The name you give to your child will stay with them for the rest of their life, so parents are always careful to choose one that will stand the test of time and carry them through to adulthood. In the United States, Sophia and Jacob took the top spots for baby names in 2013, while Ava and Noah took first place in the UK (depending on which site you consult). Let’s take a look at this year’s top 10 baby names in Japan as reported by Japanese pregnancy and parenting site, Tamahiyo.
I’m always hearing “ladies first” so let’s start off with the little girls:
“Airi” was especially popular this year, appearing in the top 10 twice with two different spelling variations. In Japan, naming your child takes on an additional hurdle because you not only have to choose a name, you also have to choose the kanji (Chinese characters) that make up that name. Those of you who can read kanji may have noticed that 愛, the Chinese character for “love,” is used in three of the top 10 names. Now on to the baby boys:
As you can see, “Haruto” appears on the list twice, but with different Chinese characters and the kanji “翔” appears three times in this year’s rankings.
So now that you’ve seen the results, what do you think of the top ten baby names in Japan? Will there be a little Hiroto or baby Yuina in your future?
Top 10 Japanese baby names of 2020 revealed
Japan’s top baby names for 2015: Will Naruto-influenced monikers still reign supreme?
Looking for baby names? The most popular ones in Japan this year are…
Top Japanese baby names for 2016 feature flowers and other flora on both boys’ and girls’ lists
Top Japanese baby names for 2025 feature flowers, colors, and a first-time-ever favorite for girls
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
A secluded British mansion in Chiba is a hidden holy land for afternoon tea lovers
Awesome Ghibli Howl’s Moving Castle figure is also a puzzle and an organizer[Photos]
Studio Ghibli releases the My Neighbour Totoro tea caddy, with a magical self-closing lid
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Parasite movie releases free official wallpapers to download as backgrounds for video calls
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
A faster, easier way to make cake: Use a rice cooker【SoraKitchen】
Wrinkly Pikachu gets first-ever official plushie, sadness-smoothing hugs to come soon
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Studio Ghibli unveils new Rollbahn notebook in honour of Howl’s Moving Castle
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japanese baby name app releases 2021 ranking of top ten most intriguing boy and girl baby names
Kanji fail — Japanese parents shocked to learn their baby girl’s name has inappropriate meaning
“Family name researcher” discovers the most common full name in Japan
Mr. God? See which unusual names win Japan’s “Best of Family Names 2015” award
Japan’s top 20 flowery names for baby girls: love, hearts, and dreams
Japan’s top 10 cat names for 2017
Top 5 dog and cat breeds in Japan 2013
Japanese government will check and judge new baby name pronunciations, presents guidelines
The most popular Japanese baby names of the past 30 years, from Sakura to Shota
Meow’s this? 2020’s ranking of the top cat names and breeds in Japan
What’s in a name? The 10 most common surnames in Japan (and their meanings)
“Cherry blossoms of the heart” — The 10 most popular Japanese names for girls in 2017-2018
Japan’s top 10 video games of 2013
Japan’s top 10 dog names for 2017
Meow’s that? 2022’s ranking of the top cat names in Japan
The 10 most attractive Japanese women’s names, as chosen by dating app users