Japanese Boy Names

In Japan, a name is chosen as much for its written characters as for its sound, and parents often spend a long time deciding which kanji to use. Ken is commonly written with a character for health or strength, and it forms the start of longer names such as Kenji and Kenzo. Ren can mean lotus, and Sora usually means sky. Because each sound can be written several ways, any meaning you see listed is one common reading rather than the only one.

This list mixes traditional Japanese names with words and names that English speakers have picked up from Japanese culture. Zen is the school of Buddhism, Kaizen is a word for continuous improvement, and Ronin was the term for a samurai without a master. Raiden is associated with thunder and lightning, while Jiraiya and Aizen are best known to many American parents through popular anime. Kobe and Nikko are Japanese place names that have become first names abroad.

If heritage is your reason for choosing, a traditional name like Kenji or Kenzo will read as Japanese anywhere. If you are drawn by sound or meaning alone, it is worth knowing where a name comes from, since words like Ronin carry a specific history that some families love and others would rather avoid.