My Name in Japanese

English, Hiragana, Katakana & Kanji: How Name Conversion Works

English to Japanese name

Searching English to Japanese name usually means one of two things: write your real name the way Japanese speakers would (katakana), or pick a Japanese given name based on meaning. This page is the converter for the first path. For the rules behind katakana vs kanji, read English Name to Japanese Name: How It Actually Works. For a new given name, use the Japanese name generator.

Worked examples of English to Japanese name conversion (katakana is the form you would put on a business card in Tokyo):

• Emma → エマ (Ema) in katakana, えま in hiragana
• Daniel → ダニエル (Danieru), だにえる in hiragana
• Olivia → オリビア (Oribia), おりびあ in hiragana
• James → ジェームズ (Jēmuzu), じぇーむず in hiragana

Notice the extra vowels. Japanese syllables almost always end in a vowel (or ん). That is why “James” cannot stay as one syllable, it becomes je-e-mu-zu. The converter applies those phonetic rules so you do not have to memorize the chart.

Japanese to English name

Japanese to English name is the reverse job, and people mix two different requests under that phrase.

First: the English meaning of a Japanese given name. Sakura (桜) means cherry blossom. Haruto (陽翔) means soaring toward the sun. Kaito (海斗) means ocean Dipper. That is a dictionary lookup, not a converter. Search the name in our first names directory or open a profile such as Kaito name meaning. You get kanji, pronunciation, and the English gloss in one place.

Second: turning katakana back into the original English spelling. マイケル is Michael. トーマス is Thomas. サラ is Sarah. Reverse transliteration is lossy (リサ could be Lisa or Risa) so treat it as a best guess unless you already know the source name. If you have a Japanese given name written in kanji, do not “translate” the characters into an English first name; report the meaning instead (“Ren means lotus”), then keep the romaji.

Quick rule: English to Japanese name = type the English name in the converter above. Japanese to English name = look up the Japanese name for meaning, or reverse-read katakana only when it started as a foreign name.

Hiragana, katakana, and kanji for names

A name in Japanese hiragana is the pronunciation layer. Hiragana (ひらがな) is a phonetic syllabary. It tells you how to say the name, syllable by syllable, without implying meaning. Katakana (カタカナ) is also phonetic, but it marks the name as foreign. Kanji (漢字) carries meaning.

Use this split when you write a name:

• Kanji, native Japanese given names and surnames on official documents (陽翔, 佐藤). Parents choose characters for meaning and stroke count.
• Hiragana, furigana (reading aid) next to kanji, some given names written softly without kanji, and the reading of a converted foreign name. Example: さくら for Sakura, かいと for Kaito, まいける for Michael.
• Katakana, foreign names and loanwords. Michael is マイケル, not まいける, on a passport or company roster in Japan.

If you searched “name in Japanese hiragana,” type your English name in the converter. You will see katakana as the standard written form and hiragana as the reading. Native Japanese names in our encyclopedia show all three: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Hiragana is what you hand to a friend who is still learning to read kanji.

Do not mix the scripts on official forms. A foreign resident's legal Japanese rendering is katakana. A Japanese citizen's given name is kanji (or, less often, hiragana). Using hiragana for a Western name is fine in a language-learning notebook; it will look unusual on a business card.

My name in Japanese (katakana)

My name in Japanese is almost always katakana. Official documents, business cards, and game credits write foreign names that way. Type your name in the converter above to see full-width katakana, hiragana pronunciation, and optional kanji.

English to katakana converter: how it works

A katakana converter transliterates foreign names into 片仮名 (katakana), the script Japan uses for all non-Japanese names on passports, business cards, and official forms. Our free English to katakana converterhandles phonetic rules automatically: “Thomas” becomes トーマス (Tōmusu), “Sarah” becomes サラ (Sara), and “Michael” becomes マイケル (Maikeru).

The output includes full-width katakana (the standard form used in Japan), hiragana as a pronunciation guide, and romaji so you can read your name aloud correctly.

Translate your name to kanji

Beyond katakana, you can translate your name into kanji using ateji (当て字), kanji chosen for their sound and meaning. For example, someone named Emma might see 絵真 (picture + truth). These suggestions help you find a meaningful name to kanji rendering, whether for a tattoo, social media, or living in Japan.

Searching “mi nombre en kanji” or “translate Malay to Japanese name”? The same converter works for Spanish, Malay, Arabic, and every other language, all foreign names are written in katakana in Japan.

How Foreign Names Are Written in Japanese

When a name from another language enters the Japanese writing system, it undergoes a fascinating phonetic transformation. Foreign names are typically written in katakana(片仮名), one of Japan's two phonetic syllabaries, used specifically for foreign words, loanwords, and foreign names. This is why you'll see マイケル (Maikeru) for Michael or サラ (Sara) for Sarah on official Japanese documents.

The Rules of Japanese Phonetics

Japanese phonology is fundamentally syllabic: almost every sound ends in a vowel (with the exception of “n”, ン). This means that foreign consonant clusters must be broken up with inserted vowels. “Chris” becomes クリス (Kurisu) because Japanese cannot render “Chr” without vowels between the consonants. “Smith” becomes スミス (Sumisu) because “sm” needs a vowel between the s and m.

Sounds That Don't Exist in Japanese

Japanese lacks several common English sounds, requiring approximations. Looking up Thomas in katakana? The TH sound becomes T plus a vowel: トーマス (Tōmusu). Other common mappings:

• L vs. R: Japanese has no distinct L sound, both L and R map to the Japanese “r” sound (a sound between English L, R, and D). “Lisa” becomes リサ (Risa).
• V sound: Traditional Japanese has no V, so it's approximated with B. Modern Japanese sometimes uses ヴ (vu) for V. “Victor” becomes ビクター (Bikutā).
• TH sounds: Japanese has no TH, so it becomes S or Z. “Thomas” becomes トーマス (Tōmusu); “the” becomes ザ (za).
• Final consonants: Japanese words rarely end in consonants (except n). A final “-d” becomes “-do,” final “-t” becomes “-to.” “David” becomes デイビッド (Deibiddo).

Choosing Meaningful Kanji for a Foreign Name

Beyond katakana, many foreigners living in Japan or enthusiasts choose a meaningful kanji name(漢字名, kanji-mei) that captures the sound or spirit of their name. This requires careful selection of kanji whose readings approximate the original name's pronunciation while creating a meaningful combined message.

For example, a person named “Emma” might choose 絵真 (Ema), using the kanji for “picture” (絵) and “truth” (真), which approximates the sound “Ema” while conveying a meaningful combination of artistic vision and authenticity. This thoughtful process of kanji selection is itself a beloved aspect of Japanese naming culture.

Cultural Considerations

While anyone can adopt a Japanese-style name culturally, it's important to approach this with respect for the tradition. If you visit Japan frequently or have Japanese connections, consulting a native speaker about your name's rendering can provide valuable insights, particularly if you want to choose meaningful kanji rather than just a phonetic katakana rendering. The art of Japanese naming is one of cultural depth and intention, and engaging with it thoughtfully opens a rewarding connection to Japanese language and culture.