What is my name in Japanese? How to translate your name. (2024)

Ah, finding out your Japanese name is magical, isn’t it?

It’s the rite of passage for any new learner.

The second you start learning the language, you want to know how to write and say your name in Japanese. You’ll also need it to be able to introduce yourself in Japanese. So, I hope, by this time, you already know your Japanese alphabet… and specifically Katakana. If not… you…

…Ah, screw it.

I’ll show you anyway. (But you should really learn Katakana here.)

Want to know what your name is in Japanese?

  • If you’re just lazy, just LOOK BELOW for the list of common translated names.
  • If you’re ambitious… scroll all the WAY DOWNand theguide. It’ll take 3 or 4 minutes and you’ll be ready to use your Japanese name.

Also, be sure to leave a comment and say what your Japanese name is for practice!

Katakana Chart. You’ll Need This for Your Name in Japanese.

Just so you know…

Your name will be written in Katakana. All foreign words and names are written in this writing system. Below’s a quick run through of the Katakana (alphabet).

Katakana – English First, Then Japanese.
AIUEO
KaKiKuKeKo
GaGiGuGeGo
SaShiSuSeSo
ZaJiZuZeZo
TaChiTsuTeTo
DaDziDuDeDo
NaNiNuNeNo
HaHiHu/FuHeHo
BaBiBuBeBo
PaPiPuPePo
MaMiMuMeMo
YaYuYo
RaRiRuReRo
WaNWo
The Ya, Yu, Yo Sounds
KyaKyuKyo
キャキュキョ
GyaGyuGyo
ギャギュギョ
ShaShuSho
シャシュショ
JaJuJo
ジャジュジョ
ChaChuCho
チャチュチョ
NyaNyuNyo
ニャニュニョ
HyaHyu/FyuHyo
ヒャヒュヒョ
ByaByuByo
ビャビュビョ
PyaPyuPyo
ピャピュピョ
MyaMyuMyo
ミャミュミョ
RyaRyuRyo
リャリュ

To make it easier, and so you can double-check your work, here are some common names translated into Japanese.

Common English Names Translated To Japanese For Lazy People

Names A-MRomanizedJapanese
AaronA-ronアーロン
AdamAdamuアダム
AlexArekkusuアレックス
AnnAnアン
AnnaAnnaアンナ
AndrewAndoryuuアンドリュウ
ArthurArusaaアルサー
BeckyBekkiベッキ
BenBenベン
BillBiruビル
BobBobuボブ
BrittanyBurittaniiブリッタニー
CaseyKeishiiケイシー
CarlCaaruカール
CharlesCharuzuチャルズ
CindyShindiiシンディ
DanDanダン
DeborahDeboraデボラ
DerekDerekkuデレック
DonDonドン
DonnaDonnaドンナ
EmmaEmmaエッマ
EricErikkuエリック
EricaErikaエリカ
FredFureddoフレッド
GaryGe-riゲーリ
GlenGurenグレン
HarryHa-riハーリ
JackJakkuジャック
JamesJe-muzuジェームズ
JenJenジェン
JennyJenniジェニー
JerryJerriジェリー
JoeJoジョ
JohnJonジョン
KarenKarenカレン
KeithKiifuキーフ
KenKenケン
KimKimuキム
LarryRa-riラーリ
LennyRenniレニー
LindaRindaリンダ
MarkMa-kuマーク
MattMattoマット
MaryMe-riメーリ
MaxMakkusuマックス
MikeMaikuマイク
MichaelMaikeruマイケル
NathanNe-sanネーサン
NickNikkuニック
NikkiNikkiニッキ
PatrickPattorikkuパットリック
PaulPo-ruポール
PeterPi-taピータ
PhilipFirippuフィリップ
RachelReicheruレイチェル
RandyRendi-レンディ
RayReiレイ
RebeccaRebekkaレベッカ
RichardRicha-doレチャード
RobertRoba-toロバート
RogerRoja-ロジャー
SallySari-サリー
SamSamuサム
SarahSaraサラ
SophieSofiiソフィー
StanSutanスタン
StephanieSutefaniiステファニー
TimTimuティム
ValerieBareri-バレリー
VickyBikkiビッキ
VictorBikkuta-ビックター
VictoriaBikkutoriaビックトリア
WalterWaruta-ワルター
WandaWandaワンダ
WendyUendiiウェンディ
WillUirruウィル
WilliamUirriamuウィッリアム
ZackZakkuザック
ZacharyZakkariザッカリ

If I don’t have yours, leave a comment below and I will add it!

So, hopefully I got your Japanese name in there. Now, you can start speaking basic Japanese and go introduce yourself as…

    • Hajimemashite, watashi no namae wa (name) desu.
    • はじめまして。私の名前は(name)です。
    • Nice to meet you. My name is (name).

Or you can just say the more casual way.

    • (name) desu.
    • (name)です。
    • I’m (name).

If you got your name right, be sure to leave a comment and introduce yourself. If I missed your name, also leave a comment and we’ll get one for you! And now that you know your name and can introduce yourself, you should learn even more Japanese!

What is my name in Japanese? How to translate your name.

Want to learn how to write in Japanese? Download your free Japanese Alphabet worksheet here.

First, there are 9 rules that you need to know about finding out your Japanese name.

Don’t worry, they’re not scary. You’ll be fine after reading them.

And if you’re still confused, just leave a comment.

Or… proceed to the list below if now you’re feeling lazy.

  1. It must be written in Katakana as it’s a foreign name. Katakana is merely a version of the Japanese alphabet dedicated to foreign words that were adopted by Japanese.
  2. The spelling WILL depend on how you pronounce your name.Let’s say you have an uncommon name that may not sound how its spelled. For example, your name is Böb but it’s not pronounced as “Bob” but “Beaub.” Well, if you want most of your desired pronunciation to cross over into Japanese, you will need to go by sounds or phonetics. So, you won’t be a “Bobu ボブ” but perhaps “バーブ.”
    1. If you check the comments where people ask about their names, often the first question is… “well, how do you pronounce that?”
  3. There is no L. L becomes R. Sorry Larry, Linda, and Luke. Your names will start with the letter R from now on. There’s no L in the Japanese language and Japanese R is pretty unique, similar to the Russian/Spanish/Italian R where you slightly roll your tongue. So Larry, you are pretty much Rarry.
  4. There is no V. V becomes B. Sorry Vicky, you’re now Bikki.
  5. The Japanese Alphabet follows the this sound pattern. You’ll get a good idea of it after taking a look at the character chart below.
    1. Pronunciation: Ah (written as A)
    2. Pronunciation: Ee (written as I)
    3. Pronunciation: Oo (written as U)
    4. Pronunciation: Eh (Written as E)
    5. Pronunciation: Oh (Written as O)
      1. So, of course, there will be “ka, ki, ku, ke, ko” and “sa, shi, su, se, so” and so on.
  6. Most Japanese letters actually consist if 1 consonant and 1 vowel OR just 1 vowel.
    1. So, “Ka” is considered as one letter. So is “A.” And “De.”
    2. What does this mean? It means 2 things. If you have…
      1. Two consecutive consonants in your name like “Fr” in Fred or “Gl” in Glen, those two will now have vowels after the consonants. So, the Fr in Fred becomes “Fure” and the Gl in Glen becomes “Gure.”
        1. Rule:In two consecutive consonants, the first one follows an “U” sound. The second one will follow the vowel that’s already in your name.
      2. Or if your name ends in a consonant, like “D” in Ted, then that last consonant is doubled up and ends in an O or U. Ted actually becomes Teddo. Fred becomes Fureddo.
        1. This rule does not apply to names ending in “N.” N in Japanese is the only consonant can be counted as 1 letter. So, our friend Glen is Guren.
        2. This rule does not apply to names ending in “Y.” So, Ray becomes Rei. The letter I (イ) acts as that “iy” sound.
        3. Names ending in K, M or X take on the “U” ending. Jim is Jimu. Hank is Hanku. Sam is Samu. Max is Makkusu. Mark is Ma-ku.
  7. Japanese letters are pronounced with equal stress and time, unless noted by an elongation. Take the word “camera.” In English, camera is pronounced as “Caaamura,” right? There’s quite a bit of stress on the “Caaaaa.” In Japanese however, it is ka-me-ra where each letter, ka, me and ra, are said for equal amounts of time. This will help you understand rule #7 below.
  8. If a vowel in your name sounds like it receives stress, it will be an elongated vowel in Japanese. What do I mean? Take the name “Mary” or “Gary” for example. There’s quite a bit of emphasis on the letter A. It almost sounds like it’s pronounced as “Maaary” where the inflection on the A goes up. Same with Gary. In Japanese, these will become “Me-ri” and “Ge-ri”
  9. The Ya, Yu, Yo Sounds. Basically, any I sound, like Ki, Gi, Mi, Ji etc. can be combined with the Ya, Yu, Yo letters of a smaller version to produce sounds like…
    1. Gi: Gya, Gyu, Gyo
    2. Ji: Ja, Ju, Jo
    3. Ri: Rya, Ryu, Ryo
    4. And so, on. You’ll see more of these in the chart below.

Conclusion

Ok, now you’re ready to learn your Japanese name.

Below is a chart of the Katakana letters, providing you with the English first, Japanese character underneath, to help you find the character for your name. Here’s how you figure out your name:

    • Step 1: Refer to rule #4 for the proper pronunciation of A, I, U, E, O.
    • Step 2: If your name starts with a consonant and vowel, look for the ones that match you.
      • Mary will start with “Me-” or メー
      • Kevin will start with “Ke” or ケ
    • Or similary, if your name starts with a vowel, chose A, I, U, E, or O, depending on how your name sounds.
    • Step 3: Then piece your name together. Look for the next sound.
      • Mary will start with “Me-” or メー, and then we need “Ri” so find that character, リ, and add it in: メーリ
      • Kevin will start with “Ke” or ケ, and then we need “Bi” (remember no V in Japanese) and “N.” So, find “Bi” and “N” and you have “Kebin” or ケビン.
    • Step 4: Feeling lazy? Scroll down below this chart where I’ve translated common English names into Japanese.

– The Junkie

P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!

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What is my name in Japanese? How to translate your name. (2024)

FAQs

How do I write my name in Japanese style? ›

While Japanese names are written in Kanji, foreign names are written in Katakana. Foreign names are typically spelled out with katakana to make them match phonetically with Japanese. Andrew becomes Andoryuu ( アンドリュー) , Brad becomes Buraddo (ブラッド) , and Carly becomes Kaarii (カーリー) .

Is it OK to have a Japanese name if you're not Japanese? ›

Re: Ok for non-Japanese to use a Japanese name

In those cases, I don't think it will be problem with Japanese people. However, when non-Japanese use a Japanese nickname in the other situations which you should use real name, job application, guest card registration at a hotel, for example, it won't be accepted.

Do foreigners get a Japanese name? ›

Apart from people taking citizenship, there is one more option to adopt a "Japanese" name. All foreign residents of Japan have a registered Japanese version of their name.

Do Japanese say R or L? ›

Japanese has one liquid phoneme /r/, realized usually as an apico-alveolar tap [ɾ] and sometimes as an alveolar lateral approximant [l].

How do you write J in Japanese? ›

How to Write a Letter in Japanese | Improve Your Writing Skills - YouTube

Can you give yourself a Kanji name? ›

However, if you are becoming a Japanese civil you have to register your name officially so certain kanji or kanji pairs may be forbidden for cultural reasons. But if you are still keeping your name on passport you could name yourself in whatever way you like.

Is it rude to use first name in Japan? ›

Unlike many western cultures, in Japan people generally don't call one-another by their first name. Doing so can be a mark of disrespect, unless you're very close to the other person and in the right sort of casual environment, so you've read. Mental note then: first names are best avoided.

Do Japanese not like foreigner? ›

Why Japanese Don't Like Foreigners - YouTube

What do Japanese call foreigners? ›

Gaijin (外人, [ɡai(d)ʑiɴ]; "outsider", "alien") is a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese citizens in Japan, specifically being applied to foreigners of non-Japanese ethnicity and those from the Japanese diaspora who are not Japanese citizens.

Is Fuji a Japanese name? ›

Fuji is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: Ari Fuji, first woman pilot-in-command at a Japanese airliner. Keiko Fuji, Japanese singer of the 1960s and 1970s, and mother of Hikaru Utada.

Why do Japanese add chin to names? ›

-chin (ちん): An even more diminutive variant of -chan. Most commonly used by young girls who are very close friends. This is often contracted to make it easier to roll off the tongue, for instance Yukari-chin would become Yukarin. -bō (坊): Another endearment suffix, used exclusively for male babies or young boys.

Can Japanese people have English names? ›

Multicultural families often strive to select a name that may be used in Japan and also abroad. Examples are Risa/Lisa, Karen, Maya, Ken, Riki, Mari, Ari etc. Japanese may have an English name or an English middle name.

Can anyone have a Japanese name? ›

Short answer: Yes! Even one in 漢字 kanji (Japanese ideographs)!

Can someone have a Japanese name? ›

Hi. I am actually a person that has done this (become legally Japanese). The short answer is that you can have any name you want, providing four conditions: It has to be written exclusively or a combination of (modern, not archaic) hiragana, katakana, or kanji.

Can you give yourself a kanji name? ›

However, if you are becoming a Japanese civil you have to register your name officially so certain kanji or kanji pairs may be forbidden for cultural reasons. But if you are still keeping your name on passport you could name yourself in whatever way you like.

How do Japanese stay thin? ›

Having a balanced diet

In fact, the Japanese diet is very much balanced and versatile. They eat nutritious foods in each meal that includes carbohydrate, animal protein, vegetable protein, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals. Thus, they enjoy eating rice, fish, soy, vegetables, fruit, and green tea without sugar.

Is it rude to use someone's first name in Japan? ›

Unlike many western cultures, in Japan people generally don't call one-another by their first name. Doing so can be a mark of disrespect, unless you're very close to the other person and in the right sort of casual environment, so you've read. Mental note then: first names are best avoided.

What do Japanese call foreigners? ›

Gaijin (外人, [ɡai(d)ʑiɴ]; "outsider", "alien") is a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese citizens in Japan, specifically being applied to foreigners of non-Japanese ethnicity and those from the Japanese diaspora who are not Japanese citizens.

What is a cute Japanese name for a girl? ›

Popular Baby Names, origin japanese
NameMeaningGender
Aikobeloved one, little loveFemale
Aimilove beautyFemale
Aiyabeautiful silkFemale
AkakoredFemale
63 more rows

Can you have 3 names in Japan? ›

Japan requires its nationals/citizens to have exactly two names: a family name and a given name written in either 仮名 kana (Japanese syllabet) or 漢字 kanji (Japanese sinograms), with no punctuation of spaces.

How can I create my self name? ›

Here are 5 tips from Michael Hyatt.
  1. Define your audience.
  2. Create a clear value proposition.
  3. Write a compelling brand slogan.
  4. Show yourself.
  5. Establish a look.
  6. Find your voice.
  7. Create an email list.
  8. Dial into the dialogue.
24 Mar 2014

Can foreigners have kanji in their name? ›

Some foreigners can have kanji names, but those are special cases. Since the Chinese and Korean both use kanji in their languages in some way or another, some Chinese and Korean names are able to use kanji.

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