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Baby names

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

Original poster

Japanese names that are good in English

64 replies

MamaJapan · 26/01/2019 23:50

Good morning,

I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby, we do not know if it is a boy or a girl. My husband and I are Japanese and living in Japan but in June we move to England for my husbands job. We will live there for 2 years to begin with and then my husband can renew his contract every one year.

We wish to name our child a Japanese name that is good in English.

Can you tell me if these names are good and easy to pronounce or any problems you think there might be.

Girls:

Koharu
Haruka
Sakura
Ayaka
Misaki
Fuka
Natsuki
Ichika

Boys:
Haruto
Haruki
Riku
Takumi
Shota
Tatsuki
Itsuki

Please accept my gratitude in advance

OP posts:
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SallyWD · 27/01/2019 09:10

I think Arisa is lovely for a girl. Also Emiri pronounced Emily (which I'm told means beautiful England)

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/01/2019 06:53

@sassy19 - Basia (pronounced Basher) is the diminutive of Barbara.

Butteredghost · 27/01/2019 06:45

My favourites from your choices

Girls:

Haruka
Sakura
Natsuki

Boys:
Haruto
Haruki
Riku
Takumi

RedWineIsFabulous · 27/01/2019 06:34

Gorgeous names

Good luck with your move

I

Maxrichterttt · 27/01/2019 06:15

I love all of these! But favourites are:
Koharu [late summer]
Natsuki [bright moon]

Boys:
Haruto [spring]
Haruki [spring wood]
Riku [land]

TokyoSushi · 27/01/2019 06:10

Agree, all absolutely beautiful except for Shota & Fuka.

Your English is excellent! Good luck with the arrival of your baby and the move.

sashh · 27/01/2019 06:05

Not Shota or Fuka both could be made in to names you would not want for a child.

I think it is lovely that you are thinking about names that English people will be able to pronounce, however I wouldn't worry too much about that, London has people from all over the globe with a wide range of names, so unless it is something that can be misunderstood (Fuka) don't worry too much.

As a supply teacher I'd welcome Sakura and Riku on the register, but I wouldn't be too put off by anything on your lists.

AliCanTea · 27/01/2019 05:17

Lovely names! As others have said, probably avoid Fuka. Also Haruka said out loud sounds a bit too much like 'verruca' to me... which is a type of wart/medical foot condition.

Batteriesallgone · 27/01/2019 04:21

Agree Fuka not a good idea, sorry. Too close to fuck/fucker.

Personally I love Takumi and Natsuki.

Sessy19 · 27/01/2019 04:08

I knew a Polish girl who came to the UK in the early nineties at primary school age. Her name was pronounced Basha.

She had no issues with it at school, all through the years. It wasn’t until she left school and as an adult in adult company that she had sarcastic references to her name. She subsequently changed it to Barbara, which I thought terribly sad.

It’s not always children who are responsible for hurtful comments...it’s their parents’, for allowing it, and for sometimes promoting it.

Crunchymum · 27/01/2019 01:39

Love Suri for a girl.

cinemalover · 27/01/2019 01:29

I love Sakura for a girl- easy to read, spell and pronounce! (Sak-u-ra is how I'm reading it in my head? Hope it's right!)

Haruto or Riku for a boy sound great!

justilou1 · 27/01/2019 01:26

I know an Ichiko and people call her “Itchy” - perhaps not that one. (She is an adult and thinks it’s funny, but a little kid might not.)

Dragon3 · 27/01/2019 01:21

Natsuki is versatile. It could be shortened to Nat or Suki.
Sakura sounds a bit like 'suck your'.
Avoid Fuka.

Love Takumi.

Good luck with the move.

Original poster
MamaJapan · 27/01/2019 01:18

Many thanks for all of your wonderful comments.

@AuntieOxident I have learnt to speak English from a very small child. That is a good thing to think about names being shortened, that is not something we do much here.

OP posts:
AuntieOxident · 27/01/2019 00:50

OP I don’t know whether you’re aware but it’s very common in Britain for people’s names to be shortened or altered slightly, especially children’s.
It often happens at school, by their friends, and it’s fine, is considered friendly and even affectionate.
So for example Haruto and Haruki could well be called Hari, and Riku could be shortened to Rik. These names are nice and even quite cool.
And I think all your names, apart from Fuka, will be lovely. But Fuka would cause problems for them.
Your English is already very good, so I apologise if you already know about our habit of shortening names (“nicknames”)
I hope the move goes well and that you and your family will be happy here.
Please do come back to Mumsnet for any more information you might need, or just for a chat.

GypsyRoseTea · 27/01/2019 00:50

My friend is called fumiko or fumi for short

cananybodyfindmesomeonetolove · 27/01/2019 00:45

I love Japanese names. I think Shota works less well in the UK.

EatsFartsAndLeaves · 27/01/2019 00:40

Such nice names, I can't pick a favorite! None of them are known English names, but all will work perfectly well in English, apart from Fuka (which sounds like fucker which is terrible!)

Misaki might shorten to Miss, which could be annoying.

goldengummybear · 27/01/2019 00:37

Not Fuka. Some people will see Fuck-a

Shota is too close to the word Shit

I think that "tsu" is a hard sound to pronounce for English speakers. Natsuki will be pronounced Nat-suki because there's no "tsu" in English.

Scandaloso · 27/01/2019 00:34

I love Kiko type names but I remember someone saying that they're considered dreadfully old fashioned in Japan.

blueshoes · 27/01/2019 00:32

Haruki may be more familiar because of the association with Haruki Murakami.

I like Sakura for a girl. Easy to remember. I noticed you don't have any girls names listed which end in 'ko'. I think Miko, Kiko would be easy and sound sweet.

MrsTerryPratcett · 27/01/2019 00:30

I know an Ayaka and no one struggles. I love Sakura.

Original poster
MamaJapan · 27/01/2019 00:28

Girls:

Koharu [late summer]
Haruka [distant spring]
Sakura [cherry blossom]
Ayaka [coloured flower]
Misaki [new grown flower]
Fuka [flowers and wind]
Natsuki [bright moon]
Ichika [love]

Boys:
Haruto [spring]
Haruki [spring wood]
Riku [land]
Takumi [sea]
Shota [soar, glide]
Tatsuki [birth]
Itsuki [timber tree]

OP posts:
IJustWantToWearDungarees · 27/01/2019 00:10

I love Koharu. What is its meaning, please?