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. In this article, we have enlisted some famous Japanese last names.
100 Japanese Surnames or Family Names With Meanings
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. 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’.
3. 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.
4. Agawa
This name sounds beautiful, and it has a beautiful meaning, too. The name means ‘the corner of a river or a stream’.
5. Ando
This is an interesting Japanese last name that means ‘peaceful wisteria’. It is a perfect name for a well-mannered kid.
6. Ageda
Japanese people are rice lovers. This habitational last name means ‘upper rice field’, which is commonly seen in the Japanese countryside.
7. Ahane
Another well known Japanese last name, Ahane has an interesting meaning. ‘Ah’ means ‘second’, ‘ha’ implies ‘waves’, and ‘ne’ translates into ‘roots’.
8. Aikawa
This is one of the traditional Japanese last names which everyone is quite familiar with. The name means ‘sympathising with a river’.
9. 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’.
10. 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’.
11. Bushida
This Japanese name is perfect for a courageous kid. The name means ‘a Samurai’ or ‘a warrior’.
12. 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’.
13. 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’.
14. 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’.
15. Daigo
This is one of the oldest Japanese names derived from the 60th Japanese emperor. The name refers to the Buddhist temple named Daigo Shingon. In Japanese, ‘dei‘ means ‘great, and ‘go‘ means ‘enlightenment’.
16. Eguchi
The nature lover Japanese have their last names mostly related to nature. This last name means ‘the mouth of the river’ and is popular in Kyushu Island.
17. Endo
This is another topological surname for the Japanese. It means ‘a distant wisteria’.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Fuji
A famous film roll brand has made this Japanese surname well known across the globe already. The meaning of the name is ‘dweller near the place where wisteria grows’.
21. Fujiki
This is a variation of the similar Japanese last name. This name means ‘a tree where wisteria flower is grown’.
22. Fukushima
This is another beautiful Japanese surname that is famous in the Ryukyu Islands. The name means ‘fortune or blessed island’.
23. Furuya
This could be an interesting name for a baby girl. The meaning of this name is ‘ancient valley’.
24. Furukawa
This is another prominent Japanese last name. It originated from the Nitta, Minamoto and Northern Fujiwara families. The name means ‘old river’.
25. 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’.
26. Goda
This is an occupational surname in Japan borne by the farmer families for ages. The meaning of the name is ‘connected to rice paddy’
27. Genji
This Japanese last name has two meanings, and both of them are very interesting. The name means ‘source’ or ‘two beginnings’.
28. 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’.
29. Hara
The name is a cute name for a baby boy. It is derived from a familiar Japanese last name which means ‘the meadow’.
30. Hasegawa
This is another Japanese last name connected to nature. It means ‘long valley river’.
31. 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.
32. Hada
A very common Japanese surname, Hada refers to the field where you can fly. This last name is mostly found in Eastern Japan.
33. Haga
Predominantly found in North-Eastern Japan, this last name means ‘celebratory fragrance’. It makes a perfect name for a newborn.
34. 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’.
35. Haku
People who have a special interest in literature would be able to connect to this Japanese surname. The name means ‘poetic’.
36. Hamada
This name is used as both last name and first name in Japan. It is very popular in the Ryukyu and Shikoku Islands. The name means ‘paddy field on the seashore’.
37. Handa
This is another beautiful Japanese last name. The name is a perfect pick for a baby girl as it means ‘flower field’.
38. 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’.
39. 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.
40. Hori
This surname originated in Central Japan. Many of its bearers are also from the Ryukyu Islands. This surname means ‘moat’.
41. Ito
This is one of the most attractive Japanese last names. The meaning of this name is ‘the one’.
42. Ine
This is a rare last name in Japan means ‘rice plant’.
43. Ikeda
This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘a rice field by the pond’.
44. Ishikawa
A very common Japanese surname, Ishikawa refers to the ‘stone river’. This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby.
45. Ishii
The name means ‘resides in a rocky place’.
46. Ishida
This is another Japanese last name connected to the rice field. The name means ‘stone rice field’.
47. Imai
This Japanese last name has a very interesting meaning. It means ‘new town’.
48. Imada
This is a surname in Japan borne by the families with an origin at the Taira clan. This surname means ‘new rice paddy’.
49. Iida
Here is another Japanese last name connected to the rice field. The name means ‘paddy of cooked rice’.
50. Ishizaki
This is one of the oldest Japanese last names; it means ‘stone peninsula.’
51. Iwata
This is a common name in Japan used as a last name. The word means ‘stony paddy field’.
52. Kagawa
This is another beautiful name for a baby that the family can suggest. Kagawa means ‘a fragrant river’.
53. Kamada
This beautiful Japanese surname means ‘sickle field’. This is a common surname in the Ryukyu Islands.
54. 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’.
55. Kouda
This interesting Japanese last name that means ‘long rice field’. It is a perfect name for a tall kid.
56. 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.
57. Kojima
Another well known Japanese last name, Kojima, has an interesting meaning. It translates into ‘a small island’.
58. Kudo
This is one of the most interesting Japanese last names which everyone is quite familiar with. It means ‘construct wisteria’.
59. 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’.
60. Kaneko
This is a Japanese surname which is quite popular in eastern Japan. The name means ‘Golden child’.
61. Kondo
This Japanese name means ‘near wisteria’, and it is perfect for a kid who loves flowers.
62. Kokawa
This name can be used as a unique baby name. The meaning of the name is ‘small river’.
63. Kamiyama
The meaning of this Japanese surname is ‘God’.
64. Kasai
In the Ryukyu Islands, this last name means ‘bamboo hat’. In the rest of Japan, it means ‘well’.
65. Kase
This Japanese name means ‘add’ or ‘strait’.
66. Katayama
The nature lover Japanese have their last names mostly related to nature. This last name means ‘mountain on the side’ and is popular in the Ryukyu Islands.
67. Endo
This is another topological surname for the Japanese. It means ‘a distant wisteria’.
68. Kato
This Japanese last name means ‘increase wisteria’, and it is mostly found in the south-eastern seaboard.
69. Kido
This is another unique Japanese name which means ‘wooden door’ or ‘castle door’. It is a cute name for a newborn.
70. Kita
This Japanese surname is well known for soccer lovers already. The meaning of the name is ‘north field of trees’.
71. Kikuchi
This is an interesting Japanese last name; it means ‘chrysanthemum pond’.
72. Kobayashi
Kobayashi is another beautiful Japanese surname famous in the Ryukyu Islands. The name means ‘small forest’.
73. Kubo
This could be an interesting name for a baby boy. It means ‘sunken ground’.
74. Kurosawa
Another prominent Japanese last name which is popular among the movie lovers is Kurosawa. The name means ‘black swamp’.
75. 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’.
76. Masuda
This name means ‘increasing rice paddy’.
77. Maekawa
This Japanese last name means ‘river in the front’, and it is found in western Japan and the Ryukyu Islands.
78. 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’.
79. 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’.
80. Matsumura
This is another Japanese last name inspired by nature. The name means ‘pine tree village’.
81. Matsushita
This unique Japanese name is a perfect name for a newborn baby suggested by the parent. The name means ‘beneath the pine tree’.
82. Miura
This old Japanese surname refers to the ‘three bays’. The last name is mostly available in Sagami.
83. Nagasawa
Predominantly found in North-Eastern Japan, this last name means ‘long swamp’.
84. Nagata
If you are looking for a unique Japanese last name for your baby boy which will be a perfect first name too, try this. The name means ‘long rice paddy’.
85. Nakamura
People who have a special interest in topography would be able to connect to this Japanese surname. It means ‘village in the middle’.
86. Nakada
This name is also associated with rice paddy and means ‘central rice paddy’.
87. Nakano
This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘central field’.
88. Nakayama
The name means ‘central mountain’.
89. Nishikawa
This is a very famous last name in Japan, and it means ‘western river’.
90. Nishio
This last name originated in Central Japan. Many of its bearers are also from the Ryukyu Islands. The surname means ‘western male’.
91. Noguchi
This is one of the most attractive names in Japan. The meaning of this name is ‘entrance of the field’.
92. Nomura
This is a rare last name in Japan which means ‘village in the field’. The name is a perfect pick for a baby girl.
93. Oba
This is another very beautiful Japanese last name. The name means ‘large garden’.
94. Ogawa
A very common Japanese surname, Ogawa refers to ‘a small river’.
95. 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’.
96. Okamoto
This is another Japanese last name close to nature. It means ‘one who lives at the base of the hill’.
97. Omori
This Japanese last name has a very interesting meaning. It means ‘large grove’.
98. Otake
This is a surname in Japan borne by the families living in Southeast Japan. The name literally means ‘large bamboo’.
99. Sato
Here is another Japanese last name connected to Fuji clan. The name means ‘help wisteria’.
100. Sone
This is a unique baby name which is one of the oldest Japanese last names. It means ‘root’.
These were 100 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.
