japanese names

[chichai]

Hi,

Any suggestions on Japanese names for first born child? (dont know the sex) This would be a middle name.
I've been thinking about it for months, but I can't come up with a boy's name and I can't find much resources for ideas.

Thanks!!
Kazuyo

[Psy]

There's a bit of an art in choosing a given name in Japanese, and since this will be with your child for the rest of his (maybe her) life, it might be a good plan to consult the experts. Google is your friend.

[Ulver_684]

Google is your friend only until certain point!

Please people don't depend on companies that only interest and convenience not the users!

Its time to wake up and see the true of the world we live in!

[JonB]

that work in english are virtually impossible - or so we found! My son has two english names... Part of the problem was I did not know many boys names because everyone here tends to use family names when introducing themselves.

Boys names - Ken and Rei would have worked but my wife did not like Ken and a close friend has a Rei. A couple from our neighbours I like are Kai and Taisei and one of his school chums is Tomohiro which I think sounds cool (should look up what it means though!!). I can't be doing with Ichiro (essentially Number 1 son).

Girls names - my favoured would be Hana (tip use the flower kanji and not nose!!!), but I also like Keiko, Rieko and for an obscure one Fumika (the wife's name).

Not an easy task for you there - good luck!

[Alan]

I vaguely remember that getting the total stroke count in the name to be an auspicious number is important when choosing the kanji for the name.

[annie]

Why do you want a Japanese middle name? And are you looking for a name that can pass as American-sounding?

I'm a fan of "Genki" for a boys name.

fyi- middle names aren't done in Japan

[JonB]

fyi- middle names aren't done in Japan

And I wish they would stop using mine on every document - I never use mine!!! But I do have an American friend who used to live here who went by his middle name and not his "first" name - that used to really screw with the system, so much so he ended up with 2 tax demands!!!!

JonB

[Yoshiko]

What about 'Yoshiko' or the male equivalent 'Yoshiro'?
Here's a list of names with the meaning.
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/jap.php
But some names can be written with different kanji and have a different meaning.
良子 is my 'Yoshiko' (good daughter) according to a friend of mine (what about 'Akiko'...really classic). I asked her to paint the kanji for Yoshiko, and she first wanted to know the meaning.