Browse 85 Japanese family names with kanji, kana reading, kanji meanings and a frequency band, from very common names to rare, poetic ones.
Abe 阿部 · あべ Say it: AH-BEH
Corner section, representing an ancient imperial occupational guild
How common: very common
One of the oldest noble clan names in Japanese history.
阿 corner or slope · dictionary gloss: Africa, flatter, fawn upon, corner 部 section or guild · dictionary gloss: section, bureau, dept, class Copy Save
Aoki 青木 · あおき Say it: AH-OH-KEE
Green tree
How common: very common
A topographic name referring to a lush, green tree.
青 green or blue · dictionary gloss: blue, green 木 tree · dictionary gloss: tree, wood Copy Save
Endō 遠藤 · えんどう Say it: EN-DOHEndo
Distant wisteria
How common: very common
Historically referred to the branch of the Fujiwara clan located in the far province of Todo.
遠 distant · dictionary gloss: distant, far 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Fujii 藤井 · ふじい Say it: FOO-JEE
Wisteria well
How common: very common
A name combining the prestigious wisteria character with a well, denoting a water source.
藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria 井 well · dictionary gloss: well, well crib, town, community Copy Save
Fujita 藤田 · ふじた Say it: FOO-JEE-TAH
Wisteria field
How common: very common
A historic topographic name associated with the Fujiwara clan.
藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Hasegawa 長谷川 · はせがわ Say it: HAH-SEH-GAH-WAH
River of the long valley
How common: very common
The reading 'Hase' for the first two kanji is a traditional phonetic substitution.
長谷 long valley (special reading)川 river · dictionary gloss: stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47) Copy Save
Hashimoto 橋本 · はしもと Say it: HAH-SHEE-MOH-TOH
Base of the bridge
How common: very common
A topographic name for a family living near the end of a bridge.
橋 bridge · dictionary gloss: bridge 本 base or origin · dictionary gloss: book, present, main, origin Copy Save
Hayashi 林 · はやし Say it: HAH-YAH-SHEE
Forest
How common: very common
A simple topographic name for someone living near a forest.
林 forest or grove · dictionary gloss: grove, forest Copy Save
Ikeda 池田 · いけだ Say it: EE-KEH-DAH
Pond rice field
How common: very common
A geographic name for fields irrigated by a pond.
池 pond · dictionary gloss: pond, cistern, pool, reservoir 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Inoue 井上 · いのうえ Say it: EE-NOH-OO-EH
Above the well
How common: very common
A topographic name for someone who lived uphill from a communal well.
井 well · dictionary gloss: well, well crib, town, community 上 above or upper · dictionary gloss: above, up Copy Save
Ishii 石井 · いしい Say it: EE-SHEE
Stone well
How common: very common
Originally a topographic name referring to a well built with stones.
石 stone · dictionary gloss: stone 井 well · dictionary gloss: well, well crib, town, community Copy Save
Ishikawa 石川 · いしかわ Say it: EE-SHEE-KAH-WAH
Stony river
How common: very common
A common place name and surname throughout Japan.
石 stone · dictionary gloss: stone 川 river · dictionary gloss: stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47) Copy Save
Itō 伊藤 · いとう Say it: EE-TOHIto
Wisteria of Ise, referring to the Fujiwara family branch in Ise province
How common: very common
A powerful noble name representing descendants of the Fujiwara clan.
伊 that, or representing Ise province · dictionary gloss: Italy, that one 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Kaneko 金子 · かねこ Say it: KAH-NEH-KOH
Money or gold coin
How common: very common
This name can also mean seed of gold, often denoting wealth or metalworking origins.
金 gold or money · dictionary gloss: gold 子 child or noun suffix · dictionary gloss: child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac Medium confidence
Copy Save
Katō 加藤 · かとう Say it: KAH-TOHKato
Wisteria of Kaga, referring to the Fujiwara branch in Kaga province
How common: very common
A classic samurai clan name from the historical Kaga region.
加 to add, or representing Kaga province · dictionary gloss: add, addition, increase, join 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Kimura 木村 · きむら Say it: KEE-MOO-RAH
Tree village
How common: very common
A common place-name-derived surname throughout Japan.
木 tree or wood · dictionary gloss: tree, wood 村 village · dictionary gloss: village, town Copy Save
Kobayashi 小林 · こばやし Say it: KOH-BAH-YAH-SHEE
Small forest
How common: very common
A geographic name common throughout Japan, especially in central regions.
小 small · dictionary gloss: little, small 林 forest or grove · dictionary gloss: grove, forest Copy Save
Kojima 小島 · こじま Say it: KOH-JEE-MAH
Small island
How common: very common
A topographic name referring to a small island or a patch of land surrounded by water.
小 small · dictionary gloss: little, small 島 island · dictionary gloss: island Copy Save
Kondō 近藤 · こんどう Say it: KOHN-DOHKondo
Near wisteria, referring to the Fujiwara branch close to the capital
How common: very common
A historical samurai name linked to the Fujiwara clan.
近 near or close · dictionary gloss: near, early, akin, tantamount 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Maeda 前田 · まえだ Say it: MAH-EH-DAH
Front rice field
How common: very common
Famous as the name of a powerful daimyo clan during the Edo period.
前 front · dictionary gloss: in front, before 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Matsumoto 松本 · まつもと Say it: MAH-TSOO-MOH-TOH
Base of the pine tree
How common: very common
A geographic name, also associated with several castle towns.
松 pine tree · dictionary gloss: pine tree 本 base or origin · dictionary gloss: book, present, main, origin Copy Save
Miura 三浦 · みうら Say it: MEE-OO-RAH
Three bays
How common: very common
A prominent family name originating from the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa.
三 three · dictionary gloss: three 浦 bay · dictionary gloss: bay, creek, inlet, gulf Copy Save
Mori 森 · もり Say it: MOH-REE
Forest
How common: very common
Often implies a sacred shrine forest rather than wild woods.
森 forest · dictionary gloss: forest, woods Copy Save
Nakajima 中島 · なかじま Say it: NAH-KAH-JEE-MAH
Middle island
How common: very common
A very common geographical name referring to an island in a river.
中 middle · dictionary gloss: in, inside, middle, mean 島 island · dictionary gloss: island Copy Save
Nakamura 中村 · なかむら Say it: NAH-KAH-MOO-RAH
Middle village
How common: very common
A topographic name given to families living in the central village of an area.
中 middle · dictionary gloss: in, inside, middle, mean 村 village · dictionary gloss: village, town Copy Save
Nishimura 西村 · にしむら Say it: NEE-SHEE-MOO-RAH
West village
How common: very common
A directional topographic name used for families living in the western part of a settlement.
西 west · dictionary gloss: west, Spain 村 village · dictionary gloss: village, town Copy Save
Ogawa 小川 · おがわ Say it: OH-GAH-WAH
Small river or brook
How common: very common
A very common topographic name across the country.
小 small · dictionary gloss: little, small 川 river · dictionary gloss: stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47) Copy Save
Okada 岡田 · おかだ Say it: OH-KAH-DAH
Hill rice field
How common: very common
A topographic name denoting a rice field located on or near a hill.
岡 hill · dictionary gloss: mount, hill, knoll 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Okamoto 岡本 · おかもと Say it: OH-KAH-MOH-TOH
Base of the hill
How common: very common
A common topographic name for those who lived at the foot of a hill.
岡 hill · dictionary gloss: mount, hill, knoll 本 base or origin · dictionary gloss: book, present, main, origin Copy Save
Ōta 太田 · おおた Say it: OH-TAH
Large rice field
How common: very common
A variant of another common name meaning 'big field' with a slightly different first character.
太 large or plump · dictionary gloss: plump, thick, big around 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Saitō 斉藤 · さいとう Say it: SIE-TOHSaito
Pure wisteria, representing a branch of the Fujiwara clan of priestly rank
How common: very common
There are several ways to write this name, with this kanji being very common.
斉 pure or equal · dictionary gloss: adjusted, alike, equal, similar variety of 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Sakamoto 坂本 · さかもと Say it: SAH-KAH-MOH-TOH
Base of the slope
How common: very common
A common topographic name for families living at the foot of a hill.
坂 slope · dictionary gloss: slope, incline, hill 本 base or origin · dictionary gloss: book, present, main, origin Copy Save
Sasaki 佐々木 · ささき Say it: SAH-SAH-KEE
Helpful wood, historically derived from the place name Sasaki in Shiga
How common: very common
An ancient warrior family name from the Uda-Genji clan.
佐 to help · dictionary gloss: assistant, help 々 repetition character木 tree or wood · dictionary gloss: tree, wood Copy Save
Satō 佐藤 · さとう Say it: SAH-TOHSato
Wisteria of the helper, historically linked to the Fujiwara clan
How common: very common
This is the most common family name in Japan.
佐 to help or assist · dictionary gloss: assistant, help 藤 wisteria · dictionary gloss: wisteria Copy Save
Shimizu 清水 · しみず Say it: SHEE-MEE-ZOO
Pure water
How common: very common
Originally referred to families living near a clean, fresh spring.
清 pure or clear · dictionary gloss: pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise 水 water · dictionary gloss: water Copy Save
Suzuki 鈴木 · すずき Say it: SOO-ZOO-KEE
Bell tree, originally referring to a sacred wooden pole used in Shinto rituals
How common: very common
The second most common surname in Japan, originating from Wakayama.
鈴 bell · dictionary gloss: small bell, buzzer 木 tree · dictionary gloss: tree, wood Copy Save
Takahashi 高橋 · たかはし Say it: TAH-KAH-HAH-SHEE
High bridge, referring to a bridge built over a deep ravine
How common: very common
A very ancient name that originally designated a priestly priestly lineage.
高 tall or high · dictionary gloss: tall, high, expensive 橋 bridge · dictionary gloss: bridge Copy Save
Tanaka 田中 · たなか Say it: TAH-NAH-KAH
Middle of the rice field
How common: very common
A classic topographic name used by people living in the center of farming villages.
田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy 中 middle or inside · dictionary gloss: in, inside, middle, mean Copy Save
Watanabe 渡辺 · わたなべ Say it: WAH-TAH-NAH-BEH
Ferryside, referring to a crossing place over a river
How common: very common
Originated from a warrior clan founded by Minamoto no Tsuna in Osaka.
渡 to cross or ferry · dictionary gloss: transit, ford, ferry, cross 辺 side, border, or area · dictionary gloss: environs, boundary, border, vicinity Copy Save
Yamada 山田 · やまだ Say it: YAH-MAH-DAH
Mountain rice field
How common: very common
Often used in textbooks as the placeholder name for an average Japanese person.
山 mountain · dictionary gloss: mountain 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Yamaguchi 山口 · やまぐち Say it: YAH-MAH-GOO-CHEE
Mountain entrance
How common: very common
A geographic name for families living at the opening of a mountain path.
山 mountain · dictionary gloss: mountain 口 mouth or entrance · dictionary gloss: mouth Copy Save
Yamamoto 山本 · やまもと Say it: YAH-MAH-MOH-TOH
Base of the mountain
How common: very common
A geographic name for families living at the foot of a mountain.
山 mountain · dictionary gloss: mountain 本 base or origin · dictionary gloss: book, present, main, origin Copy Save
Yamazaki 山崎 · やまざき Say it: YAH-MAH-ZAH-KEE
Mountain peninsula, referring to a mountain ridge that juts out
How common: very common
Can also be pronounced 'Yamasaki' in western Japan.
山 mountain · dictionary gloss: mountain 崎 cape or peninsula · dictionary gloss: promontory, cape, spit Copy Save
Yoshida 吉田 · よしだ Say it: YOH-SHEE-DAH
Lucky rice field
How common: very common
An auspicious name chosen for good fortune in agriculture.
吉 good luck or auspicious · dictionary gloss: good luck, joy, congratulations 田 rice field · dictionary gloss: rice field, rice paddy Copy Save
Hoshino 星野 · ほしの Say it: HOH-SHEE-NOH
Star field
How common: common
A poetic name referring to a field under a starry night sky.
星 star · dictionary gloss: star, spot, dot, mark 野 field · dictionary gloss: plains, field, rustic, civilian life Copy Save
Izumi 泉 · いずみ Say it: EE-ZOO-MEE
Natural spring
How common: common
A pure and simple nature name denoting fresh water flowing from the earth.
泉 spring or fountain · dictionary gloss: spring, fountain Copy Save
Kashiwagi 柏木 · かしわぎ Say it: KAH-SHEE-WAH-GEE
Oak tree
How common: common
The Japanese oak is highly respected and associated with strength and longevity.
柏 oak · dictionary gloss: oak, cypress 木 tree · dictionary gloss: tree, wood Copy Save
Nagao 長尾 · ながお Say it: NAH-GAH-OH
Long ridge
How common: common
A topographic name referring to a long slope or the tail of a mountain.
長 long · dictionary gloss: long, leader, superior, senior 尾 tail or ridge · dictionary gloss: tail, end, counter for fish, lower slope of mountain Copy Save
Shirakawa 白川 · しらかわ Say it: SHEE-RAH-KAH-WAH
White river
How common: common
Often refers to clear, rushing rivers with white foam or sand.
白 white · dictionary gloss: white 川 river · dictionary gloss: stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47) Copy Save
Aizawa 藍沢 · あいざわ Say it: EYE-ZAH-WAH
Indigo valley
How common: uncommon
A beautiful nature name referring to a valley where indigo plants grow near water.
藍 indigo · dictionary gloss: indigo 沢 valley · dictionary gloss: swamp, marsh, brilliance, grace Copy Save
Amamiya 雨宮 · あまみや Say it: AH-MAH-MEE-YAH
Rain shrine
How common: uncommon
This name historically refers to a shrine dedicated to rain-making rituals.
雨 rain · dictionary gloss: rain 宮 shrine or palace · dictionary gloss: Shinto shrine, constellations, palace, princess Copy Save
Asahina 朝比奈 · あさひな Say it: AH-SAH-HEE-NAH
Sunny place
How common: uncommon
Originally a place name in Shizuoka, associated with warm morning sunlight.
朝 morning · dictionary gloss: morning, dynasty, regime, epoch 比 compare · dictionary gloss: compare, race, ratio, Philippines 奈 wild apple tree · dictionary gloss: Nara, what? Medium confidence
Copy Save
Hasumi 蓮見 · はすみ Say it: HAH-SOO-MEE
Lotus viewing
How common: uncommon
Refers to the elegant practice of viewing blooming lotus flowers in summer.
蓮 lotus · dictionary gloss: lotus 見 to look at · dictionary gloss: see, hopes, chances, idea Copy Save
Himuro 氷室 · ひむろ Say it: HEE-MOO-ROH
Ice chamber
How common: uncommon
Derived from the ancient caves or storehouses used to keep winter ice for summer use.
氷 ice · dictionary gloss: icicle, ice, hail, freeze 室 room · dictionary gloss: room, apartment, chamber, greenhouse Copy Save
Ichinose 一ノ瀬 · いちのせ Say it: EE-CHEE-NOH-SEH
The first rapids
How common: uncommon
Refers to the swiftest, shallowest part of a river where crossing begins.
一 first · dictionary gloss: one, one radical (no.1) 瀬 shallows or rapids · dictionary gloss: rapids, current, torrent, shallows Copy Save
Kamimura 神村 · かみむら Say it: KAH-MEE-MOO-RAH
Divine village
How common: uncommon
A surname for a family from a village with a local shrine.
神 god or spirit · dictionary gloss: gods, mind, soul 村 village · dictionary gloss: village, town Copy Save
Miyazono 宮園 · みやぞの Say it: MEE-YAH-ZOH-NOH
Shrine garden
How common: uncommon
Refers to a sacred garden surrounding a Shinto shrine.
宮 shrine or palace · dictionary gloss: Shinto shrine, constellations, palace, princess 園 garden · dictionary gloss: park, garden, yard, farm Copy Save
Mizuhara 水原 · みずはら Say it: MEE-ZOO-HAH-RAH
Water source
How common: uncommon
A topographic name for someone living near a spring or water source.
水 water · dictionary gloss: water 原 field or origin · dictionary gloss: meadow, original, primitive, field Copy Save
Mizushima 水島 · みずしま Say it: MEE-ZOO-SHEE-MAH
Water island
How common: uncommon
A common geographic feature, denoting an island surrounded by pristine waters.
水 water · dictionary gloss: water 島 island · dictionary gloss: island Copy Save
Narumi 鳴海 · なるみ Say it: NAH-ROO-MEE
Roaring sea
How common: uncommon
Originally a place name in Aichi prefecture, describing the sound of crashing waves.
鳴 roaring · dictionary gloss: chirp, cry, bark, sound 海 sea · dictionary gloss: sea, ocean Copy Save