Japanese Last Names - 5,000+ Authentic Surnames with Meanings
Explore 100+ authentic Japanese last names (also known as japanese surnames, japanese family names, or japanese surnames names) with meanings and pronunciations. Browse the most popular Japanese last names and their kanji characters. Discover Japanese family names with cultural significance. Our database includes common japanese last names, popular japanese last names, and japanese last names and meanings. Use our japanese last name generator to create authentic surnames.
佐藤
Satō
さとう
サトウ
Meaning: 佐 (assistant, help), 藤 (wisteria flower)
鈴木
Suzuki
すずき
スズキ
Meaning: 鈴 (bell), 木 (tree)
田中
Tanaka
たなか
タナカ
Meaning: 田 (rice field), 中 (middle, center)
山田
Yamada
やまだ
ヤマダ
Meaning: 山 (mountain), 田 (rice field)
伊藤
Itō
いとう
イトウ
Meaning: 伊 (that, Italy), 藤 (wisteria flower)
中村
Nakamura
なかむら
ナカムラ
Meaning: 中 (middle, center), 村 (village)
小林
Kobayashi
こばやし
コバヤシ
Meaning: 小 (small), 林 (forest, woods)
加藤
Katō
かとう
カトウ
Meaning: 加 (add, increase), 藤 (wisteria flower)
吉田
Yoshida
よしだ
ヨシダ
Meaning: 吉 (good luck, fortune), 田 (rice field)
山本
Yamamoto
やまもと
ヤマモト
Meaning: 山 (mountain), 本 (origin, base)
松本
Matsumoto
まつもと
マツモト
Meaning: 松 (pine tree), 本 (origin)
井上
Inoue
いのうえ
イノウエ
Meaning: 井 (well), 上 (above, top)
木村
Kimura
きむら
キムラ
Meaning: 木 (tree), 村 (village)
林
Hayashi
はやし
ハヤシ
Meaning: 林 (forest, woods)
斎藤
Saitō
さいとう
サイトウ
Meaning: 斎 (purification), 藤 (wisteria)
清水
Shimizu
しみず
シミズ
Meaning: 清 (clear, pure), 水 (water)
山口
Yamaguchi
やまぐち
ヤマグチ
Meaning: 山 (mountain), 口 (mouth, entrance)
森
Mori
もり
モリ
Meaning: 森 (forest)
池田
Ikeda
いけだ
イケダ
Meaning: 池 (pond), 田 (rice field)
橋本
Hashimoto
はしもと
ハシモト
Meaning: 橋 (bridge), 本 (origin)
石井
Ishii
いしい
イシイ
Meaning: 石 (stone), 井 (well)
前田
Maeda
まえだ
マエダ
Meaning: 前 (front, before), 田 (rice field)
藤井
Fujii
ふじい
フジイ
Meaning: 藤 (wisteria), 井 (well)
長谷川
Hasegawa
ながせがわ
ナガセガワ
Meaning: 長 (long), 谷 (valley), 川 (river)
村上
Murakami
むらかみ
ムラカミ
Meaning: 村 (village), 上 (above)
近藤
Kondō
こんどう
コンドウ
Meaning: 近 (near, close), 藤 (wisteria)
坂本
Sakamoto
さかもと
サカモト
Meaning: 坂 (slope), 本 (origin)
遠藤
Endō
えんどう
エンドウ
Meaning: 遠 (far, distant), 藤 (wisteria)
青木
Aoki
あおき
アオキ
Meaning: 青 (blue, green), 木 (tree)
藤田
Fujita
ふじた
フジタ
Meaning: 藤 (wisteria), 田 (rice field)
後藤
Gotō
ごとう
ゴトウ
Meaning: 後 (back, after), 藤 (wisteria)
石川
Ishikawa
いしかわ
イシカワ
Meaning: 石 (stone), 川 (river)
岡田
Okada
おかだ
オカダ
Meaning: 岡 (hill, ridge), 田 (rice field)
大野
Ōno
おおの
オオノ
Meaning: 大 (large), 野 (field, plain)
福島
Fukushima
ふくしま
フクシマ
Meaning: 福 (fortune, luck), 島 (island)
横山
Yokoyama
よこやま
ヨコヤマ
Meaning: 横 (side, horizontal), 山 (mountain)
宮崎
Miyazaki
みやざき
ミヤザキ
Meaning: 宮 (palace, shrine), 崎 (cape, peninsula)
中西
Nakanishi
なかにし
ナカニシ
Meaning: 中 (middle), 西 (west)
上田
Ueda
うえだ
ウエダ
Meaning: 上 (above), 田 (rice field)
原田
Harada
はらだ
ハラダ
Meaning: 原 (field, plain), 田 (rice field)
松田
Matsuda
まつだ
マツダ
Meaning: 松 (pine), 田 (rice field)
菊地
Kikuchi
きくち
キクチ
Meaning: 菊 (chrysanthemum), 地 (ground)
松井
Matsui
まつい
マツイ
Meaning: 松 (pine), 井 (well)
古川
Furukawa
ふるかわ
フルカワ
Meaning: 古 (old), 川 (river)
柴田
Shibata
しばた
シバタ
Meaning: 柴 (firewood), 田 (rice field)
竹内
Takeuchi
たけうち
タケウチ
Meaning: 竹 (bamboo), 内 (inside)
渡辺
Watanabe
わたなべ
ワタナベ
Meaning: 渡 (cross, ferry), 辺 (side, edge)
石田
Ishida
いしだ
イシダ
Meaning: 石 (stone), 田 (rice field)
高橋
Takahashi
たかはし
タカハシ
Meaning: 高 (tall, high), 橋 (bridge)
岩田
Iwata
いわた
イワタ
Meaning: 岩 (rock, boulder), 田 (rice field)
太田
Ōta
おおた
オオタ
Meaning: 太 (thick, big), 田 (rice field)
森田
Morita
もりた
モリタ
Meaning: 森 (forest), 田 (rice field)
内田
Uchida
うちだ
ウチダ
Meaning: 内 (inside), 田 (rice field)
武田
Takeda
たけだ
タケダ
Meaning: 武 (warrior, military), 田 (rice field)
川口
Kawaguchi
かわぐち
カワグチ
Meaning: 川 (river), 口 (mouth)
野口
Noguchi
のぐち
ノグチ
Meaning: 野 (field), 口 (mouth)
今井
Imai
いまい
イマイ
Meaning: 今 (now, present), 井 (well)
小川
Ogawa
おがわ
オガワ
Meaning: 小 (small), 川 (river)
大橋
Ōhashi
おおはし
オオハシ
Meaning: 大 (large), 橋 (bridge)
松原
Matsubara
まつばら
マツバラ
Meaning: 松 (pine), 原 (field)
江藤
Etō
えとう
エトウ
Meaning: 江 (river, inlet), 藤 (wisteria)
千葉
Chiba
ちば
チバ
Meaning: 千 (thousand), 葉 (leaf)
村田
Murata
むらた
ムラタ
Meaning: 村 (village), 田 (rice field)
中島
Nakajima
なかじま
ナカジマ
Meaning: 中 (middle), 島 (island)
藤原
Fujiwara
ふじわら
フジワラ
Meaning: 藤 (wisteria), 原 (field)
細川
Hosokawa
ほそかわ
ホソカワ
Meaning: 細 (thin, narrow), 川 (river)
堀
Hori
ほり
ホリ
Meaning: 堀 (moat, canal)
小松
Komatsu
こまつ
コマツ
Meaning: 小 (small), 松 (pine)
三浦
Miura
みうら
ミウラ
Meaning: 三 (three), 浦 (bay, inlet)
新井
Arai
あらい
アライ
Meaning: 新 (new), 井 (well)
島田
Shimada
しまだ
シマダ
Meaning: 島 (island), 田 (rice field)
栗原
Kurihara
くりはら
クリハラ
Meaning: 栗 (chestnut), 原 (field)
大塚
Ōtsuka
おおつか
オオツカ
Meaning: 大 (large), 塚 (mound)
平野
Hirano
ひらの
ヒラノ
Meaning: 平 (flat, peace), 野 (field)
荒井
Arai
あらい
アライ
Meaning: 荒 (rough, wild), 井 (well)
飯田
Iida
いいだ
イイダ
Meaning: 飯 (rice, meal), 田 (rice field)
藤本
Fujimoto
ふじもと
フジモト
Meaning: 藤 (wisteria), 本 (origin)
水野
Mizuno
みずの
ミズノ
Meaning: 水 (water), 野 (field)
浅野
Asano
あさの
アサノ
Meaning: 浅 (shallow), 野 (field)
深田
Fukada
ふかだ
フカダ
Meaning: 深 (deep), 田 (rice field)
高田
Takada
たかだ
タカダ
Meaning: 高 (tall), 田 (rice field)
黒田
Kuroda
くろだ
クロダ
Meaning: 黒 (black), 田 (rice field)
白井
Shirai
しらい
シライ
Meaning: 白 (white), 井 (well)
赤井
Akai
あかい
アカイ
Meaning: 赤 (red), 井 (well)
金田
Kaneda
かねだ
カネダ
Meaning: 金 (gold, money), 田 (rice field)
銀
Gin
ぎん
ギン
Meaning: 銀 (silver)
玉田
Tamada
たまだ
タマダ
Meaning: 玉 (jewel, ball), 田 (rice field)
星
Hoshi
ほし
ホシ
Meaning: 星 (star)
月島
Tsukishima
つきしま
ツキシマ
Meaning: 月 (moon), 島 (island)
日向
Hyūga
ひゅうが
ヒュウガ
Meaning: 日 (sun, day), 向 (toward)
秋田
Akita
あきた
アキタ
Meaning: 秋 (autumn), 田 (rice field)
春山
Haruyama
はるやま
ハルヤマ
Meaning: 春 (spring), 山 (mountain)
冬
Fuyu
ふゆ
フユ
Meaning: 冬 (winter)
夏目
Natsume
なつめ
ナツメ
Meaning: 夏 (summer), 目 (eye)
桜井
Sakurai
さくらい
サクライ
Meaning: 桜 (cherry blossom), 井 (well)
花田
Hanada
はなだ
ハナダ
Meaning: 花 (flower), 田 (rice field)
梅田
Umeda
うめだ
ウメダ
Meaning: 梅 (plum), 田 (rice field)
菊池
Kikuchi
きくち
キクチ
Meaning: 菊 (chrysanthemum), 池 (pond)
杉
Sugi
すぎ
スギ
Meaning: 杉 (cedar)
柏
Kashiwa
かしわ
カシワ
Meaning: 柏 (oak)
🏛️Common Japanese Last Names - Most Popular Surnames
Discover the most common Japanese last names chosen by families throughout Japan. These popular Japanese surnames are widely recognized and feature beautiful kanji meanings.
📖Japanese Last Names and Meanings - Cultural Significance
Every Japanese last name includes detailed kanji meanings explaining the cultural significance. Learn how Japanese surnames reflect geography, nature, occupations, and family history.
Japanese Last Name Meanings Explained
Understand the meaning behind each Japanese surname's kanji characters.
Japanese Surnames and Their Origins
Learn about the historical origins of Japanese family names.
⭐Popular Japanese Last Names - Top Family Names
Explore the most popular Japanese last names used by families across Japan. These top Japanese family names are beloved for their beautiful sounds and meaningful kanji characters.
Most Common Japanese Surnames List
Browse our comprehensive list of the most common Japanese surnames.
Top 100 Japanese Family Names
Discover the top 100 Japanese family names ranked by popularity.
🌸Japanese Family Names with Meanings
Every Japanese family name in our database includes detailed kanji meanings. Understand the cultural significance and beautiful meanings behind each Japanese surname.
🎲Japanese Last Name Generator - Create Authentic Surnames
Use our Japanese last name generator to create authentic surnames. Generate random Japanese last names or browse our comprehensive database of Japanese family names.
💎Unique Japanese Last Names - Rare Surnames
Discover unique Japanese last names that are rare but authentic. These distinctive Japanese surnames offer something special while maintaining cultural authenticity.
Rare Japanese Last Names Database
Browse our collection of rare but authentic Japanese surnames.
🏛️Common Japanese Surname Categories
Japanese surnames fall into several common categories based on their kanji meanings. Understanding these categories helps you appreciate the cultural significance of Japanese last names.
Nature-Based Japanese Last Names
Surnames incorporating natural elements like mountains, rivers, trees, and flowers.
Location-Based Japanese Surnames
Names derived from geographical locations, villages, and regions.
Occupation-Based Japanese Family Names
Surnames reflecting traditional occupations and professions.
Color-Based Japanese Last Names
Names incorporating color kanji like black, white, red, and blue.
Japanese Last Names Starting with T
Popular surnames beginning with the letter T.
Japanese Last Names Starting with S
Common surnames beginning with the letter S.
Cool Japanese Last Names for Characters
Stylish surnames perfect for fictional characters and stories.
Japanese Last Names for Girls
Beautiful surnames that work well for female characters.
History of Japanese Surnames
Japanese surnames, known as myōji (名字) or sei (姓), have a fascinating history. Unlike many cultures, most Japanese people did not have surnames until the late 19th century. In 1875, the Meiji government required all citizens to adopt surnames, leading to a massive creation of new family names.
Most Japanese surnames consist of two kanji characters, though single-character and three-character surnames also exist. The most common surnames often relate to geography, nature, or occupations, reflecting the rural origins of many Japanese families.
Today, there are over 100,000 different Japanese surnames, though the top 100 surnames account for about 10% of the population. Our database focuses on the most common and culturally significant surnames.
Common Surname Categories
Nature-Based Surnames
Many Japanese surnames incorporate elements from nature, reflecting the country's deep connection to the natural world.