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Motoko 素子 – Japanese girl given name
Motoko (素子) is read もとこ and has 3 syllables. It is mostly used for girls. Written as 素子, the characters mean: elementary + child. This reading can be written with at least 63 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 4 to 14 strokes in total.
About the name Motoko
Motoko (素子 or 基子) means simple child or foundation child, a classic -ko name.
How to write Motoko in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 素子 | もとこ | elementary + child | 13 |
| 基子 | もとこ | fundamentals + child | 14 |
| 元子 | もとこ | beginning + child | 7 |
| 一子 | もとこ | one + child | 4 |
| 本子 | もとこ | book + child | 8 |
| 東子 | もとこ | east + child | 11 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Motoko
Motoko in different scripts
| Romaji | Motoko |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | もとこ |
| Katakana | モトコ |
| Kanji (most common) | 素子 |
Full name examples
- Motoko Yuki (Japanese order: 結城素子, ゆうき もとこ)
- Motoko Kono (Japanese order: 河野素子, こうの もとこ)
- Motoko Maki (Japanese order: 牧素子, まき もとこ)
How to pronounce Motoko
Break it into 3 parts: mo · to · 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 もとこ.
Questions about Motoko
What does Motoko mean in Japanese?
Motoko has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 素子, combines these meanings: elementary + child. Other spellings include 基子 (fundamentals + child), 元子 (beginning + child), 一子 (one + child).
How do you write Motoko in kanji?
The most common way is 素子 (もとこ). It can also be written 基子, 元子, 一子, 本子, 東子.
How do you write Motoko in katakana?
Motoko is モトコ in katakana and もとこ in hiragana.
Is Motoko a boy or girl name?
Motoko is mostly used for girls.
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Other names that use 素
素: elementary, principle, naked
Names with a similar sound
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.