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Minami 南 – Japanese girl given name
Minami (南) is read みなみ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 南, the characters mean: south. This reading can be written with at least 137 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 18 strokes in total.
About the name Minami
Minami (南 or 美波) means south, or beauty plus wave. South reflects warmth and sunshine.
How to write Minami in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 南 | みなみ | south | 9 |
| 美波 | みなみ | beauty + waves | 17 |
| 皆美 | みなみ | all + beauty | 18 |
| 海方 | みなみ | sea + direction | 13 |
| 水明 | みなみ | water + bright | 12 |
| 心海 | みなみ | heart + sea | 13 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Minami
Minami in different scripts
| Romaji | Minami |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | みなみ |
| Katakana | ミナミ |
| Kanji (most common) | 南 |
Full name examples
- Minami Yuki (Japanese order: 結城南, ゆうき みなみ)
- Minami Kono (Japanese order: 河野南, こうの みなみ)
- Minami Maki (Japanese order: 牧南, まき みなみ)
How to pronounce Minami
Break it into 3 parts: mi · na · mi. 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 みなみ.
Questions about Minami
What does Minami mean in Japanese?
Minami has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 南, combines these meanings: south. Other spellings include 美波 (beauty + waves), 皆美 (all + beauty), 海方 (sea + direction).
How do you write Minami in kanji?
The most common way is 南 (みなみ). It can also be written 美波, 皆美, 海方, 水明, 心海.
How do you write Minami in katakana?
Minami is ミナミ in katakana and みなみ in hiragana.
Is Minami a boy or girl name?
Minami is mostly used for girls.
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Themes: NatureLight and sunLove and kindness
Other names that use 南
南: south
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.