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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Any ideas for names that work in Japanese in English?

27 replies

ayamegaijin2011 · 04/05/2011 13:40

Vowels usually work well, but there are several limitations - names with l/r, v, f are all problematic. Many of the general name websites list names that are just random words from a dictionary that would never be used as names.

I'd love to hear from people who have chosen names that work in both cultures.

Thanks!

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Original poster
ayamegaijin2011 · 05/05/2011 11:49

Wow, you ladies are quick! Thanks for all the ideas.

FYI for other interested readers - as exexpat said - Ben means excrement in Japanese. The children I teach all erupt with laughter if a character called Ben appears in their textbook!

I'm leaning toward Emma, even though I know it's top 10 material in Europe/ U.S. There are also the Chinese characters to think about and Ema or Eimi/ Amy have some good options.

Does anyone on the board live in Japan? I'm happy to go with a girl's name that works well in both languages, but if this little 'un is a boy, I'd like to give him a family name which can't be pronounced exactly the same in Japanese, so I would have to compromise on the kanji/ hiragana 'spelling.' Just wondering if anyone has done that. If yes, does it annoy you when people get it wrong?

Thanks again for so many responses. It was my first post - I'm overwhelmed :)

OP posts:
YankNCock · 04/05/2011 21:58

I know a Japanese/English family with an Emma and a Tomasu (goes by Tom).

exexpat · 04/05/2011 21:55

I know a lot of mixed Japanese/Western families, and the classic cross-cultural names for girls are things like Emi, Emma (Ema in Japanese), Erika, Hana/Hannah, Naomi, Mia, Mei (pronounced May) etc.

For boys, variations on Ken (Kensuke, Kenichiro etc) and Kei (pronounced Kay in English, and full name Keisuke, Keiichiro etc etc in Japanese), Tom(u), and Riki seem to be the most common. Oh, and Joji, which is an approximation of George. I would avoid Ben as it has toilet connotations in Japanese.

shubiedoo · 04/05/2011 21:42

Emi is nice, could be spelled Emmy in English.

fallingandlaughing · 04/05/2011 21:29

ooh I knew I was opening the hully floodgates there..

OP what about Sachio for a boy? I know it is a bit of an "old man" name in Japan but I love the sound of it. Also Hidetoshi/Tosh is quite cute.

Naomi works just as well in both (and is nice..).

droves · 04/05/2011 21:27

KIRA , means twinkle /sunshine .

Guacamole · 04/05/2011 21:08

Just to let you know my friend pronounces Daisuke as Dai-skay not soo-kay.

UniS · 04/05/2011 21:07

kenzo

KenDoddsDadsDog · 04/05/2011 21:07

I have a half Japenese half English friend called Emi.

Hullygully · 04/05/2011 21:06

Yet charming and unusual. Personally I prefer Rogan Joshia for an Indian child, or my friend's child's name: Peshwaria Nanna

Guacamole · 04/05/2011 21:05

I have a few friends of Japanese origin even though they were born and grew up in the UK. The girlfriends are Emiko and Kumiko and the boyfriends are Hiro and Daisuke. I think they're lovely names and although not in anyway English work well.

fallingandlaughing · 04/05/2011 21:02

Hully.. do you ever post and regret it? What you have put there is like suggesting "Curryinder" on an Indian names thread. Weird.

Hullygully · 04/05/2011 20:58

Hirohito is charming
Origamia
Wasabia
Sushia - all delightful

ChippyMinton · 04/05/2011 20:56

Kai
Joe

MelinaM · 04/05/2011 20:55

I knew a Haruna once upon a time, lovely name and memorable too! Pronounced Ha-roo-naSmile

LucretiaInShadows · 04/05/2011 18:36

I knew a Miki and a Kayumi years ago.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 04/05/2011 18:11

I like Nano. It's very cute.

I know someone with a Yuji. Picked, I think for sounding good in both languages.

aStarInStrangeways · 04/05/2011 18:07

I know someone with an English/Japanese daughter called Hanano - shortens to Hana if necessary, but she prefers the mega-cute Nano Grin

vintageteacups · 04/05/2011 18:07

I know a child called Sakura - very pretty name and easy to say.

Bluebell123 · 04/05/2011 18:04

I had a lovely friend called Yumi

oohlaalaa · 04/05/2011 18:03

Tomoko
Mai
Emi

puffling · 04/05/2011 16:52

Anything ending in oko or iko would sound fine in English or:
Amaya
Anna
An
Hana
Suki
May/Mai

alarkaspree · 04/05/2011 16:48

Misa
Hiro
Ben
Jack

... I think you have plenty to choose from actually. Many Japanese names sound really nice in English.

theonlyhb2 · 04/05/2011 16:42

i love the name Mineko, and Haruko (my Nan's name)

GKlimt · 04/05/2011 14:18

Tomu

Kika