Japanese last names should appeal to parents with Japanese heritage as first name possibilities. You might be trying to find the perfect Japanese name for your child or you could just be interested in Japanese naming culture, either way, youve come to the right place! The history behind these last names is fascinating as it relates to the clan system that was once prevalent!
In ancient Japan, clans were categorized using the Kabane system, which determined each clans political and societal place in the hierarchy. As that system faded and names simply referred to members of the same household, Japanese last names became less indicative of class and place and more about a storied past. As with most Asian naming cultures, Japanese last names and their meanings can vary depending on the specific kanji used to construct the name. We will provide you with a typical meaning for each, but please understand, that its not set in stone! Lets discover some potential baby names for your family!
Check Out These Japanese Last Names and Their Meanings!
Japanese Last Names That Start with A
- Abe The 25th most common Japanese surname, meaning peace multiple times
- Abiko Meaning my grandson
- Agawa Meaning corner of a river
- Aikawa Meaning love and stream
- Ando The 68th most popular surname in Japan, meaning peaceful east
- Ageda Meaning northern rice field
- Arai Meaning new home
- Aoki Meaning blue tree
- Adachi Meaning foot and stand
- Akiyama Meaning autumnal mount
Japanese Last Names that Start with B
- Beppu Meaning separate borough
- Baishō Meaning double compensation
- Bando Meaning east side of the slope
- Baba Meaning race track
- Bushida Meaning Samurai
Japanese Last Names That Start with C
- Chiba The 94th most popular Japanese last name today, meaning a thousand leaves
- Chikafuji Meaning of wisteria
- Chinen Meaning a thousand years
- Chatan Meaning from Chatan
- Chida Meaning thousand and ricefield
Japanese Last Names That Start with D
- Doi Meaning earth home
- Date Meaning gallantry
- Daigo Meaning great enlightenment
- Demachi Meaning exit town
- Dobashi Meaning earth bridge
Japanese Last Names That Start with E
- Ehara Meaning creek and original
- Eda Meaning branch
- Ebina Meaning sea and old man and distinguished
- Endō Meaning far wisteria
- Emoto Meaning design and book
Japanese Last Names That Start with F
- Fuji The 49th most popular Japanese surname today, meaning of wisteria
- Fujikura Meaning of wisteria and cellar
- Fueki Meaning wooden flute
- Fukuda Meaning blessed rice field
- Fukushima Meaning blessed island
Japanese Last Names That Start with G
- Gato Meaning behind wisteria
- Goda Meaning village rice paddy
- Gomi Meaning five and flavor
- Goto The 33rd most popular Japanese surname, meaning go back to wisteria
- Gamō Meaning flag and genuine
Japanese Last Names That Start with H
- Hamasaki Meaning beach peninsula
- Hagimoto The 24th most popular surname in Japan, meaning bush clover and present
- Honda Meaning original rice field
- Hada Meaning wings and rice paddy
- Haku Meaning white
Japanese Last Names That Start with I
- Ishioka Meaning stone mount
- Ibuki Meaning brave and to blow
- Ikeda The 26th most popular Japanese surname today, meaning rice paddy near lake
- Ito The 6th most popular surname in Japan, meaning eastern Izu
- Isaka Meaning that one and hill
Japanese Last Names that Start with K
- Kimura The 18th most popular Japanese surname, meaning tree village
- Kobayashi The 9th most popular Japanese surname today, meaning little forest
- Kutsuki Meaning rotten tree
- Kato Meaning increase and wisteria
- Kiyama Meaning tree mountain
More Japanese Last Names That Start with K
- Kikuchi A top 50 Japanese surname today, meaning chrysanthemum pod
- Kakizaki Meaning oyster and promontory
- Kaku Meaning beautiful black stone
- Kameda Meaning tortoise and rice paddy
- Kawazu Meaning river haven
Japanese Last Names That Start with M
- Masaki Meaning correct and tree
- Matsumoto The 15th most popular Japanese surname, meaning base of the pine
- Machi Meaning true happiness
- Miki Meaning beautiful chronicle
- Maeda The 34th most popular Japanese surname, meaning previous rice field
Japanese Last Names That Start with N
- Nakamura The 8th most popular Japanese last name today, meaning middle village
- Nishikawa Meaning western river
- Nakaya Meaning between the valley
- Nakajima Meaning middle island
- Nomura Meaning wilderness and village
RELATED: 25 Cute Japanese Names for Boys
Japanese Last Names That Start with O
- Okazaki Meaning split rock
- Ono The 22nd most popular Japanese surname, meaning small field
- Ogawa The 30th most popular Japanese last name, meaning small river
- Okada A top 50 Japanese last name, meaning hill rice paddy
- Otsuka Meaning large bundle
Japanese Last Names That Start with S
- Sugimoto Meaning from beneath the cedars
- Sasaki Meaning assistant
- Sato The most popular Japanese surname belonging to over two million people! Sato means sugar
- Saito A top 10 Japanese surname today, meaning purity and worship
- Suzuki The second most popular Japanese surname, meaning bell wood
Japanese Last Names That Start with T
- Takao Meaning warrior
- Tachi Meaning palace
- Tanaka The third most popular Japanese last name, meaning center of rice paddy
- Takahashi The fifth most popular surname, meaning high bridge
- Torii Meaning bird abode
Japanese Last Names That Start with U
- Uchimura Meaning inside village
- Uda Meaning heaven and rice paddy
- Ueki Meaning planted tree
- Ueno Meaning upper field
- Usui Meaning mortar well
Japanese Last Names That Start with W
- Wakamatsu Meaning young pine tree
- Watanabe Meaning to cross over a river
- Wada Meaning harmonious rice paddy
- Wakasa Meaning young bloom
- Wakabayashi Meaning young forest
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Japanese Last Names That Start with Y
- Yamada Meaning mountain field
- Yoshida Meaning lucky rice paddy
- Yogi Meaning yoga practitioner
- Yoshino Meaning lucky field
- Yoshikawa Meaning lucky river
- Yamamoto The seventh most popular Japanese surname, meaning base of the mountain
There you go! We hope you feel inspired by these Japanese last names and will consider using any of them as a first name for your baby. By choosing a traditional surname, you can honor your heritage and later use your childs name as a gateway to learning about her/his/their Japanese heritage. Whatever you land on, happy baby name hunting and congratulations!
Andrew is a Chicago-based writer who enjoys finding the best of the internet, obsessively making lists, and cooking for friends. After studying Film and Art History, he developed a deep love for both topics. Celebrity news, pop culture, and stories that bring people together are his passions.
Contents
- 1 Check Out These Japanese Last Names and Their Meanings!
- 1.1 Japanese Last Names That Start with A
- 1.2 Japanese Last Names that Start with B
- 1.3 Japanese Last Names That Start with C
- 1.4 Japanese Last Names That Start with D
- 1.5 Japanese Last Names That Start with E
- 1.6 Japanese Last Names That Start with F
- 1.7 Japanese Last Names That Start with G
- 1.8 Japanese Last Names That Start with H
- 1.9 Japanese Last Names That Start with I
- 1.10 Japanese Last Names that Start with K
- 1.11 More Japanese Last Names That Start with K
- 1.12 Japanese Last Names That Start with M
- 1.13 Japanese Last Names That Start with N
- 1.14 Japanese Last Names That Start with O
- 1.15 Japanese Last Names That Start with S
- 1.16 Japanese Last Names That Start with T
- 1.17 Japanese Last Names That Start with U
- 1.18 Japanese Last Names That Start with W
- 1.19 Japanese Last Names That Start with Y
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