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Minato 三都 – Japanese unisex given name
Minato (三都) is read みなと and has 3 syllables. It is used for both boys and girls. Written as 三都, the characters mean: three + metropolis. This reading can be written with at least 32 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 11 to 15 strokes in total.
About the name Minato
Minato means harbor, written 港 or the rarer 湊. It gives the sense of a safe place where boats return, and it has become a popular boys' name.
How to write Minato in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 三都 | みなと | three + metropolis | 14 |
| 水都 | みなと | water + metropolis | 15 |
| 港人 | みなと | harbor + person | 14 |
| 水音 | みなと | water + sound | 13 |
| 源人 | みなと | source + person | 15 |
| 皆人 | みなと | all + person | 11 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Minato
Minato in different scripts
| Romaji | Minato |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | みなと |
| Katakana | ミナト |
| Kanji (most common) | 三都 |
Full name examples
- Minato Yuki (Japanese order: 結城三都, ゆうき みなと)
- Minato Kono (Japanese order: 河野三都, こうの みなと)
- Minato Maki (Japanese order: 牧三都, まき みなと)
How to pronounce Minato
Break it into 3 parts: mi · na · to. 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 みなと.
Questions about Minato
What does Minato mean in Japanese?
Minato has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 三都, combines these meanings: three + metropolis. Other spellings include 水都 (water + metropolis), 港人 (harbor + person), 水音 (water + sound).
How do you write Minato in kanji?
The most common way is 三都 (みなと). It can also be written 水都, 港人, 水音, 源人, 皆人.
How do you write Minato in katakana?
Minato is ミナト in katakana and みなと in hiragana.
Is Minato a boy or girl name?
Minato is used for both boys and girls.
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Themes: Music and sound
Other names that use 三
三: three
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Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.