Ancient Japanese Names Ancient Japanese Names Discover authentic ancient Japanese names from historical figures (645-1868). Explore samurai names, noble names, and warriors with kanji meanings and historical context.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A virtuous leader who brings peace and stability
Kanji Meanings 徳: virtue, morality
川: river, stream
家: house, family
康: peace, ease
Why this name The name reflects his role as the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, emphasizing virtue (徳) and peace (康), while maintaining the family (家) lineage.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A legendary warrior and founder of the first shogunate
Kanji Meanings 源: source, origin
頼: rely on, trust
朝: morning, dynasty
Why this name His name symbolizes his role as the founder of a new era (源), with Yoritomo representing trust and leadership in the new dynasty.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A loyal and virtuous warrior
Kanji Meanings 楠: camphor tree
木: tree
正: righteous
成: achieve
Why this name Known for his unwavering loyalty, his name combines strength (楠) with righteousness (正).
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A powerful shogun who established a new dynasty
Kanji Meanings 足: foot, sufficient
利: benefit, advantage
尊: revered, noble
氏: clan, family
Why this name His name reflects his role as founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, emphasizing nobility (尊) and prosperity (利).
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A legendary ninja leader
Kanji Meanings 服: clothing, submit
部: department, section
半: half
蔵: store, hide
Why this name His name suggests both secrecy (蔵) and leadership (部), fitting for a ninja chief.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A brave and skilled warrior
Kanji Meanings 真: truth
田: field
幸: happiness
村: village
Why this name His name combines truth (真) and fortune (幸), reflecting his legendary courage and skill.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A wise and cultured daimyo
Kanji Meanings 細: fine, detailed
川: river
忠: loyalty
興: rise, flourish
Why this name His name emphasizes loyalty (忠) and prosperity (興), reflecting his role as a cultural leader.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning An ambitious and cultured daimyo
Kanji Meanings 今: now
川: river
義: righteousness
元: origin
Why this name His name combines present action (今) with righteousness (義), reflecting both cultural and political ambitions.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A strategic and wise ruler
Kanji Meanings 毛: hair
利: benefit
元: origin
就: accomplish
Why this name His name emphasizes accomplishment (就) and benefit (利), reflecting successful leadership.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A powerful and loyal daimyo of Satsuma
Kanji Meanings 島: island
津: port, harbor
義: righteousness, justice
弘: vast, broad
Why this name His name combines righteousness (義) with vastness (弘), reflecting his role as a powerful and principled leader of the Shimadzu clan, with the family name (島津) representing their coastal domain.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A legendary kabuki actor
Kanji Meanings 市: city
川: river
団: group
十: ten
郎: son
Why this name His name represents the continuation of a great theatrical lineage, with Danjuro being passed down through generations.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A powerful unifier with bold ambition
Kanji Meanings 織: weave, organize
田: field, rice paddy
信: trust, faith
長: leader, chief
Why this name His name reflects his role as a unifier (織) and leader (長) of Japan, with 信 representing his trustworthiness and determination.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A wise and prosperous ruler
Kanji Meanings 豊: abundant, rich
臣: minister, servant
秀: excellent
吉: good fortune
Why this name His name symbolizes excellence (秀) and prosperity (豊), reflecting his rise from a peasant to one of Japan's greatest rulers.
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A wise and just military commander
Kanji Meanings 上: superior
杉: cedar
謙: modest, humble
信: trust, faith
Why this name Known as the Dragon of Echigo, his name reflects his military prowess (上杉) and Buddhist faith (謙信).
Ancient Japanese Male Names Overall Meaning A powerful and strategic military leader
Kanji Meanings 武: military, warrior
田: field
信: trust
玄: mysterious, profound
Why this name The Tiger of Kai, his name represents military might (武) and deep strategy (玄).
Ancient Japanese Female Names Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A refined and educated writer
Kanji Meanings 紫: purple
式: ceremony, form
部: department, section
Why this name Her name reflects her literary achievements and noble background, with purple (紫) representing refinement and nobility.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A brave and skilled female warrior
Kanji Meanings 巴: comma-shaped swirl
御: honorable
前: before, in front
Why this name Her name represents her famous fighting prowess, with 巴 symbolizing movement and power.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning The goddess of the sun and universe
Kanji Meanings 天: heaven
照: illuminate
大: great
神: deity
Why this name Her name represents her role as the supreme sun goddess, combining heaven (天) with illumination (照).
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A female daimyo known for her strength
Kanji Meanings 立: stand
花: flower
銀: silver
千: thousand
Why this name Her name combines beauty (花) with strength (銀), reflecting her unique position as a female ruler.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning The influential wife of Minamoto no Yoritomo
Kanji Meanings 北: north
条: article, clause
政: politics
子: child
Why this name Her name reflects her political influence (政) and noble status (子).
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning The founder of kabuki theater
Kanji Meanings 出: exit
雲: cloud
阿: steep
国: country
Why this name Her name connects her to the Izumo region (出雲) and her role in Japanese cultural history.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A princess known for her beauty and tragic life
Why this name Her name means 'Princess Sen', reflecting her high status and legendary beauty.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A Buddhist nun and accomplished writer
Why this name Her name reflects both her religious devotion and literary achievements.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Romaji: Kenreimon-in Ukyo no Daibu Overall Meaning A talented poet and imperial consort
Kanji Meanings 建: build
礼: courtesy
門: gate
院: institution
Why this name Her name reflects her high court status and cultural refinement.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A legendary female warrior
Why this name Her name combines purity (清) with nobility (姫), reflecting her legendary status.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A beautiful and talented poet
Why this name Her name reflects her origins and became synonymous with feminine beauty and poetic talent in Japanese culture.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A noble lady who embraced Christianity
Why this name Her Japanese name combined with her Christian name Gracia represents the unique blend of Japanese and Western culture during Japan's early Christian period.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A renowned poet from the Heian period
Kanji Meanings 和: harmony
泉: spring, fountain
式: ceremony
部: department
Why this name Her name combines her origin from Izumi province with her court title, reflecting her role as both a provincial governor's daughter and court lady.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning A powerful political figure and wet nurse
Kanji Meanings 春: spring
日: sun
局: bureau, chamber
Why this name Her name reflects her position as a high-ranking lady in the Tokugawa shogunate, with 局 (tsubone) indicating her status as a court lady.
Ancient Japanese Female Names Overall Meaning An influential noble lady
Kanji Meanings 日: sun
野: field
富: wealth
子: child
Why this name Her name combines the Hino family name (日野) with personal name elements suggesting prosperity (富) and nobility (子).