Japanese names starting with S
122 Japanese girl and boy names that start with S, grouped by their first sound, with kanji, meanings and popularity.
S is one of the biggest letters in Japanese names. Sa-, Shi-, Sō- and Su- give names from Sakura and Sōta to Shiori and Subaru.
Many S- names carry nature: 咲 (to bloom), 桜 (cherry blossom), 颯 (swift wind) and 蒼 (blue).
Across all 122 names, the kanji that most often begin a S name are 正 (right), 咲 (to bloom), 慎 (careful).
On this page
Names starting with Sa-
29 names. Sa- is most often written 咲 (to bloom), 紗 (thin silk), 沙 (sand).
Names starting with Shi-
29 names. Shi- is most often written 慎 (careful), 真 (true), 重 (layer).
Names starting with Shu-
19 names. Shu- is most often written 修 (to study), 俊 (talented), 駿 (swift horse).
Names starting with Sho-
13 names. Sho- is most often written 正 (right), 翔 (to soar), 昌 (prosperous).
Names starting with Su-
12 names. Su- is most often written 純 (pure), 澄 (clear), 翠 (jade green).
Names starting with Se-
10 names. Se- is most often written 聖 (holy), 誠 (sincerity), 晴 (clear skies).
Names starting with So-
10 names. So- is most often written 颯 (swift), 蒼 (blue), 奏 (to play music).
How S names are written
Japanese names are chosen for their kanji as much as their sound. These are the kanji that most often begin a S name, counting every spelling on this page. 34 of these names are popular today, and 11 are classics from before 1990.
| Kanji | Meaning | Spellings |
|---|---|---|
| 正 | right, correct | 17 |
| 咲 | to bloom | 17 |
| 慎 | careful, humble | 14 |
| 真 | true, genuine | 14 |
| 重 | layer, important | 12 |
| 翔 | to soar, to fly | 11 |
| 紗 | thin silk | 11 |
| 聖 | holy, sacred | 10 |
Questions
What is a popular Japanese girl name starting with S?
Sakura (さくら) is one of the best-known: . Popular now · best No. 1.
What is a popular Japanese boy name starting with S?
Shō (翔) is one of the best-known: 翔 to soar. Popular now · best No. 1.
Which S names sound old-fashioned in Japan?
Names that were popular before 1990 and have since dropped out of the rankings, such as Sachiko, Shigeru, Saburō, Shizuko, now sound like names of parents and grandparents.