Japanese names starting with C
16 Japanese girl and boy names that start with C, grouped by their first sound, with kanji, meanings and popularity.
In standard romanisation, C only appears as ch: chi, cha, chu and cho. So every Japanese name that starts with C starts with Ch.
Chi- names are the backbone of this letter. 千 (a thousand) gives Chiaki, Chihiro and Chinatsu, and 智 (wisdom) gives Chie and Chisato.
Across all 16 names, the kanji that most often begin a C name are 千 (thousand), 智 (wisdom), 知 (to know).
Names starting with Chi-
15 names. Chi- is most often written 千 (thousand), 智 (wisdom), 知 (to know).
Names starting with Chu-
1 name. Chu- is most often written 忠 (loyalty).
How C names are written
Japanese names are chosen for their kanji as much as their sound. These are the kanji that most often begin a C name, counting every spelling on this page. 5 of these names are popular today, and 2 are classics from before 1990.
| Kanji | Meaning | Spellings |
|---|---|---|
| 千 | thousand | 22 |
| 智 | wisdom | 4 |
| 知 | to know | 4 |
| 忠 | loyalty | 1 |
Questions
What is a popular Japanese girl name starting with C?
Chihiro (千尋) is one of the best-known: 千 thousand + 尋 to seek. Popular now · best No. 4.
What is a popular Japanese boy name starting with C?
Chihaya (千颯) is one of the best-known: 千 thousand + 颯 swift. Popular now · best No. 36.
Which C names sound old-fashioned in Japan?
Names that were popular before 1990 and have since dropped out of the rankings, such as Chiyoko, Chiyo, now sound like names of parents and grandparents.