After interacting with hundreds of Japanese mums and getting to know the meaning of their babies’ names, we have compiled a list of Japanese names that mean light or sun.
You will find the perfect name from this list of 44 Japanese names that mean light or sun. Apart from the name, you will find its meaning, kanji, and how to pronounce it.
This listing is an excellent guide for parents who want either a traditional Japanese name or a modern one. You can choose from gender-neutral names if you don’t want a gender-specific name.
In Japanese culture, the sun is an iconic symbol representing material and spiritual prosperity. Besides, it is one of the symbols highly used in the artwork. Hence, the sun and the light are significant symbols with which the Japanese like to be associated.
One of the ways the Japanese recognize this special symbol is to name their children names that mean light or sun.
If you are looking for a light-themed name for your child, you are in the best place. Keep reading this article!
44 Japanese Names that Mean Light or Sun
A child brings happiness and joy into your family. If you want your baby to be a light-bringer not only in your family but also in society, here are the perfect names;
Japanese Names That Mean Light or Sun for Girls
- Akari
Kanji: 明里
Meaning: Bright or light
Pronunciation: akar-i, a-car-ee
It is a beautiful name speaking on your baby girl’s life to be the light in every space she steps in.
- Aki
Kanji: 明
Meaning: bright or sparkle
Pronunciation: Ah-kee
It is the short form of the name Akari; simple and easy to pronounce
- Akiko
Kanji: 明子
Meaning: Bright or glistening child
Pronunciation: AH-kee-koh
It is a Japanese origin name that shows your baby will be bright in school and their endeavors.
- Asuka
Kanji: 明
Meaning: Bright, light, perfume
Pronunciation: AA-Suw-Kaa
We all love perfumes because they make us smell lovely
- Chiaki
Kanji: 千明
Meaning: Sparkling light
Pronunciation: CHEE-A-KYEE
It is a unique name that speaks prosperity into your child’s life, just like Chiaki Hayashi, a popular Japanese businesswoman.
- Eileen
Kanji: 愛凜
Meaning: a touch of light
Pronunciation: a-i-ri-i-n
Another meaning for Eileen is radiance, meaning your girl will be radiant.
- Haruna
Kanji: 晴成
Meaning: Bright or successful
Pronunciation: HHAA-Ruw-Naa
Every parent wants their child to be successful in life; hence, Haruna is an excellent name for them.
- Hina
Kanji: 陽菜
Meaning: sunshine, positive
Pronunciation: HHIY-Naa
This name depicts that your baby will be positive even when faced with storms.
- Haruki
Kanji: 陽葵
Meaning: Sunshine
Pronunciation: HAH-roo-kee
When you name your baby Haruki, it means she is your sunshine, thus giving you hope and joy.
- Kisa
Kanji: 萌
Meaning: sunlight
Pronunciation: KIY-Saa
Kisa is a rare name for women with great achievements, like the American actress Kisa Willis.
- Miharu
Kanji: 晴
Meaning: sunshine, daytime
Pronunciation: M-ee-hah-r-oo
Miharu has another significant meaning- beautiful
- Neri
Kanji: 寧理
Meaning: My Light, restful
Pronunciation: Neh-RIY
If you had challenges conceiving or giving birth, Neri is a good name to give hope.
- Okimi
Kanji: 大王
Meaning: Shining light
Pronunciation: o-Kee-mee
When you are shining, you become a source of inspiration to those around you.
- Saki
Kanji: 咲
Meaning: Bloom or bright
Pronunciation: sah-ke
A bloom is a flower, and flowers change the atmosphere of the environment
- Shinaa
Kanji: 椎
Meaning: sun, shining light
Pronunciation: sh-ih-n-aa
Shinaa also means good; hence your kid will be good to themselves and others.
- Teruko
Kanji: 明子
Meaning: Bright or light
Pronunciation: T-Ruw-Kow
It is not a common name making your baby stand out
Japanese Names That Mean Light or Sun for Boys
- Akio
Kanji: 晃大
Meaning: Bright boy, clear
Pronunciation: AH-kee-oh
Bright boys can do wonders
- Akito
Kanji: 陽人
Meaning: Light, human
Pronunciation: AH-kee-toh
Someone who is human brings a smile into other people’s life because they are compassionate.
- Chiharu
Kanji: 智陽
Meaning: sunlight, wisdom
Pronunciation: CH-IY-HHaa-Ruw
Another meaning for this name is smart or to understand things
- Dai
Kanji: 大
Meaning: Shining one
Pronunciation: dah-ee
I would name my baby boy Dai because this name also means great or valuable.
- Daiki
Kanji: 大輝
Meaning: Big, Shining
Pronunciation: DIE-kee, D-AHiy-Kiy
This is a cool name if you want your boy to be a star like Daiki Arioka, a Japanese actor and singer.
- Haruto
Kanji: 陽大
Meaning: sunshine, positive, large
Pronunciation: HHAA-RuwTow
It is a boy’s name that shows your boy will bring light and positivity to the world.
- Hinata
Kanji: 陽太
Meaning: sunshine, thick,large
Pronunciation: Hee-nah-tah, HHIY-Naa-Taa
It is one of the Japanese names that mean light or moon for a boy with a great destiny.
- Hisaya
Kanji: 尚弥
Meaning: sun, respect
Pronunciation: Hee-sa-yah
When a man is respectful, he treats people with kindness, and when he is respected, he can lead others.
- Kiyoshi
Kanji: 清志
Meaning: shining, clean
Pronunciation: KEE-yoh-shi, k-ee-y-aw-sh-ee
Another meaning of the name Kiyoshi is tidy, meaning your boy will embrace this virtue.
- Masaki
Kanji: 真輝
Meaning: Bright, true
Pronunciation: MUH-SAK-EE, MaaSAAKiy
When you are true, you get favor in places you never imagined
- Masaharu
Kanji: 王陽
Meaning: sun, king
Pronunciation: MAH-SAR-OO
Have you dreamt of having a king or a person in power in your family? Then, you can name your prince Masaharu.
- Mitsunobu
Kanji: 満信
Meaning: shine, light
Pronunciation: Miy-TSUW-Now-Buw
Mitsunobu also means believe, and if you believe, you can face each day with confidence.
- Rai
Kanji: 頼
Meaning: Lighting, trust, thunder
Pronunciation: Raa-iy- or Rey
It is a rare Japanese name, with the population report in Japan.
- Taiyou
Kanji: 太陽
Meaning: sun
Pronunciation: Tay-YOW
The sun is a natural phenomenon that brings light and warmth to the world
- Yosuke
Kanji: 耀介
Meaning: sunlight, a person who helps
Pronunciation: YOW-Suw-Keh
People who help others get breakthroughs in life
- Yoshiaki
Kanji: 義明
Meaning: bright, lovely
Pronunciation: Yow-SHIY-aa-Kiy. Yowe-she-ah-key
Who wouldn’t want a lovely kid? Name your boy Yoshiaki to show he is lovely.
Gender-Neutral Japanese Names that Mean Light
- Akira
Kanji: 明
Meaning: bright, light, sunshine
Pronunciation: Ah-Keer-ah
It is a sweet gender-neutral baby common among the Japanese
- Akina
Kanji: 陽菜
Meaning: Bright
Pronunciation: AA-Kiy-Naa
This unisex name also means beautiful; hence your child will be beautiful inside out.
- Hikari
Kanji:光
Meaning: Light, brightness
Pronunciation: h-ee-K-AH-R-ee
If you want your girl or boy to be bright in school and the outside world, this is the name to go.
- Hikaru
Kanji: 光翔
Meaning: shine, glow, glitter
Pronunciation: HIH-kah-roo
Another meaning of the name Hikaru is brilliance
- Haru
Kanji: 陽
Meaning: Light, sun
Pronunciation: Hah-Roo
It is a simple yet vibrant name for a boy or a girl
- Kiri
Kanji: 輝璃
Meaning: Bright, crystal
Pronunciation: KIY-Riy
Crystals are brilliant and glittering characters that make gemstones
- Kosuke
Kanji: 光佑
Meaning: Rising sun
Pronunciation: KOH-soo-keh
The best time to watch the sun is when it is rising or setting because of its beautiful rays.
- Maki
Kanji: 真希
Meaning: True, bright
Pronunciation: MAH-Kiy
True people do not live a false life as they always stand for the truth
- Misaki
Kanji: 望早希
Meaning: Light, Bloom
Pronunciation: MIY-Saa-Kiy
This name also means precious; therefore, your child will be precious in this world.
- Mitsu
Kanji: 蜜
Meaning: Light, sweet
Pronunciation: M-ih-t-s-uu
Besides being the light in their space, your baby will also add sweetness.
- Niko
Kanji: 仁湖
Meaning: Sunlight, compassion, kindness
Pronunciation: NEE-koh
If you want to live well with people, be kind and compassionate
- Ori
Kanji: 大有
Meaning: Light
Pronunciation: or-ree
Another unique meaning of this name is to keep or to hold on to; hence, it shows that your child will keep going when faced with challenges.
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FAQs
I’m a foreigner. Do I need to change my name to a Japanese name when I become a Japanese citizen?
There is no need to choose a Japanese name if you are just a visitor to Japan. However, if you become a Japanese citizen, you can get one of the Japanese names that mean light or sun.
Which Japanese baby names can also sound American/ English?
In the modern era, Japanese names that sound English have become popular. They include;
- Naomi
- Mari
- Hana
- Mika
- Risa
- Karen
- Ken
- Dan
- Aran
Which name is perfect for a half-Japanese, half-English baby boy?
If you do not raise your boy in Japan, choose a name that will be easy to pronounce, such as Ken, Shun, or Ren. Also, some parents with half-kids have found it rough in a foreign land after providing official documents with katana names.
Does Japanese culture allow Western parents to give their babies Japanese names?
My husband and I are Americans and lived in Japan in the 90s. Our daughter was born, and we gave her a Japanese name, which was carefully selected. Now she is an adult living in the UK, and the name hasn’t caused her trouble.
Do Japanese have English names?
In Japan, you will rarely find people with English names. However, multicultural families can have English names that can be used in Japan and abroad.
Final Thoughts
Are you having sleepless nights thinking about which is the perfect name for your baby? Choose from this list of 44 Japanese names that mean light or moon. You won’t go wrong with these sweet names!
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