Japanese names that mean love
Japanese names built on 愛, the kanji for love and affection: Ai, Aina, Manami, Mana and more, and why 恋 is rare.
愛 ai, mana: love恋 koi, ren: romantic loveMostly girls
愛 (ai) is the warmest kanji in Japanese names and one of the most used for girls. It gives the short, classic Ai, and appears in Aina, Airi, Manami (愛美, love + beauty) and Mana. In recent years it has also been read in freer ways, as in Kokoa (心愛) and Noa (乃愛).
恋, which means romantic love or longing, is much rarer in names. It can feel too passionate for a child's name, though it does appear occasionally. 慈, gentle compassion, is another quiet love kanji.
On this page
The kanji behind love names
| Kanji | Readings | Meaning | In names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 愛 | いと, かな, め, お | love | 41 ranked names |
| 恋 | こ, こい, れん | love, romance | 1 ranked name |
| 慈 | いつく, じ | compassion | Rare in ranked names |
Popular names with a love kanji
Spellings that have made Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
Love names of real people
Given names with a love kanji carried by notable Japanese people. The number shows how many notable people share each one.
More love names
Rarer spellings found in Japanese name records. In each one the love kanji keeps its own reading, so the meaning is really there, not just the sound.
真愛子
Maaiko真 true + 愛 love + 子 child
GirlRare愛陽
Manahi愛 love + 陽 sun
GirlRare愛優
Aiyu愛 love + 優 gentle
GirlRare菜愛
Naai菜 greens + 愛 love
GirlRare愛桜子
Aisakurako愛 love + 桜 cherry blossom + 子 child
GirlRare愛美奈
Manamina愛 love + 美 beautiful + 奈 (used for its sound
GirlRare愛希
Manaki愛 love + 希 hope
GirlRare愛梨子
Airisu愛 love + 梨 pear + 子 child
GirlRare愛良子
Airako愛 love + 良 good + 子 child
GirlRare愛太郎
Aitarō愛 love + 太 big + 郎 son
BoyRare愛人
Aito愛 love + 人 person
GirlRareQuestions
What Japanese name means love?
Ai (愛) means love. Aiko (愛子, child of love), Manami (愛美) and Aina (愛菜) are popular names built on it.
Is 愛 used in boys' names?
Sometimes, as in Manato (愛翔) and Aito, but it is far more common in girls' names.