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Mariko 麻里子 – Japanese girl given name
Mariko (麻里子) is read まりこ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 麻里子, the characters mean: hemp + ri + child. This reading can be written with at least 72 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 12 to 24 strokes in total.
About the name Mariko
Mariko (麻里子 or 毬子) means hemp village child or ball child. A classic -ko name.
How to write Mariko in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 麻里子 | まりこ | hemp + ri + child | 21 |
| 真理子 | まりこ | true + logic + child | 24 |
| 毬子 | まりこ | burr + child | 14 |
| 理子 | まりこ | logic + child | 14 |
| 海子 | まりこ | sea + child | 12 |
| 球子 | まりこ | ball + child | 14 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Mariko
Mariko in different scripts
| Romaji | Mariko |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | まりこ |
| Katakana | マリコ |
| Kanji (most common) | 麻里子 |
Full name examples
- Mariko Yuki (Japanese order: 結城麻里子, ゆうき まりこ)
- Mariko Kono (Japanese order: 河野麻里子, こうの まりこ)
- Mariko Maki (Japanese order: 牧麻里子, まき まりこ)
How to pronounce Mariko
Break it into 3 parts: ma · ri · ko. 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 まりこ.
Questions about Mariko
What does Mariko mean in Japanese?
Mariko has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 麻里子, combines these meanings: hemp + ri + child. Other spellings include 真理子 (true + logic + child), 毬子 (burr + child), 理子 (logic + child).
How do you write Mariko in kanji?
The most common way is 麻里子 (まりこ). It can also be written 真理子, 毬子, 理子, 海子, 球子.
How do you write Mariko in katakana?
Mariko is マリコ in katakana and まりこ in hiragana.
Is Mariko a boy or girl name?
Mariko is mostly used for girls.
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Themes: Nature
Other names that use 麻
麻: hemp, flax, numb
Names with a similar sound
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.