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Motoe 元衛 – Japanese girl given name

Motoe (元衛) is read もとえ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 元衛, the characters mean: beginning + defense. This reading can be written with at least 28 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 10 to 27 strokes in total.

How to write Motoe in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
元衛	もとえ	beginning + defense	20
基衛	もとえ	fundamentals + defense	27
基英	もとえ	fundamentals + England	19
本江	もとえ	book + creek	11
原江	もとえ	meadow + creek	16
元江	もとえ	beginning + creek	10

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

The kanji in Motoe

元

beginning, former time, origin

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: ゲン、ガン Kun: もと

衛

defense, protection

16 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 5

On: エイ、エ

基

fundamentals, radical, counter for machines, foundation

11 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 5

On: キ Kun: もと、もとい

英

England, English, hero, outstanding

8 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 4

On: エイ Kun: はなぶさ

Motoe in different scripts

Romaji	Motoe
Hiragana	もとえ
Katakana	モトエ
Kanji (most common)	元衛

Full name examples

Motoe Yuki (Japanese order: 結城元衛, ゆうきもとえ)
Motoe Kono (Japanese order: 河野元衛, こうのもとえ)
Motoe Maki (Japanese order: 牧元衛, まきもとえ)

How to pronounce Motoe

Break it into 2 parts: mo · toe. 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 もとえ.

Questions about Motoe

What does Motoe mean in Japanese?

Motoe has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 元衛, combines these meanings: beginning + defense. Other spellings include 基衛 (fundamentals + defense), 基英 (fundamentals + England), 本江 (book + creek).

How do you write Motoe in kanji?

The most common way is 元衛 (もとえ). It can also be written 基衛, 基英, 本江, 原江, 元江.

How do you write Motoe in katakana?

Motoe is モトエ in katakana and もとえ in hiragana.

Is Motoe a boy or girl name?

Motoe is mostly used for girls.

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Other names that use 元

元: beginning, former time, origin

Gengoro 元五郎 Genjiro 元赦 Genki 元気 Gentaro 元多郎 Motoka 元日

Names with a similar sound

Moto 大生 Motoaki 統明 Motoka 元日 Motoki 本基 Motoko 素子 Motomi 本実 Motonori 要教 Motoyoshi 本義