150 Japanese Last Names Or Surnames : Common, Popular, Rare & More Choices

One of the most culturally enriched countries in the world is Japan. It is also a country that is mostly appreciated for its technological advancement. Along with the traditions, the Japanese have a strong bond with nature and peace, too, which reflects in their names. That is why many Japanese first names and surnames come from the forests, sea, mountains, and also ancient clan names. If you have been looking for Japanese surnames or last names for your little one, this is the article for you. We have handpicked and enlisted some of the best, rare, popular, and most common Japanese last names for you to choose from.

Pro tip: A slight change in Japanese characters to spell the words can give them a certain meaning. Hence, make your pick wisely.

Popular Japanese Surnames

Japan’s ancestry is full of nature, values, culture, and occupations. While families and last names are hard to find, others have survived challenging times and have grown in people. Here are some popular Japanese surnames you might want to know.

1. Adachi

Adachi is a popular surname and has been an important name bearer in the samurai family. It means ‘foot’ or ‘stand’. Some of the popular artists with this name include Osamu Adachi and Yumi Adachi.

2. Aguni

This Japanese surname is quite different from others. While ‘A’ or ‘Awa’ means foxtail millet, ‘Guni’ refers to ‘country.’

3. Akamine

The surname Akamine in Japanese means ‘red peak’. It is mostly found in the western part of Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands.

4. Amano

The surname Amano is a popular one in the country. It means ‘heaven field’. Some notable names with this surname include Fabio Amano – a popular tattoo artist.

5. Ando

This is an interesting Japanese last name that means ‘peaceful wisteria’. It is a perfect name for a well-mannered kid.

6. Bando

This is a Japanese surname which is quite popular in eastern Japan and originates from the Osaka province. The name means ‘east of the slope’.

7. Chinen

This Japanese last name is very interesting. In the Ryukyu Islands, the last name means ‘one thousand years’. In the rest of Japan, it means ‘feelings’.

8. Chino

Chino as a surname is used in modern times with the characters that mean ‘field of miscanthus reeds’. However, there could be a relation to the ancient name Chinu, which means ‘strange’ and ‘unusual’.

9. Fujikawa

Fujikawa means ‘wisteria river’. Bearers of this name come from the southern Fujiwara of Japan.

10. Fujiki

This is a variation of a similar Japanese last name. This name means ‘a tree where wisteria flower is grown’.

11. Fujimura

This Japanese surname means ‘Japanese wisteria village’. People of this surname belong to the western Honshū and the Ryūkyū Islands.

12. Fukushima

This is another beautiful Japanese surname that is famous in the Ryukyu Islands. The name means ‘fortune or blessed island’.

13. Genji

This Japanese last name has two meanings, and both of them are very interesting. The name means ‘source’ or ‘two beginnings’.

14. Gima

Gima is written with various characters and combinations. The most common ones written mean ‘ceremony’ and ‘space’.

15. Hamada

This name is used as both a last name and a first name in Japan. It is very popular in the Ryukyu and Shikoku Islands. The name means ‘paddy field on the seashore’.

16. Handa

This is another beautiful Japanese last name. The name is a perfect pick for a baby girl as it means ‘flower field’.

17. Haruki

If you are an avid reader of Murakami’s novels, you already know of this name. This name is used as both first and last name of people in Japan. The name means ‘tree of spring season’.

18. Hasegawa

This is another Japanese last name connected to nature. It means ‘long valley river’.

19. Hashimoto

This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby suggested by the parent. The name means ‘true bridge’ and refers to how the baby acts as a bridge between the parents successfully.

20. Honda

This is a very famous last name in Japan which means ‘rice field’. The name is famous all over the world because of the famous motor company.

21. Kawaguchi

Kawaguchi is a pleasant-sounding last name which means ‘river mouth or entrance’.

21. Kita

This Japanese surname is well known to soccer lovers already. The meaning of the name is ‘north field of trees’.

23. Kojima

Another well-known Japanese last name, Kojima, has an interesting meaning. It translates into ‘a small island’.

24. Makino

If you are looking for a name for a baby who is an animal lover, this is it! The name literally means, ‘shepherd field’.

25. Matsubara

The name is a cute one for a baby girl; it is derived from a familiar Japanese last name which means ‘pine tree plain’.

26. Matsumura

This is another Japanese last name inspired by nature. The name means ‘pine tree village’.

27. Matsuo

Matsuo is a cheery Japanese surname meaning ‘pine tree tail’.

28. Miura

This old Japanese surname refers to the ‘three bays’. The last name is mostly available in Sagami.

29. Nakayama

The name means ‘central mountain’.

30. Nishio

This last name originated in Central Japan. Many of its bearers are also from the Ryukyu Islands. The surname means ‘western male’.

31. Oba

This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘large garden’.

32. Sakurai

Cherry Blossom fans will love this! Sakurai surname is commonly found in eastern Japan and means ‘cherry blossom well’.

33. Sone

This is a unique baby name, which is one of the oldest Japanese last names. It means ‘root’.

34. Yamazaki

Also pronounced as Yamasaki, which is commonly found in western Japan, Yamazaki is found in eastern Japan. It means ‘mountain cape’.

Common Japanese Last Names

Let’s hike up and discover what all Japanese names have made it to the list of common Japanese last names. These surnames come from nature, religion, occupation, and more.

1. Abe

This is a common last name, which is one of the oldest too. In Japan, the word ‘a’ means peace and ‘be’ means ‘many times’.

2. Ageda

Japanese people are rice lovers. This habitational last name means ‘upper rice field’, which is commonly seen in the Japanese countryside.

3. Akagi

Akagi is a pretty common surname in Western Japan. This surname means ‘red tree’. Many sources claim it derived from Akagiyama, a famous peak in east-central Japan.

4. Endo

This is another topological surname for the Japanese. It means ‘a distant wisteria’.

5. Enomoto

Enomoto is commonly used in the Kyōto–Ōsaka area and the Ryūkyū Islands. It means ‘one who lives’.

6. Fujii

The surname Fujii is most commonly found in west-central Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands. It means ‘well of wisteria’.

7. Fujino

The surname Fujono means ‘wisteria field’ and is common on the eastern side of Japan.

8. Fujioka

This Japanese surname means ‘wisteria hill’. It is a habitational name in the village of Shinano and is commonly found in western Japan and Ryukyu Islands.

9. Fujita

Popular in western Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands, the last name Fujita means ‘wisteria rice field’.

10. Furuya

This could be an interesting name for a baby girl. The meaning of this name is ‘ancient valley’.

11. Gato

Japanese seem to be quite impressed with the wisteria flower. Their family names bear the same evidence. Gato (and its close variety Goto) means ‘behind wisteria’.

12. Goda

This is an occupational surname in Japan, and it has been borne by farmer families for ages. The meaning of the name is ‘connected to rice paddy.’

13. Hada

A very common Japanese surname, Hada refers to the field where you can fly. This last name is mostly found in Eastern Japan.

14. Hagiwara

Also pronounced Hagihara, Hagiwara is a cute surname that means ‘Japanese clover field’. It is commonly found in the Tokyo area and the island of Okinawa.

15. Harada

Mostly found in the Kyūshū island and the Ryūkyū Islands, Harada means ‘rice field on the plain’.

16. Hamamoto

Common in western Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands, Hamamoto refers to the person ‘who lives near the seashore’.

17. Hori

This surname originated in Central Japan. Many of its bearers are also from the Ryukyu Islands. This surname means ‘moat’.

18. Ichikawa

A common surname among Japanese, Ichikawa means ‘city river’. Some of the notable people with this surname include Haruyo Ichikawa (actress) and Daisuke Ichikawa (footballer).

19. Ide

Found mostly in eastern Japan, Ide is a very short Japanese surname meaning ‘spillway’. This last name is also given to people who live near a dam.

20. Igarashi

With variations over time, this Japanese last name came from Ikarashi river that flows in the central Niigata prefecture. The surname means ‘fifty storms’.

21. Imamura

Commonly found in Japan, this surname means ‘new village’.

22. Iwata

This is a common name in Japan that is used as a last name. The word means ‘stony paddy field’.

23. Ishida

This is another Japanese last name connected to the rice field. The name means ‘stone rice field’.

24. Ishizaki

This is one of the oldest Japanese last names; it means ‘stone peninsula.’

25. Ito

This is one of the most attractive Japanese last names. The meaning of this name is ‘the one’.

26. Kato

This Japanese last name means ‘increase wisteria’, and it is mostly found in the south-eastern seaboard.

27. Kobayashi

Kobayashi is another beautiful Japanese surname that is famous in the Ryukyu Islands. The name means ‘small forest’.

28. Nakamura

People who have a special interest in topography would be able to connect to this Japanese surname. It means ‘village in the middle’.

29. Ogawa

A very common Japanese surname, Ogawa refers to ‘a small river’.

30. Okamura

Common in western Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands, Okamura means ‘hill village’.

31. Sakamoto

Common in all parts of Japan, this amazing surname refers to a person ‘who lives at the bottom of the slope’.

32. Sato

Here is another Japanese last name connected to the Fuji clan. The name means ‘help wisteria’.

33. Yamauchi

With an alternate pronunciation- Yamanouchi, this surname is found in western Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands. It means ‘within the mountains’.

Rare Japanese Surnames

Rarity is exponential in family names when it comes to Japanese surnames. The following Japanese surnames have either extraordinary meanings or have interesting legacy, making them rare surnames.

1. Ahane

Another well-known Japanese last name, Ahane, has an interesting meaning. ‘Ah’ means ‘second’, ‘ha’ implies ‘waves’, and ‘ne’ translates into ‘roots’.

2. Baba

If you are a soccer lover, you will know this Japanese last name. Commonly used in west-central Japan, the last name interestingly means ‘horse-riding track’.

3. Chikafuji

This name is one of the rare Japanese surnames that can be used as an uncommon baby name. The meaning of the name is ‘near the wisteria’.

4. Domen

Not so common in Japan, you’ll find several instances of Domen and Dōmen in America that mean ‘surface of the earth’ and surface of the road’, respectively.

5. Etō

Etō is a rare surname mainly found in western Japan that means ‘river wisteria’. The bearers of this last name come from the Taira clan.

6. Fukuda

This is another unique Japanese name which is an occupational surname. Fukuda means ‘lucky rice field’ or ‘hope’. This is a perfect name for a newborn.

7. Haga

Predominantly found in North-Eastern Japan, this last name means ‘celebratory fragrance’. It makes a perfect name for a newborn.

8. Hagino

If you are looking for a unique Japanese last name for your baby boy that will be a perfect first name too, try this name. It means ‘a field covered by the bush’.

9. Hamasaki

This Japanese surname means ‘seashore peninsula or seashore cape’. People of this surname belong to western Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands.

10. Hano

A rare surname in Japan, this means ‘leafy field’.

11. Iha

This Japanese Kanji surname mean ‘that waves’.

12. Iida

Here is another Japanese last name connected to the rice field. The name means ‘paddy of cooked rice’.

13. Imada

This is a surname in Japan borne by families with origin in the Taira clan. This surname means ‘new rice paddy’.

14. Ine

This is a rare last name in Japan means ‘rice plant’.

15. Ishikawa

A very common Japanese surname, Ishikawa refers to the ‘stone river’. This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby.

16. Kamei

This name sounds beautiful, and it has a beautiful meaning, too. The name is originated from a noble family in Western Japan, and it means ‘a well full of turtles’.

17. Kamida

If you are a rice lover, you will consider this Japanese last name. Commonly used in west-central Japan, this last name means ‘upper rice field’.

18. Kamiyama

The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘God’.

19. Kido

This is another unique Japanese name which means ‘wooden door’ or ‘castle door’. It is a cute name for a newborn.

20. Kikuchi

This is an interesting Japanese last name; it means ‘chrysanthemum pond’.

21. Kokawa

This name can be used as a unique baby name. The meaning of the name is ‘small river’.

22. Kubo

This could be an interesting name for a baby boy. It means ‘sunken ground’.

23. Kurosawa

Another prominent Japanese last name which is popular among movie lovers is Kurosawa. The name means ‘black swamp’.

24. Matsuoka

This eccentric surname is made by joining two words: Matsu means ‘pine tree’ and oka means ‘ridge’, which together means ‘pine tree hill’.

25. Matsushima

Found mainly in eastern Japan and the Ryūkyū Islands, Matsushima means ‘pine tree island’.

26. Matsushita

This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby suggested by the parent. The name means ‘beneath the pine tree’.

27. Matsuura

Originating from the ancient Matsura province, Matsuura means ‘pine tree bay’. There are several successful people bearing surnames.

28. Matsuyama

The Japanese surname Matsuyama means ‘pine tree mountain’.

29. Nagamine

Written with different characters, this last name means ‘long peak’.

30. Nagata

If you are looking for a unique Japanese last name for your baby boy, which will be a perfect first name, try this. The name means ‘long rice paddy’.

31. Nomura

This is a rare last name in Japan, and it means ‘village in the field’. The name is a perfect pick for a baby girl.

32. Ohara

If you are looking for a unique Japanese last name for your baby girl which will be a perfect first name too, try this. The name means ‘large plain’.

33. Sama

Derived from the word semai, which means ‘narrow’, Sama is a rare Japanese surname.

Cool and Unique Japanese Last Names

Many Japanese surnames have cool and unique attributes that have pushed them to be featured in mangas, animes, and several other places. Let’s take a close look at these cool Japanese last names.

1. Abiko

This is another beautiful name for a baby that the grandparents can suggest. Here, ‘a’ means ‘peaceful’, ‘bi’ means ‘grandchild’, and ‘ko’ means ‘child’.

2. Eguchi

This last name means ‘the mouth of the river’ and is popular in Kyushu Island.

3. Ejiri

In this Japanese last name, the letter ‘E’ means ‘the river’ and ‘jiri’ means ‘behind’. If you have a baby girl born on the banks of a river, you can consider naming her Ejiri.

4. Haku

People who have a special interest in literature would be able to connect to this Japanese surname. The name means ‘poetic’.

5. Hase

This cute and short Japanese surname means ‘long valley’.

6. Hata

This is one of the most interesting Japanese last names, which has a long line of history attached to it. Hata means ‘loom’.

7. Ida

This last name in Japanese Kanji means ‘that rice paddy’.

8. Ige

Ige reveals different meanings when written with different Japanese characters. Some of the common meanings of this name include ‘one who lives below the well’ or ‘lowest rank’.

9. Imai

This Japanese last name has a very interesting meaning. It means ‘new town’.

10. Kagawa

This is another beautiful name for a baby that the family can suggest. Kagawa means ‘a fragrant river’.

11. Kamada

This beautiful Japanese surname means ‘sickle field’. This is a common surname in the Ryukyu Islands.

12. Kasai

In the Ryukyu Islands, this last name means ‘bamboo hat’. In the rest of Japan, it means ‘well’.

13. Kase

This Japanese name means ‘add’ or ‘strait’.

14. Katayama

The Japanese love nature, and their last names are mostly related to nature. This last name means ‘mountain on the side’ and is popular in the Ryukyu Islands.

15. Kawabata

Kawabata means ‘side or bank of the river’. Some of the celebrities bearing this surnae include Yasunari Kawabata (writer) and Hikaru Kawabata (wrestler).

16. Kibe

This habitational Japanese name belongs to the Kibe village in Omi. This name was borne by the priests of the Buddhist temples of the place.

17. Kondo

This Japanese name means ‘near wisteria’, and it is perfect for a kid who loves flowers.

18. Kouda

This interesting Japanese last name that means ‘long rice field’. It is a perfect name for a tall kid.

19. Kudo

This is one of the most interesting Japanese last names, and everyone is quite familiar with it. It means ‘construct wisteria’.

20. Machida

Japanese seem to be quite attached to rice; their family names bear the same evidence. This name means ‘town field’ or ‘town rice patty’.

21. Maekawa

This Japanese last name means ‘river in the front’, and it is found in western Japan and the Ryukyu Islands.

22. Masuda

This name means ‘increasing rice paddy’.

23. Nagasawa

Predominantly found in North-Eastern Japan, this last name means ‘long swamp’.

24. Nakada

This name is also associated with rice paddy and means ‘central rice paddy’.

25. Nakano

This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘central field’.

26. Nakagawa

Nakagawa is a cool and eccentric surname meaning ‘middle river’.

27. Nakahara

Nakahara is made with two Japanese words: Naka and Hara. Naka means middle and Hara means tundra, plain or meadow. This means ‘middle meadow’.

28. Noguchi

This is one of the most attractive names in Japan. The meaning of this name is ‘entrance of the field’.

29. Okano

Primarily found in Tōkyō and Nagoya regions, Okano means ‘hill life’ or ‘hill field’.

30. Okawa

This Japanese last name means ‘large river’.

31. Otake

This is a surname in Japan borne by families living in Southeast Japan. The name literally means ‘large bamboo’.

32. Sakuma

This Japanese surname came from a village named in Awa. The individual letters of this name mean: (sa) meaning ‘help’, (ku) ‘long time’ combined with (ma) meaning ‘horse’.

Japanese Last Names Based on Personality, Traits, and Characteristics

Does your Japanese last name reflect a physical trait, personality characteristic, or another quality? Yes, surprisingly, many surnames carry meanings linked to these aspects of an individual.

1. Aikawa

This is one of the traditional Japanese last names that everyone is quite familiar with. The name means ‘sympathising with a river’.

2. Ban

The surname is found mostly in eastern Japan. It means ‘comrade’.

3. Bushida

This Japanese name is perfect for a courageous kid. The name means ‘a Samurai’ or ‘a warrior’.

4. Daigo

This is one of the oldest Japanese names derived from the 60^th Japanese emperor. The name refers to the Buddhist temple named Daigo Shingon. In Japanese, ‘dei‘ means ‘great, and ‘go‘ means ‘enlightenment’.

5. Gushiken

If you are looking for a name which you want to pick for a confident baby, this is it. The name literally means ‘strong-willed’.

6. Kaneko

This is a Japanese surname which is quite popular in eastern Japan. The name means ‘golden child’.

Japanese Last Names or Surnames Inspired By Nature

Nature plays a vital role in Japanese culture and mythology, influencing stories, Shinto rituals, and daily life. Many Japanese last names are inspired by nature’s beauty and symbolism.

1. Agawa

This name sounds beautiful, and it has a beautiful meaning, too. The name means ‘the corner of a river or a stream’.

2. Aoki

This beautiful Japanese surname means ‘green tree’. It fits perfectly for a newborn baby girl. This is a common surname in the Ryukyu Islands.

3. Chisaka

This is a unique and cool name for a baby girl who is hardy. The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘one thousand hills’.

4. Saito

The Japanese last name “Saito” means “wisteria” and is often associated with harmony and purity.

5. Furukawa

This is another prominent Japanese last name. It originated from the Nitta, Minamoto and Northern Fujiwara families. The name means ‘old river’.

6. Hara

The name is a cute name for a baby boy. It is derived from a familiar Japanese last name which means ‘the meadow’.

7. Ikeda

This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘a rice field by the pond’.

8. Ishii

The name means ‘resides in a rocky place’.

9. Nishikawa

This is a very famous last name in Japan, and it means ‘western river’.

10. Okamoto

This is another Japanese last name close to nature. It means ‘one who lives at the base of the hill’.

11. Omori

This Japanese last name has a very interesting meaning. It means ‘large grove’.

12. Sakai

The name is written in various Japanese characters. One of the common derivatives of this surname is ‘well,’ ‘rice wine,’ and ‘hill town’.

FAQs

1. How do Japanese last names reflect historical professions?

Japanese last names usually reflect historical professions by referencing specific crafts, traders, or social, and occupational roles. For example, the surname Ishikawa refers to the stonemason, where ‘Ishi’ means ‘stone.’ Similarly, the surname Sakai is an occupational surname referring to sake brewing; it is derived from the term ‘Saka,’ which means ‘sake.’

2. Are there regional variations in the meanings of Japanese last names?

Yes, Japanese surnames often have regional variations, with meanings influenced by local occupations, landmarks, or landscapes. For example, “Tanaka” means “middle of the rice field,” while “Yamada” means “mountain field.”

These were 150 great Japanese last names which are going to be excellent names for your newborn baby. Go ahead and pick one that you think will work best for you. Japanese family names carry deep cultural meaning and can add a touch of heritage to your child’s identity. Japan surnames also reflect beauty, tradition, and history, making them timeless choices for any generation.

Infographic : Japanese Last Names Or Surnames

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