our plan is to give them a japanese first name because my last name is really difficult for japanese people to pronounce well lol
I come from a multicultural country, so no one bat an eye at my kids’ names.
So I chose Japanese names for them, on the basis that if they ended up looking passably Japanese, then it would save them potential bullying.
Nope. My genes gaijin smashed the hell out of that idea.
Thankfully kids in schools here are decent enough. And my kids don’t have to deal with a name in katakana. In my home country, their last name is my last name, in Japan, it’s the wife’s. Because screw katakana. I’m just glad that I was able to make a passport without either of my middle names.
Japanese. If you plan to stay here you’ll do them a great favor if at least the family name is Japanese, better still all of it.
There are some names that work well in many languages/cultures like Anna.
My kids have unique but very Japanese names. We wanted names my family can pronounce as well as a Japanese name with Kanji to help reduce the amount of racism and discrimination they may get in their lives.
If we named our kids a foreign name, I’d wager people would just assume our kids are 100% foreign instead of being Japanese.
We chose to give them Japanese names that are easy to pronounce in almost any language. (Think something like Ai)
Edit: They have non-Japanese non-official middle names that I use in conjunction with their Japanese name.
I am Chinese. I plan to give my kids their legal names strictly in Japanese (both Japanese first names and family names). I will also give them Chinese names unofficially when they speak in Chinese. I may also give them unofficial English first names if their Japanese first names are hard to pronounce in English, which is arguably uncommon, most Japanese first names are easy to pronounce for English native speakers.
English first names, Japanese middle name.
Foreign but easily pronounceable.
Both, got one that works in both country without being weird. （Like Marie would workd in several countries)
A colleague of mine had the (I thought) good idea to go with Japanese names that have easy English analogues. Kenji –> Ken, Chiaki –> Jack(ie), etc…
Names that sound Japanese but def. are “normal names and easily pronounceable in English/home language”
Japanese first names and American last name on US birth certificate. They have American nick names and use their American last name in the US, but they use their Japanese last name in Japan as that’s how we registered them here.
Two completely unrelated names. One very Japanese, one very non-Japanese.
Japanese first and last name on Japanese paperwork. Japanese first name and “English” middle and last names on American passport.
Japanese name. Kid is probably staying here anyway.
Japanese name. We will stay in Japan permanently. We made sure it was easy to pronounce by my family in the UK, no tsu or r.
A couple we know who also intend to stay in Japan permanently have given their child a very non-Japanese. The guy in the couple is a foreigner and the wife took the husband’s name. Although in a perfect society it wouldn’t, Japan is far from perfect and I think such a foreign sounding name will hold him back in the future.
We were lucky to have 2 girls so it was easy to find names that are natural in both languages
First one, planned, so she gets Japanese name. Second one came uninvited, so she gets foreign name.
I go Kanji first name, my country middle names and my European last name. I have three middle names so I know the trouble, but it’s a family tradition.
I chose a name that is common in all 3 countries (Poland/Canada/Japan).
Japanese first name, non-Japanese last name.
Like many others we chose first names for our kids that work in both my home country and here in japan. No kanji however.
Both. Shinya, Megan, Kio, Rin. Whether they were specifically Japanese or Western wasn’t a consideration.
Japanese first name + spouse’s Japanese last name for Japan identity
Japanese first name + My Chinese last name for US identity.
We chose a name that works in both country without being weird.
I swear every single one of my half Japanese friends growing up were named Amy, Eli, Mia, Lisa, Sara, Mari (including me and my sister). A name that “Can be used in both counties”. But I’m so glad Japan is more tolerant to foreign “Kira Kira” sounding names these days. I can pick a name different to my childhood friends. Not having kids yet but already have a couple of names picked out for my future daughter. Will have to think fast if it’s a son…
First name is Japanese, middle name is American. Since Japan has no middle names, it works out since it is not listed on any official Japanese paperwork, just his US passport and documents. If he chooses to live in the US and wants an American name, he can then use his middle name.
His last name in Japan is my wife’s, in the US it is my last name. Yes, we probably screwed him when filling out applications asking for any alias he has gone by but it gives him the most options for fitting in socially in either country.
My son does not look japanese, and will have a shared cultural background. I saw no reason to specifically give him a Japanese name. Like others have mentioned there are certain names with overlap, but I didn’t want that either. We elected for a western name that is special to me, but thankfully is very easy for Japanese to say, read and spell and it works really well in katakana. He also has a middle name, which was my wife’s idea in case he wanted to go down the Japanese name route in the future. It’s a real pain in the arse, and is tacked onto his other name because middle names were not allowed on certain documents. My son has make it clear to us and others that he doesn’t want us to use his Japanesey middle name, so we omit it except for on official documents. Meanwhile, as an additional surprise to us, he has told us that he dislikes くん、さん etc, and prefers to be simply called by his name. Nursery staff had no problems with complying with his wishes.
Japanese first and last name (wife’s surname), but a western middle name in case they ever move abroad and decide it’s easier.
My main priority with the first name was something I could pronounce without a struggle. My Japanese pronunciation is quite good, but there are certain sounds that put my tongue, throat, jaw, etc. in an uncomfortable position and I didn’t want to do that to myself every time I said my kids’ names.
Totally normal Japanese names with kanji. If they choose to live in Europe/USA/UK/AUS etc in the future, people will not make a fuss about their foreign name. If they have Tom, Dick, Harry type names here, it’s always going to be commented on.
Their British birth certificates have “western” middle names that they can use if they wish.
We used a name that works in both English and Japanese, like エミリ / Emily or ルイ/ Louis.
First things first:
– I’m French – My wife merged our names on her koseki so she’s Hanako Dupond-Tanaka
If we had had a girl we would probably have gone with a Japanese first that sounds nice in French/English, just about any girl’s name is lovely and fits the prior requirements.
But no, we had a boy, so we chose a foreign name (not particularly French actually) that is easy to pronounce in Japanese but no kanji, just katakana.
So my kid’s name is something like Brian Dupond-Tanaka or デュポン田中 ブライアン
We could have gone with different names on the Japanese and French passports (my country allows it) but I didn’t like the double identity thing.
As a ha-fu myself, I use my Japanese mother’s last name in Japan and Father’s American last name in the US, but my first name is very western. There are some benefits, as when I write business emails or business calls in Japanese, The western name gives a free pass for not speaking perfect Keigo, and in fact everyone is amazed at how good my Japanese is.
On the other hand, I have friends with Japanese first and last names but grew up not speaking much Japanese get reamed out by clients for using improper Keigo
We named our children specifically so that my American parents would have no trouble pronouncing them—names that are common in both the US and Japan.
So far, we have settled on Maya and Emma. Luckily, there are a lot more names that fit this criteria for girls, since that is what we have had so far!
Foreign names all the way. Don’t be ashamed to have mixed race kids.
Alright, how many of y’all have a half kid or know a half kid called Kai?
I am the outlier here. My child’s full name is non-Japanese, but it’s not difficult to pronounce in Japanese necessarily. They also have a nickname, which is easy. I had no plan (and no plan in the future) to name my child a name that works well in Japanese if I don’t like the name, e.g. Emily.
First name is Japanese, middle name is foreign. My husband is Japanese so they have his Japanese last name.
Having a Japanese name in the US would never be an issue, but I think having a distinct foreign first name in Japan would, so that’s how we decided to do it. Oddly enough my husband pressed a bit for a foreign first name. But the ones he liked had lots of ‘l’s in them, and I vetoed that immediately. Having a foreign first name would be one thing, but one that no one could pronounce? That’s just asking for getting bullied.
Both. Spouse found kanji that correlates with their names in both English and Japanese (easier with girls haha)
Husband’s family has the tradition of every boy has the same ending kanji in their given names for generations. So both my boys have very traditional Japanese names. First and last Japanese. I added non Japanese middle names at the request of my husband(taken from my grandfathers). With full names first, middle, and last on both Japanese and American passports/paperwork. Husband wanted them to have the middle names and everything matching in both countries paperwork. So no issues of names on plane tickets and other things because they all match/
My parents named me and my brother with western names that are also written in kanji. I also know of half Japanese people with names that are present both in Japan and in my country like Maria, Marika, Emily/Emirii, Erika etc (which can all be written in kanji) and have many friend with two names. To be honest I wish I had two names
42 comments
our plan is to give them a japanese first name because my last name is really difficult for japanese people to pronounce well lol
I come from a multicultural country, so no one bat an eye at my kids’ names.
So I chose Japanese names for them, on the basis that if they ended up looking passably Japanese, then it would save them potential bullying.
Nope. My genes gaijin smashed the hell out of that idea.
Thankfully kids in schools here are decent enough. And my kids don’t have to deal with a name in katakana. In my home country, their last name is my last name, in Japan, it’s the wife’s. Because screw katakana. I’m just glad that I was able to make a passport without either of my middle names.
Japanese. If you plan to stay here you’ll do them a great favor if at least the family name is Japanese, better still all of it.
There are some names that work well in many languages/cultures like Anna.
My kids have unique but very Japanese names. We wanted names my family can pronounce as well as a Japanese name with Kanji to help reduce the amount of racism and discrimination they may get in their lives.
If we named our kids a foreign name, I’d wager people would just assume our kids are 100% foreign instead of being Japanese.
We chose to give them Japanese names that are easy to pronounce in almost any language. (Think something like Ai)
Edit: They have non-Japanese non-official middle names that I use in conjunction with their Japanese name.
I am Chinese. I plan to give my kids their legal names strictly in Japanese (both Japanese first names and family names). I will also give them Chinese names unofficially when they speak in Chinese. I may also give them unofficial English first names if their Japanese first names are hard to pronounce in English, which is arguably uncommon, most Japanese first names are easy to pronounce for English native speakers.
English first names, Japanese middle name.
Foreign but easily pronounceable.
Both, got one that works in both country without being weird. （Like Marie would workd in several countries)
A colleague of mine had the (I thought) good idea to go with Japanese names that have easy English analogues. Kenji –> Ken, Chiaki –> Jack(ie), etc…
Names that sound Japanese but def. are “normal names and easily pronounceable in English/home language”
Japanese first names and American last name on US birth certificate. They have American nick names and use their American last name in the US, but they use their Japanese last name in Japan as that’s how we registered them here.
Two completely unrelated names. One very Japanese, one very non-Japanese.
Japanese first and last name on Japanese paperwork. Japanese first name and “English” middle and last names on American passport.
Japanese name. Kid is probably staying here anyway.
Japanese name. We will stay in Japan permanently. We made sure it was easy to pronounce by my family in the UK, no tsu or r.
A couple we know who also intend to stay in Japan permanently have given their child a very non-Japanese. The guy in the couple is a foreigner and the wife took the husband’s name. Although in a perfect society it wouldn’t, Japan is far from perfect and I think such a foreign sounding name will hold him back in the future.
We were lucky to have 2 girls so it was easy to find names that are natural in both languages
First one, planned, so she gets Japanese name. Second one came uninvited, so she gets foreign name.
I go Kanji first name, my country middle names and my European last name. I have three middle names so I know the trouble, but it’s a family tradition.
I chose a name that is common in all 3 countries (Poland/Canada/Japan).
Japanese first name, non-Japanese last name.
Like many others we chose first names for our kids that work in both my home country and here in japan. No kanji however.
Both. Shinya, Megan, Kio, Rin.
Whether they were specifically Japanese or Western wasn’t a consideration.
Japanese first name + spouse’s Japanese last name for Japan identity
Japanese first name + My Chinese last name for US identity.
We chose a name that works in both country without being weird.
I swear every single one of my half Japanese friends growing up were named Amy, Eli, Mia, Lisa, Sara, Mari (including me and my sister). A name that “Can be used in both counties”. But I’m so glad Japan is more tolerant to foreign “Kira Kira” sounding names these days. I can pick a name different to my childhood friends.
Not having kids yet but already have a couple of names picked out for my future daughter. Will have to think fast if it’s a son…
First name is Japanese, middle name is American. Since Japan has no middle names, it works out since it is not listed on any official Japanese paperwork, just his US passport and documents. If he chooses to live in the US and wants an American name, he can then use his middle name.
His last name in Japan is my wife’s, in the US it is my last name. Yes, we probably screwed him when filling out applications asking for any alias he has gone by but it gives him the most options for fitting in socially in either country.
My son does not look japanese, and will have a shared cultural background. I saw no reason to specifically give him a Japanese name. Like others have mentioned there are certain names with overlap, but I didn’t want that either. We elected for a western name that is special to me, but thankfully is very easy for Japanese to say, read and spell and it works really well in katakana. He also has a middle name, which was my wife’s idea in case he wanted to go down the Japanese name route in the future. It’s a real pain in the arse, and is tacked onto his other name because middle names were not allowed on certain documents.
My son has make it clear to us and others that he doesn’t want us to use his Japanesey middle name, so we omit it except for on official documents. Meanwhile, as an additional surprise to us, he has told us that he dislikes くん、さん etc, and prefers to be simply called by his name. Nursery staff had no problems with complying with his wishes.
Japanese first and last name (wife’s surname), but a western middle name in case they ever move abroad and decide it’s easier.
My main priority with the first name was something I could pronounce without a struggle. My Japanese pronunciation is quite good, but there are certain sounds that put my tongue, throat, jaw, etc. in an uncomfortable position and I didn’t want to do that to myself every time I said my kids’ names.
Totally normal Japanese names with kanji. If they choose to live in Europe/USA/UK/AUS etc in the future, people will not make a fuss about their foreign name. If they have Tom, Dick, Harry type names here, it’s always going to be commented on.
Their British birth certificates have “western” middle names that they can use if they wish.
We used a name that works in both English and Japanese, like エミリ / Emily or ルイ/ Louis.
First things first:
– I’m French
– My wife merged our names on her koseki so she’s Hanako Dupond-Tanaka
If we had had a girl we would probably have gone with a Japanese first that sounds nice in French/English, just about any girl’s name is lovely and fits the prior requirements.
But no, we had a boy, so we chose a foreign name (not particularly French actually) that is easy to pronounce in Japanese but no kanji, just katakana.
So my kid’s name is something like Brian Dupond-Tanaka or デュポン田中 ブライアン
We could have gone with different names on the Japanese and French passports (my country allows it) but I didn’t like the double identity thing.
As a ha-fu myself, I use my Japanese mother’s last name in Japan and Father’s American last name in the US, but my first name is very western. There are some benefits, as when I write business emails or business calls in Japanese, The western name gives a free pass for not speaking perfect Keigo, and in fact everyone is amazed at how good my Japanese is.
On the other hand, I have friends with Japanese first and last names but grew up not speaking much Japanese get reamed out by clients for using improper Keigo
We named our children specifically so that my American parents would have no trouble pronouncing them—names that are common in both the US and Japan.
So far, we have settled on Maya and Emma. Luckily, there are a lot more names that fit this criteria for girls, since that is what we have had so far!
Foreign names all the way. Don’t be ashamed to have mixed race kids.
Alright, how many of y’all have a half kid or know a half kid called Kai?
I am the outlier here. My child’s full name is non-Japanese, but it’s not difficult to pronounce in Japanese necessarily. They also have a nickname, which is easy. I had no plan (and no plan in the future) to name my child a name that works well in Japanese if I don’t like the name, e.g. Emily.
First name is Japanese, middle name is foreign. My husband is Japanese so they have his Japanese last name.
Having a Japanese name in the US would never be an issue, but I think having a distinct foreign first name in Japan would, so that’s how we decided to do it. Oddly enough my husband pressed a bit for a foreign first name. But the ones he liked had lots of ‘l’s in them, and I vetoed that immediately. Having a foreign first name would be one thing, but one that no one could pronounce? That’s just asking for getting bullied.
Both. Spouse found kanji that correlates with their names in both English and Japanese (easier with girls haha)
Husband’s family has the tradition of every boy has the same ending kanji in their given names for generations. So both my boys have very traditional Japanese names. First and last Japanese. I added non Japanese middle names at the request of my husband(taken from my grandfathers). With full names first, middle, and last on both Japanese and American passports/paperwork. Husband wanted them to have the middle names and everything matching in both countries paperwork. So no issues of names on plane tickets and other things because they all match/
My parents named me and my brother with western names that are also written in kanji. I also know of half Japanese people with names that are present both in Japan and in my country like Maria, Marika, Emily/Emirii, Erika etc (which can all be written in kanji) and have many friend with two names. To be honest I wish I had two names