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Meiko 明子 – Japanese girl given name
Meiko (明子) is read めいこ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 明子, the characters mean: bright + child. This reading can be written with at least 36 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 16 strokes in total.
How to write Meiko in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明子 | めいこ | bright + child | 11 |
| 名子 | めいこ | name + child | 9 |
| 命子 | めいこ | fate + child | 11 |
| 明光 | めいこう | bright + ray | 14 |
| 盟子 | めいこ | alliance + child | 16 |
| 迷子 | めいこ | astray + child | 12 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Meiko
Meiko in different scripts
| Romaji | Meiko |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | めいこ |
| Katakana | メイコ |
| Kanji (most common) | 明子 |
Full name examples
- Meiko Yuki (Japanese order: 結城明子, ゆうき めいこ)
- Meiko Kono (Japanese order: 河野明子, こうの めいこ)
- Meiko Maki (Japanese order: 牧明子, まき めいこ)
How to pronounce Meiko
Break it into 2 parts: mei · 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 めいこ.
Questions about Meiko
What does Meiko mean in Japanese?
Meiko has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 明子, combines these meanings: bright + child. Other spellings include 名子 (name + child), 命子 (fate + child), 明光 (bright + ray).
How do you write Meiko in kanji?
The most common way is 明子 (めいこ). It can also be written 名子, 命子, 明光, 盟子, 迷子.
How do you write Meiko in katakana?
Meiko is メイコ in katakana and めいこ in hiragana.
Is Meiko a boy or girl name?
Meiko is mostly used for girls.
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Themes: Light and sun
Other names that use 明
明: bright, light
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.