – Victory
- Kazu – Harmony or peace
- Kazuko – Harmony and child
- Kazushige – Peaceful weight
- Kazutaka – Peaceful nobility
- Kazuto – One Measure Of Rice
- Kazuyuki – Peaceful ruler
- Kenta – Healthy And Strong
- Koichi – Large one
- Koko – Mischievous child
- Machiko – True wisdom child
- Mako – True or genuine and child
- Maro – Hemp Son
- Masafumi – Correct writing
- Masashi – Correct ambition
- Michiaki – Illuminated path
- Michinori – Rule of the way
- Michiru – To be full or to be complete
- Miyo – Beautiful and generation
- Mizuho – Abundant harvest and grain or ear
- Motoko – Fundamental child
- Mutsumi – Harmony or friendship
- Namiko – Beautiful Child
- Naoya – Honest and determined
- Natsuo – Summer and man
- Nobuhide – Trustworthy excellence
- Nobuko – Child of trust
- Nobuye – Trustworthy blessing
- Nobuyuki – Trustworthy ruler
- Noriaki – Virtuous brightness
- Noriko – Child of the law
- Noriyuki – Rule, order
- Oda – Woven rice field
- Ohta – Thick rice paddy
- Oki – Open sea
- Omi – Vassal or minister
- Reiki – Sacred nobility
- Reo – Beautiful Cherry Blossom Center
- Reon – Sound of jewels and sound or music
- Rin – Dignified, cold
- Rion – Jasmine and sound or music
- Ryoichi – Clear one
- Ryoji – Good second son
- Ryosuke – Good assistant
- Sato – Help, aid
- Satori – Enlightenment or understanding
- Satsuki – Fifth month and moon
- Seiichi – Sincere one
- Shigeko – Child of determination
- Shigeri – Prosperous or lush
- Shiki – Four seasons
- Shima – Island
- Shinichi – True one
- Shion – Purple and eupatorium
- Shota – Prosper, Big, Thick
- Sota – Thick, big
- Subaru – Pleiades, constellation
- Taichi – Big one
- Takuya – Expand, increase
- Tamaki – Place of jewels
- Tokyo – Eastern Capital
- Tori – Bird
- Toru – Penetrating or thorough
- Yori – Reliance
- Yuji – Brave Second Son
Rare Japanese Gender-Neutral Names
Rare Japanese gender-neutral names are gaining popularity as individuals increasingly seek unisex names that aren’t often heard. These rare gems are uncommon and will add uniqueness to your baby’s name.
- Aoki – Green Tree
- Atsuko – Kind child
- Ayumi – Walking beauty
- Fuyuko – Child of winter
- Harumi – Clear weather and beauty
- Hide – Excellence
- Hinata – Facing the sun
- Hiromi – Broad beauty
- Hisaya – Eternity or forever and also or as well
- Hisaye – Long-lasting blessing
- Hitomu – One dream
- Ibuki – To breathe and blow
- Isaye – Blessed Italy
- Kaede – Maple tree
- Kaemon – Pleased Right Guard
- Kagami – Mirror
- Kakeru – To soar or to fly
- Kamui – Divine or god-like and awe or majesty
- Katsuko – Victorious child
- Keiki – Firefly
- Kokoro – Heart or spirit
- Kosuke – Assistant for peace
- Kyou – Capital, Kyoto
- Maemi – Front beauty
- Makiko – True hope child
- Mana – Love or affection and vegetables
- Masaaki – Correct brightness
- Masami – Elegant or refined and beauty
- Masumi – True clarity
- Matsuko – Child of the pine tree
- Michiyo – Generation of the way
- Mikoto – Noble or exalted
- Mirei – Beautiful and sound of jewels
- Misao – To control or to manipulate
- Miyoko – Beautiful , generation , and child
- Moriko – Child of the forest
- Mutsuko – Child of harmony
- Naoko – Honest child
- Naomi – Straight or honest and beauty
- Reiko – Beautiful child
- Ryoko – Refreshing child
- Sasuke – Assistant
- Seiko – Pure child
- Shinobu – Endurance, perseverance
- Shinta – Lengthen, cultivate
- Tamashini – Soul or spirit
- Washi – Eagle
- Wenhu – Literary step
- Wenhui – Cultured wisdom
- Yakumo – Eight clouds
- Yasuko – Child of peace
- Yayoi – Name of a month, March
- Yoshino – Fragrant field
- Yukiko – Child Of The Brave One
- Yusei – Calm life
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