Japanese
Gender
Name order
Count
FAQ
Is a Japanese name surname-first or given-name-first?
Formal Japanese is surname + given name. This page defaults to that order, and you can switch to given-name-first for international use or character sheets.
What’s the difference between kanji, katakana, and rōmaji?
Kanji is the written form; katakana shows the reading; Hepburn rōmaji helps people who don’t read Japanese. Every result includes all three. You can copy katakana on its own and speak the reading aloud.
What does “must include” kanji do?
Pick one character and every generated name will contain it. Browse the kanji list (search by character or English meaning, e.g. love, cherry). If the dictionary is thin for that character, the tool composes new given names with common name kanji and avoids repeating the same given name in one batch.
What are jinmeiyō kanji?
Jinmeiyō are characters Japan’s Ministry of Justice allows in legal given names, on top of everyday jōyō kanji. Turning on “jinmeiyō only” keeps results within those approved sets.
Can I use these names as a real legal name?
This is an inspiration and character-naming tool, not legal advice. A real-world name still has to follow local rules—check readings and characters with a native speaker.
How do persona, era, and theme filters work together?
A persona draws surname and given name from the same pack so the vibe stays aligned. Era (Heian to modern), meaning theme (nature, warrior, and more), and popularity constrain the pair. Kirakira names may use unconventional readings.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, free, with no sign-up. Generate, copy, speak, and save on this device. Saved names stay local and can be exported as TXT, CSV, Markdown, or JSON.
Compared with other Japanese name tools
Some tools only output rōmaji; others are dictionaries. Here’s how the features that matter for Japanese names compare.
| Feature | NameInstantly | Fantasy Name Generators | Behind the Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanji, kana, and rōmaji together | ✓ | ✗ | Partial |
| Meaning on every result | ✓ | ✗ | Partial |
| Must-include kanji | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Jinmeiyō kanji filter | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Persona, era, and theme filters | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Surname + given name paired by filters | ✓ | Partial | ✗ |
| Batch generate, free, no sign-up | ✓ | ✓ | Partial |
Based on publicly documented features for Japanese name generation—not an overall ranking.
How’s it going?
Name quality, missing locales, rough edges—tell us and we’ll keep improving.
Similar picks
Try these related name tools next.
Korean
Surname first: Hangul name with romanization, gender filter—short and memorable.
English
Given name first: American/British First + Last, filterable by gender—accounts, characters, everyday use.
French
Given name first: Prénom + Nom French pairing, gender filter—continental feel.
Characters
Fantasy / sci-fi / wuxia…