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Minami 南 – Japanese surname

Minami (南) is read みなみ and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 南, the characters mean: south. This reading can be written with at least 28 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 9 to 18 strokes in total.

About the name Minami

Minami (南) means south.

How to write Minami in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
南	みなみ	south	9
美波	みなみ	beauty + waves	17
皆美	みなみ	all + beauty	18
南海	みなみ	south + sea	18
三並	みなみ	three + row	11
見並	みなみ	see + row	15

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

The kanji in Minami

南

south

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: ナン、ナ Kun: みなみ

美

beauty, beautiful

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: ビ、ミ Kun: うつく

波

waves, billows, Poland

8 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: ハ Kun: なみ

皆

all, everything

9 strokes, taught in secondary school

On: カイ Kun: みな、みんな

Minami in different scripts

Romaji	Minami
Hiragana	みなみ
Katakana	ミナミ
Kanji (most common)	南

Full name examples

Ayumi Minami (Japanese order: 南歩美, みなみあゆみ)
Yurina Minami (Japanese order: 南百合奈, みなみゆりな)
Yuki Minami (Japanese order: 南結城, みなみゆうき)

How to pronounce Minami

Break it into 3 parts: mi · na · mi. 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 みなみ.

Questions about Minami

What does Minami mean in Japanese?

Minami has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 南, combines these meanings: south. Other spellings include 美波 (beauty + waves), 皆美 (all + beauty), 南海 (south + sea).

How do you write Minami in kanji?

The most common way is 南 (みなみ). It can also be written 美波, 皆美, 南海, 三並, 見並.

How do you write Minami in katakana?

Minami is ミナミ in katakana and みなみ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Minami?

Minami is read みなみ and has 3 syllables (morae).

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Themes: Nature

Other surnames that use 南

南: south

Minamoto 南本 Nanto 南東 Tanami 田南

Names with a similar sound

Minagawa 水川 Minai 水内 Minamoto 南本 Minobe 三部 Minoshima 箕島 Minowa 三野

Similar last names by meaning

Agata 安方 Aida 会田 Aijima 会島 Aikawa 会川 Aishima 会島 Akagi 明木 Akaki 明木 Amagai 天海