Any ideas for names that work in Japanese in English?

[ayamegaijin2011]

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!

Naomi

My friend who is japanese and lives in england has a dd called Miya which is japanese but not unusual.... is that what u meant?

Tomu

Kika

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

Misa
Hiro
Ben
Jack

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

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

Tomoko
Mai
Emi

I had a lovely friend called Yumi

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

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

I like Nano. It's very cute.

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

I knew a Miki and a Kayumi years ago.

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

Kai
Joe

Hirohito is charming
Origamia
Wasabia
Sushia - all delightful

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

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.

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

I have a half Japenese half English friend called Emi.

kenzo

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

KIRA , means twinkle /sunshine .

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..).

Emi is nice, could be spelled Emmy in English.

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.