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Japanese Names Meaning Death: What to Know
Real Japanese given names do not mean death. The character for death (æ») is not on the approved list for children's names, and the sound shi is avoided because it is the same sound as the word for four, an unlucky number. When people search this, they usually want a dark, fictional or gothic feel, and there are real names that do that well.
What to use instead
Names with meanings such as night, shadow, black or evening give a dark feel without using a taboo character. See the list below.
For fiction
Writers often use folklore terms or invented names for characters linked to death. Be aware that these are not real given names, and check with a native speaker if the name will be seen by Japanese readers.
First names
| Name | Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asuka girl | ææ„ | ăăă | bright + day |
| Eiko girl | ć¶ć | ăăă | occupation + child |
| Aya girl | ćźé | ăă | relax + plains |
| Sayoko girl | ć°ć€ć | ăăă | little + night + child |
| Eisaburo boy | èĄäžé | ăăăă¶ăă | defense + three + son |
| Miyo girl | çŸä»Ł | ăżă | beauty + substitute |
| Miyoko girl | çŸä»Łć | ăżăă | beauty + substitute + child |
| Isayo girl | ć代 | ăăă | achievement + substitute |
| Sayo girl | ć°ä»Ł | ăă | little + substitute |
| Eimi girl | æ èŠ | ăăăż | reflect + see |
| Saya boy | çŽäč | ăă | gauze + to be |
| Yuzuki girl | ç”æ | ăă„ă | tie + month |
| Yuhi girl | ææ„ | ăăăČ | possess + day |
| Einosuke boy | èĄäčć© | ăăăźăă | defense + of + help |
| Miya boy | ćźé | ăżă | reality + plains |
| Kurea girl | ä»Łäœ | ăăă | substitute + what |
| Asa girl | ćźäœ | ăă | relax + make |
| Eiichiro boy | èĄäžé | ăăăăĄăă | defense + one + son |
| Eitaro boy | èĄć€é | ăăăăă | defense + many + son |
| Nayu girl | äžćȘ | ăȘă | seven + tenderness |
| Serena girl | ć°ć€ | ăăăȘ | little + night |
| Yukana girl | ç±ć„ | ăăăȘ | wherefore + play music |
| Toyo girl | ć代 | ăšă | ten + substitute |
| Yuno girl | ç”éł | ăăăź | tie + sound |
| Eishi boy | èĄć | ăăă | defense + child |
| Shu girl | ç§ćȘ | ăă ă | autumn + tenderness |
| Yuya boy | ç±é | ăă | wherefore + plains |
| Seiya boy | è„żć€ | ăăă | west + night |
| Ayoko girl | ćźä»Łć | ăăă | relax + substitute + child |
| Kazuya boy | äžć « | ăăă | one + eight |
| Toshiya boy | ć©ćź¶ | ăšăă | profit + house |
Last names
| Name | Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yogo | äžćŸ | ăă | bestow + behind |
| Yukawa | ç”ć· | ăăă | tie + stream |
| Nakaya | äžćź¶ | ăȘăă | in + house |
| Yabe | ć «éš | ăăč | eight + section |
| Yuda | æç° | ăă | finger + rice field |
| Ogura | ć€§è” | ăăăă | large + storehouse |
| Kuroda | é»ç° | ăăă | black + rice field |
| Kurosawa | é»æČą | ăăăă | black + swamp |
Kanji behind these names
These are the characters in the names above that carry this meaning, with their readings. Mix them to see why one reading can have many spellings.
| Kanji | Meaning | Readings | Strokes | Seen in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ć€ | night, evening (taught in grade 2) | ă€ăăăăă | 8 | Sayoko, Serena, Seiya |
| é» | black (taught in grade 2) | ăłăŻăăă | 11 | Kuroda, Kurosawa |
How to choose a spelling
When two spellings share the same sound, compare the literal meanings in the table and say both aloud. Pick the one whose meaning you like and whose characters look balanced together. If the name is for something permanent, ask a native speaker to read it back to you.
Questions
Is there a Japanese name that means death?
Not among registered given names. The character æ» is not allowed, and the sound shi is considered unlucky.
What is the Japanese word for death?
Shi (æ»), but it is not used for names.
Related pages
More: girl names · boy names · unisex names · names by meaning