Home / First names / Kaname

Kaname 要 – Japanese girl given name

Kaname (要) is read かなめ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 要, the characters mean: need. This reading can be written with at least 44 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 21 strokes in total.

About the name Kaname

Kaname (要) means pivot or key point. It is used for both sexes.

How to write Kaname in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
要	かなめ	need	9
金愛	かなめ	gold + love	21
愛女	かなめ	love + woman	16
可愛	かなめ	can + love	18
奏明	かなめ	play music + bright	17
奏女	かなめ	play music + woman	12

Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.

The kanji in Kaname

要

need, main point, essence, pivot

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 4

On: ヨウ Kun: い、かなめ

金

gold

8 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: キン、コン、ゴン Kun: かね、かな、がね

愛

love, affection, favourite

13 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 4

On: アイ Kun: いと、かな、め

女

woman, female

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: ジョ、ニョ、ニョウ Kun: おんな、め

Kaname in different scripts

Romaji	Kaname
Hiragana	かなめ
Katakana	カナメ
Kanji (most common)	要

Full name examples

Kaname Yuki (Japanese order: 結城要, ゆうきかなめ)
Kaname Kono (Japanese order: 河野要, こうのかなめ)
Kaname Maki (Japanese order: 牧要, まきかなめ)

How to pronounce Kaname

Break it into 3 parts: ka · na · me. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 3 sound units are written かなめ.

Questions about Kaname

What does Kaname mean in Japanese?

Kaname has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 要, combines these meanings: need. Other spellings include 金愛 (gold + love), 愛女 (love + woman), 可愛 (can + love).

How do you write Kaname in kanji?

The most common way is 要 (かなめ). It can also be written 金愛, 愛女, 可愛, 奏明, 奏女.

How do you write Kaname in katakana?

Kaname is カナメ in katakana and かなめ in hiragana.

Is Kaname a boy or girl name?

Kaname is mostly used for girls.

Share: X Facebook Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp

Themes: Light and sun Love and kindness Colors Music and sound

Other names that use 要

要: need, main point, essence

Akitoshi 明要 Motonori 要教 Yasuha 要葉 Yoichiro 要一郎 Yoji 要二 Yojiro 要赦 Yosuke 要助 Yozo 要三

Names with a similar sound

Kana 加名 Kanae 叶 Kanako 金子 Kanami 香奈美 Kanan 一南 Kanari 可成 Kaneo 金生 Kaneyoshi 金由 Kanji 幹二 Kanna 栞奈

Similar first names by meaning

Ae 安映 Aeka 和果 Aeri 和理 Ageha 一葉 Ai 愛 Aijiro 会赦 Aika 愛香 Aiko 会子