Study Japanese

What is your name in Japanese?: Convert into Katakana

Written by Kaori sensei

Do you want to know how to write your name in Japanese at first? Of course, useful converters exist. However, we will learn a little more deeply.

Which letter should be used for the name in Japanese?

There are three letters in the Japanese language: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. When you write your name of an overseas person in Japanese, we basically write in katakana. (People from Kanji-speaking regions can write in Kanji.) You can write by applying kanji characters with a focus on meaning, but you cannot use for formal documents.

Katakana chart

Look at the Katakana chart. You can see the consonants vertically on the outside of the squares and vowels horizontally in Romaji. We can expressed Japanese words basically in terms of this chart.

Example.

Name: Emma

Phonetic: /émə/

Romaji: Ema

Katakana: エマ 

Katakana chart

Nevertheless, in some cases, the chart above is not enough to express a foreign word. Therefore, the following table is also provided.

Example.

Name: James

Phonetic: /dʒéɪmz/

Romaji: Jeemusu

Katakana: ジェームス

Note: When the same vowel sounds overlap in Japanese, it is indicated by the “ー” symbol.

Katakana Name in Japanese

First Name in Japanese Conversion Chart

Now, here is a list of the most popular names by year of birth, as extracted from U.S. government data.
I have converted the names to Katakana, so please check if your name is not on the list. And the pronunciation is based on American English pronunciation.
If you can’t find it, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Popularity in 2022

RankMale name KatakanaFemale nameKatakana
1LiamリアムOliviaオリビア
2NoahノアEmmaエマ
3OliverオリバーCharlotteシャーロット
4Jamesジェームス
ジェイムス
Ameliaアミーリア
5ElijahイライジャSophiaソフィーア
6WilliamウィリアムIsabellaイザベラ
7HenryヘンリーAvaエバ
8LucasルーカスMiaミア
9BenjaminベンジャミンEvelynエブリン
10TheodoreシアドアLunaルナ
11MateoマテオHarperハーパー
12LeviレビCamilaカミラ
13Sebastianセバスチャン
セバスティアン
Sofiaソフィア
14DanielダニエルScarlettスカーレット
15JackジャックElizabethエリザベス
16MichaelマイケルEleanorエリナー
17AlexanderアレグサンダーEmilyエミリー
18OwenオーウェンChloeクロエ
19AsherアッシャーMilaミラ
20SamuelサミュエルVioletバイオレット
21EthanイーサンPenelopeペネロペ
22LeoレオGiannaジャンナ
23JacksonジャクソンAriaアリア
24MasonメーソンAbigailアビゲイル
25EzraエズラEllaエラ
イラ
26JohnジョンAveryアベリー
27HudsonハドソンHazelヘーゼル
28LucaルカNoraノラ
29AidenアイデンLaylaライラ
30JosephジョセフLilyリリー
31DavidデイヴィッドAuroraオーロラ
32Jacobジェイコブ
ヤコブ
Novaノバ
33LoganローガンEllieエリー
34LukeルークMadisonマディソン
35JulianジュリアンGraceグレイス
36GabrielガブリエルIslaイスラ
アイラ
37GraysonグレイソンWillowウィロー
38WyattワイアットZoeゾーイ
ゾイ
39MatthewマシューRileyライリー
40MaverickマーヴェリックStellaステラ
41DylanディランElianaエリアナ
42Isaacアイザック
イサク
Ivyアイビー
43EliasイライアスVictoriaヴィクトリア
44AnthonyアンソニーEmiliaエミリア
45ThomasトーマスZoeyゾーイ
46JaydenジェイデンNaomiナオミ
47CarterカーターHannahハンナ
48SantiagoサンティアゴLucyルーシー
49EzekielエゼキエルElenaエレナ
50CharlesチャールズLillianリリアン

Information source: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/popularnames.cgi

Recommended: Do you want Japanese name Necklace?

As you know, Japanese is a language used only in Japan. Its calligraphy is distinctive and well-designed. It would make a special gift! If you want a necklace with your favorite word other than your name and have any questions, please feel free to ask me in the comments section or by message.

MYKA - Personalized Japanese Name Necklace for Woman, Her, Men, Him - Custom Made with Any Name - Unisex Jewelry Gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthday - in Sterling Silver or Gold PlatingMYKA – Personalized Japanese Name Necklace for Woman, Her, Men, Him – Custom Made with Any Name – Unisex Jewelry Gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthday – in Sterling Silver or Gold Plating

About the author

Kaori sensei

Japanese online teacher, live in Kamakura, Japan. She is currently working as a language teacher and online Japanese experience host to introduce Japanese culture to the world. She originally worked as an engineer at a Japanese company, so she is familiar with Japanese business culture too.

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