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Baby names

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

Original poster

British Japanese names/spellings

32 replies

Yabbie · 01/05/2015 11:45

DD1 is due in three weeks, we have a shortlist of three names, which work in both English and Japanese, but the spellings don't. What's your preferred spelling for each of these? Or is it better to go with the most common or she'll have put up with wrong spellings for her whole life? I have no idea!

Hannah/ Hana/ Hanah
May/ Mae/ Mai/ Mei
Ema/ Emma

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heliotrope · 04/05/2015 15:00

I knew an English/Japanese girl called Momo. I think it meant peach or peach blossom! Maybe a bit far out but this was in London so no one bats an eyelid x

mamadoc · 03/05/2015 23:26

Our Anglo-Japanese goddaughter is Mia

Apparently boys names are worse. They had a comedy misunderstanding where English dad thought they were having Leo and Japanese mum was in fact suggesting Rio!
They went with Hiro in the end.

villainousbroodmare · 03/05/2015 23:20

I love Mei and Mai, I also like Hana, but I might mispronounce Ema as EE-ma.

GuatemalanRum · 03/05/2015 23:18

Mika is very cute

peltata · 03/05/2015 23:13

Can I just say that almost all the Anglo/ Japanese girls I know are hanas or meis nothing wrong with that but to give a little variety you may like to consider other names which also work in both languages:
Megumi (nn Meg)
Mia
Mari
Juno
Anna
Ria

manicinsomniac · 02/05/2015 09:52

I think Hana and Mei work very well but not really Ema.

SkodaLabia · 02/05/2015 09:27

If I saw Hana written down without the Japanese surname I'd think it was Scandinavian. If I heard it with or without the surname, I'd think 'Hannah'.

Hana is much nicer than Hannah, but Mei is my favourite, a lovely sound and looks nice written down.

Christelle2207 · 02/05/2015 07:47

I vote for Mei. Works well in English IMO and nice to be a bit different.

Original poster
Yabbie · 02/05/2015 07:41

We're in Japan now, but could come back the the UK in the future. The most obvious spelling is ? for Hana for example Japanese wouldn't be interested in how it's spelt in Latin alphabet only which Japanese character to use.
If you met a Hana would you think that's a British name? Or that's unusal? I would like to reflect both cultures in her name - she'll have Japanese surname so I guess the most obvious common English spelling would get that across.

OP posts:
Kampeki · 02/05/2015 01:15

I've seen people use Emily, Lisa or Niki before as well. All workable is both languages.

Kampeki · 02/05/2015 01:11

Where do you live, OP? I think it makes a difference.

What character would you use for Mei? Which ones for Ema/Emma?

I'd go with the more obvious spelling for the country that you're living in, tbh.

Lweji · 02/05/2015 01:03

I'd choose the most common spelling of where she will live for the most part. UK?

I chose a name that is spelt exactly the same in our country of origin and English for my son, as I was fed up with spelling my name and my then husband's.

PeppermintCrayon · 02/05/2015 00:46

I'm going to go against the grain and say I think Mei is a much nicer spelling.

drspouse · 01/05/2015 22:31

I know a Hana who is part Pakistani and part British and I also like that spelling.

I knew a Japanese/British couple who said that they knew about a dozen baby Naomis because it works well in both languages.

scribblegirl · 01/05/2015 14:48

My cousin is half british, half japanese and she is Hana. I think it's lovely.

MamaLazarou · 01/05/2015 14:27

Naomi is a name that translates well into Japanese.

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 01/05/2015 13:29

Hana is beautiful. She may have to correct people occasionally but I don't think it's a big deal, especially if you live in a fairly multicultural area.

TanteRose · 01/05/2015 12:57

I think with the spelling in the passports, you have to get the UK passport first, with the spellings you want, and then when you get the Japanese passports they will adhere to the UK spelling. Just check though Smile

We have a Maya, so the spelling is the same in both languages.
But it's fun choosing kanji too!

TempsPerdu · 01/05/2015 12:48

Love Hana with this spelling. Almost all the Anglo-Japanese people I've met have had an anglicised name but with a Japanese transliteration. I went to school with a Hana and several Meis and both alternative spellings were accepted without any problems.

Nolim · 01/05/2015 12:34

I have nothing useful to add but for dc we choose names that have the same spelling in english and our language so that they dont have to say "emma with one m" as someone mentioned. The pronuntiation is different but we can live with that.

Poofus · 01/05/2015 12:33

Hana is lovely. I think I would keep the Japanese transliteration, actually, otherwise the name would seem to have lost any trace of her ancestry.

crje · 01/05/2015 12:30

I think as your reason to use an alternative spelling is genuine then you should go for it.

Ema & Mei aren't great
The rest are lovely

MollieCoddler · 01/05/2015 12:26

I like hana with this spelling and I know a Japanese/English girl called this

Sophronia · 01/05/2015 12:22

I like Hana with this spelling.

TheNewStatesman · 01/05/2015 12:17

Yes, they do. You can ask them to write "Emma" under the kanji name instead of "Ema" if you want. Are you in Japan?