A Compilation of Unique Japanese Surnames and Meanings

A Compilation of Unique Japanese Surnames and Meanings.

Japanese Surnames and Meanings: Of all the people in the world, Japanese have been singled out for their rich cultural heritage and respect for ancestry. This respect can be seen in the surnames they bear and other naming rites.

Respect for elders is a unique feature of the Japanese. These guys almost worship their last names. You well know that every place is usually known for a particular unique thing or the other. We are not talking about stereotypes here just some unique features.

With the surnames that these guys bear you can tell how firmly they are drawn to their culture. You might love to have knowledge of their wonderful names and their meanings.

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List of Some Lovely Japanese Surnames and Meanings

1. Abe

This is a common last name, which is one of the oldest too. In Japan, the word ‘a’ means peace and ‘be’ means ‘many times’.

2. Abiko

This is another beautiful name for a baby that the grandparents can suggest. Here, ‘a’ means ‘peaceful’, ‘bi’ means ‘grandchild’, and ‘ko’ means ‘child’.

3. Aoki

This beautiful Japanese surname means ‘green tree’. It fits perfectly for a newborn baby girl. This is a common surname in the Ryukyu Islands.

4. Agawa

This name sounds beautiful, and it has a beautiful meaning, too. The name means ‘the corner of a river or a stream’.

5. Ando

This is an interesting Japanese last name that means ‘peaceful wisteria’. It is a perfect name for a well-mannered kid.

6. Ageda

Japanese people are rice lovers. This habitational last name means ‘upper rice field’, which is commonly seen in the Japanese countryside.

7. Ahane

Another well known Japanese last name, Ahane has an interesting meaning. ‘Ah’ means ‘second’, ‘ha’ implies ‘waves’, and ‘ne’ translates into ‘roots’.

8. Aikawa

This is one of the traditional Japanese last names which everyone is quite familiar with. The name means ‘sympathising with a river’.

9. Baba

If you are a soccer lover, you will know this Japanese last name. Commonly used in west-central Japan, the last name interestingly means ‘horse-riding track’.

10. Bando

This is a Japanese surname which is quite popular in eastern Japan and originates from the Osaka province. The name means ‘east of the slope’.

11. Bushida

This Japanese name is perfect for a courageous kid. The name means ‘a Samurai’ or ‘a warrior’.

12. Chikafuji

This name is one of the rare Japanese surnames that can be used as an uncommon baby name. The meaning of the name is ‘near the wisteria’.

13. Chisaka

This is a unique and cool name for a baby girl who is hardy. The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘one thousand hills’.

14. Chinen

This Japanese last name is very interesting. In the Ryukyu Islands, the last name means ‘one thousand years’. In the rest of Japan, it means ‘feelings’.

15. Daigo

This is one of the oldest Japanese names derived from the 60th Japanese emperor. The name refers to the Buddhist temple named Daigo Shingon. In Japanese, ‘dei‘ means ‘great, and ‘go‘ means ‘enlightenment’.

16. Eguchi

The nature lover Japanese have their last names mostly related to nature. This last name means ‘the mouth of the river’ and is popular in Kyushu Island.

17. Endo

This is another topological surname for the Japanese. It means ‘a distant wisteria’.

18. Ejiri

In this Japanese last name, the letter ‘E’ means ‘the river’ and ‘jiri’ means ‘behind’. If you have a baby girl born on the banks of a river, you can consider naming her Ejiri.

19. Fukuda

This is another unique Japanese name which is an occupational surname. Fukuda means ‘lucky rice field’ or ‘hope’. This is a perfect name for a newborn.

20. Fuji

A famous film roll brand has made this Japanese surname well known across the globe already. The meaning of the name is ‘dweller near the place where wisteria grows’.

21. Fujiki

This is a variation of the similar Japanese last name. This name means ‘a tree where wisteria flower is grown’.

22. Fukushima

This is another beautiful Japanese surname that is famous in the Ryukyu Islands. The name means ‘fortune or blessed island’.

23. Furuya

This could be an interesting name for a baby girl. The meaning of this name is ‘ancient valley’.

24. Furukawa

This is another prominent Japanese last name. It originated from the Nitta, Minamoto and Northern Fujiwara families. The name means ‘old river’.

25. Gato

Japanese seem to be quite impressed with the wisteria flower. Their family names bear the same evidence. Gato (and its close variety Goto) means ‘behind wisteria’.

26. Goda

This is an occupational surname in Japan borne by the farmer families for ages. The meaning of the name is ‘connected to rice paddy’

27. Genji

This Japanese last name has two meanings, and both of them are very interesting. The name means ‘source’ or ‘two beginnings’.

28. Gushiken

If you are looking for a name which you want to pick for a confident baby, this is it. The name literally means, ‘strong-willed’.

29. Hara

The name is a cute name for a baby boy. It is derived from a familiar Japanese last name which means ‘the meadow’.

30. Hasegawa

This is another Japanese last name connected to nature. It means ‘long valley river’.

31. Hashimoto

This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby suggested by the parent. The name means ‘true bridge’, and refers to how the baby acts as a bridge between the parents successfully.

32. Hada

A very common Japanese surname, Hada refers to the field where you can fly. This last name is mostly found in Eastern Japan.

33. Haga

Predominantly found in North-Eastern Japan, this last name means ‘celebratory fragrance’. It makes a perfect name for a newborn.

34. Hagino

If you are looking for a unique Japanese last name for your baby boy that will be a perfect first name too, try this name. It means ‘a field covered by the bush’.

More Japanese Surnames and Meanings

35. Haku

People who have a special interest in literature would be able to connect to this Japanese surname. The name means ‘poetic’.

36. Hamada

This name is used as both last name and first name in Japan. It is very popular in the Ryukyu and Shikoku Islands. The name means ‘paddy field on the seashore’.

37. Honda

This is a very famous last name in Japan which means ‘rice field’. The name is famous all over the world because of the famous motor company.

38. Hori

This surname originated in Central Japan. Many of its bearers are also from the Ryukyu Islands.

39. Imai

This Japanese last name has a very interesting meaning. It means ‘new town’.

40. Imada

This is a surname in Japan borne by the families with an origin at the Taira clan. This surname means ‘new rice paddy’.

41. Ishikawa

A very common Japanese surname, Ishikawa refers to the ‘stone river’. This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby.

42. Ishii

The name means ‘resides in a rocky place’.

43. Ishida

This is another Japanese last name connected to the rice field. The name means ‘stone rice field’.

44. Ishizaki

This is one of the oldest Japanese last names; it means ‘stone peninsula.’

45. Iwata

This is a common name in Japan used as a last name. The word means ‘stony paddy field’.

46. Kagawa

This is another beautiful name for a baby that the family can suggest. Kagawa means ‘a fragrant river’.

47. Kamada

This beautiful Japanese surname means ‘sickle field’. This is a common surname in the Ryukyu Islands.

48. Kamei

This name sounds beautiful, and it has a beautiful meaning, too. The name is originated from a noble family in Western Japan, and it means ‘a well full of turtles’.

49. Kibe

This habitational Japanese name belongs to the Kibe village in Omi. This name was borne by the priests of the Buddhist temples of the place.

50. Kouda

This interesting Japanese last name means ‘long rice field’. It is a perfect name for a tall kid.

51. Kojima

Another well known Japanese last name, Kojima, has an interesting meaning. It translates into ‘a small island’.

52. Kudo

This is one of the most interesting Japanese last names which everyone is quite familiar with. It means ‘construct wisteria’.

53. Kamida

If you are a rice lover, you will consider this Japanese last name. Commonly used in west-central Japan, this last name means ‘upper rice field’.

54. Kamiyama

The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘God’.

55. Kaneko

This is a Japanese surname that is quite popular in eastern Japan. The name means ‘Golden child’.

56. Kasai

In the Ryukyu Islands, this last name means ‘bamboo hat’. In the rest of Japan, it means ‘well’.

57. Kase

This Japanese name means ‘add’ or ‘strait’.

58. Katayama

The nature lover Japanese have their last names mostly related to nature. This last name means ‘mountain on the side’ and is popular in the Ryukyu Islands.

59. Kato

This Japanese last name means ‘increase wisteria’, and it is mostly found in the south-eastern seaboard.

60. Masuda

The meaning of this surname is ‘increasing rice paddy’ and is found throughout Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. Some of the famous name bearers are Hiroya Masuda (politician), Kosaku Masuda and Shigeto Masuda (football players).

61. Matsubara

This surname is mostly found in western Japan and Ryukyu Islands. The meaning is ‘pine tree plain’. Some families bearing this surname are descendants of the Minamoto and Fujiwara clans.

62. Nakayama

This surname is mostly found in western Japan and in the Island of Okinawa. This surname means ‘central mountain’. A few noteworthy name bearers are Akinori Nakayama (Olympic gymnast), and Masa Nakayama (the first female cabinet minister in Japan).

63. Nishikawa

This surname is mostly found in western Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. The meaning of this surname is ‘western river’.

64. Nishimura

The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘western village’. This surname is found in northeastern Japan and the island of Okinawa.

65. Nishio

The Japanese character for Nishi means ‘west’ and O means ‘male’.

66. Noguchi

The meaning of this surname name is ‘entrance of the field,’ and is found along the southeastern coast of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. A few families with this surname have samurai connections. Some of the noteworthy name bearers are Haruchika Noguchi (the founder of Seitai), Osamu Noguchi (the founder of Japanese kickboxing), and Soichi Noguchi (astronaut).

Lovely Japanese Surnames and Meanings

67. Nomura

The meaning of this surname is ‘village in the field’, ‘field village’ or ‘wilderness village’. It is commonly found in western Japan and the island of Okinawa.

68. Oba

This name has variations such as Ooba and Ohba. The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘large garden’. Some of the known personalities with this surname are Akira Oba (Japanese footballer), and Masoa Oba (Japanese boxer).

69. Ogawa

Sometimes pronounced as ‘Kogawa,’ this surname is common throughout Japan and means a ‘small river’.

70. Ohara

The meaning of this surname is ‘large plain’, and is mostly found in western and west-central Japan. It is listed in Shinsen Shojiroku. Some of the noteworthy name bearers are Koyu Ohara (film director), and Reiko Ohara (actress).

71. Okamoto

The meaning of this surname is the ‘one who lives at the base of the hill’. The name bearers are mostly found in western and central Japan, and the Ryukyu Islands.

72. Omori

This Japanese surname is mostly found in eastern Japan and the island of Okinawa. It means a ‘large grove’.

73. Otake

The variations of this surname are Ootake and Ohtake. The meaning of this surname is ‘large bamboo,’ and is mostly found in the southeastern seaboard and the Ryukyu Islands.

74. Sato

Also known as Saitou, Saitoh, and Saito, it is one of the most common surnames. It is more profound in northeastern Japan. The to in Sato is a Japanese character for Fuji, which indicates connections with the Fujiwara clan and Sa means a bureaucratic title.

75. Sakai

The Japanese characters sake means ‘rice wine’, and it means ‘well’. A few noteworthy name bearers are Kiyoshi Sakai (anime producer and director), Maki Sakai (actress), and Natsumi Sakai (swimmer).

76. Sakurai

This surname means ‘cherry blossom well,’ and is mostly found in eastern Japan. It is listed in the Shinsen Shojiroku.

77. Sano

This surname means ‘small field’ and is found throughout Japan. Some of the noteworthy name bearers are Kazumo Sano (actor), and Naoki Sano (wrestler).

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