Our Japanese name database contains 3.445 Japanese surnames and 11.490 Japanese first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Japanese name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format and use it freely in your projects. Asia is not very well organised and only have a few open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like Japan have a reasonable quality but are limited. The Japanese names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Japanese names as well. To create the Japanese name database we used 53.783 validated Japanese social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Japanese surnames

This table show popular Japanese surnames. In Japan, the surname comes before the first name. The use of surnames is an important aspect of Japanese culture and society, as it is used to indicate family lineage and social status. The majority of Japanese surnames are based on Chinese characters, and there are a limited number of commonly used surnames in Japan. Additionally, there are traditional customs and customs related to the use of surnames in Japan, such as the use of different surnames for men and women within the same family.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Sato 428 0.8% American Brazilian British
Suzuki 416 0.8% American Brazilian British
Tanaka 367 0.7% American Brazilian Indonesian
Takahashi 347 0.6% American Brazilian Canadian
Watanabe 338 0.6% American Brazilian Canadian
Nakamura 293 0.5% American Brazilian Canadian
Kobayashi 255 0.5% American Brazilian Canadian
Yamamoto 241 0.4% American Brazilian British
Ito 239 0.4% American Brazilian Spanish
Saito 220 0.4% Brazilian American Canadian
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 53.783 Japanese social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Japanese first names

In Japan, parents typically pick a first name for their child by considering traditional Japanese names, family names, and modern names. They may also consult with their grandparents or other family members for suggestions. Additionally, some parents may choose a name based on its meaning or significance in Japanese culture. The use of kanji characters is also an important aspect in choosing a first name in Japan.

Popular Japanese male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Takashi 301 0.8% American British Singaporean
Hiroshi 291 0.8% American British Brazilian
Daisuke 253 0.7% American German Canadian
Satoshi 248 0.7% American British Canadian
Yusuke 246 0.7% American British Singaporean
Ken 244 0.7% American British Canadian
Akira 223 0.6% American Brazilian British
Hiroyuki 222 0.6% American Brazilian British
Takeshi 221 0.6% American Mexican British
David 219 0.6% American British Spanish
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 53.783 Japanese social media profiles from which 36.818 (68%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Japanese female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Yuki 329 1.9% American Chinese Indonesian
Akiko 122 0.7% American British Canadian
Yuko 109 0.6% American British Canadian
Yoko 99 0.6% American Indonesian British
Keiko 99 0.6% American British French
Yuka 93 0.5% American Indonesian French
Aya 85 0.5% Egyptian Algerian Dutch
Tomoko 77 0.5% American British Canadian
Yumi 74 0.4% American South Korean Brazilian
Miki 69 0.4% American Spanish Italian
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 53.783 Japanese social media profiles from which 16.965 (32%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.