Thinking of a Japanese Name Tattoo? Read This First
Know which script you want
A foreign name is normally written in katakana, which gives the sound. A kanji version is a creative choice, because kanji carry meaning. Decide whether you want the sound or an idea, because they lead to different tattoos.
Do not trust one tool
Online converters, including the one on this site, give an approximate spelling. Sounds that do not exist in Japanese get rounded off, and different tools often disagree. Treat any result as a starting point.
Check with a native speaker
Ask a native Japanese speaker, ideally two, to read your design. They can tell you whether it reads naturally and whether the kanji combination means what you think. A tattoo artist who does not read Japanese cannot judge this.
Check the drawing too
Kanji and kana depend on small details such as stroke length and direction. Ask for a clean reference from a calligrapher or a font, and compare it letter by letter with the final stencil before the needle touches skin.
Common mistakes
The most common errors are choosing kanji by looking up each English word separately, combining characters that do not form a real word, and using a mirrored or stylised font that changes the meaning. Another mistake is getting a name in kanji without checking the reading, which can end up as a different name.
Safer alternatives
Katakana is the safest way to write a foreign name because it only records sound. If you want kanji, choose a real Japanese word or a name from a reliable list, and have a calligrapher draw it so the strokes are correct.
Questions
Is it safe to get a name tattoo in Japanese?
Only after a native speaker has checked the characters, the reading and the final drawing.
Which script should I use for my name?
Katakana gives the sound of a foreign name. Kanji gives meaning but is unofficial.
Explore popular names
Try the name generator and converter, search names by meaning.