Ever notice how some names just seem to glow with meaning? Japanese names that mean “light” are exactly like that!
These beautiful names aren’t just pretty to say—they carry deep meanings about brightness, hope, and shining through darkness.
If you’re expecting a baby, creating a character for your story, or just love learning about different cultures, these light-filled Japanese names might be perfect for you!
In this guide, we’ll look at gorgeous Japanese names that represent light, sunshine, and brightness. You’ll learn their meanings, how to say them, and why they’re so special in Japanese culture.
Ready to find a name that truly shines? Let’s brighten up this search together!
Japanese Girl Names that Mean Light
1. Hikari
Pronunciation: Hih-kah-ree
Spelling: 光
2. Akari
Pronunciation: Ah-kah-ree
Spelling: 明り
3. Mei
Pronunciation: May
Spelling: 芽衣
4. Nozomi
Pronunciation: Noh-zoh-mee
Spelling: 希
5. Haruka
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kah
Spelling: 春香
6. Ayame
Pronunciation: Ah-yah-meh
Spelling: あやめ
7. Koharu
Pronunciation: Koh-hah-roo
Spelling: 小春
8. Yoko
Pronunciation: Yoh-koh
Spelling: 陽子
9. Natsuki
Pronunciation: Naht-soo-kee
Spelling: 夏希
10. Suzume
Pronunciation: Soo-zoo-meh
Spelling: すずめ
11. Konomi
Pronunciation: Koh-noh-mee
Spelling: 好美
12. Nanami
Pronunciation: Nah-nah-mee
Spelling: 七海
13. Aiko
Pronunciation: Ah-ee-koh
Spelling: 愛子
14. Saki
Pronunciation: Sah-kee
Spelling: 咲希
15. Harumi
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-mee
Spelling: 春美
16. Sayaka
Pronunciation: Sah-yah-kah
Spelling: さやか
17. Rika
Pronunciation: Ree-kah
Spelling: 理香
18. Yuka
Pronunciation: Yoo-kah
Spelling: 優香
19. Himari
Pronunciation: Hee-mah-ree
Spelling: 陽葵
20. Fumika
Pronunciation: Foo-mee-kah
Spelling: ふみか
21. Haruka
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kah
Spelling: 陽花
22. Hina
Pronunciation: Hee-nah
Spelling: 陽菜
23. Emi
Pronunciation: Eh-mee
Spelling: 恵美
24. Nami
Pronunciation: Nah-mee
Spelling: 波
25. Yui
Pronunciation: Yoo-ee
Spelling: 結衣
26. Rina
Pronunciation: Ree-nah
Spelling: 理奈
27. Kira
Pronunciation: Kee-rah
Spelling: 希羅
28. Ayaka
Pronunciation: Ah-yah-kah
Spelling: 彩花
29. Izumi
Pronunciation: Ee-zoo-mee
Spelling: 泉
30. Wakana
Pronunciation: Wah-kah-nah
Spelling: 和奏
31. Tomomi
Pronunciation: Toh-moh-mee
Spelling: 友美
32. Riko
Pronunciation: Ree-koh
Spelling: 莉子
33. Ayumi
Pronunciation: Ah-yoo-mee
Spelling: 歩美
34. Kohana
Pronunciation: Koh-hah-nah
Spelling: 小花
35. Kiyomi
Pronunciation: Kee-yoh-mee
Spelling: 清美
36. Hinata
Pronunciation: Hee-nah-tah
Spelling: 日向
37. Mika
Pronunciation: Mee-kah
Spelling: 美香
38. Yuina
Pronunciation: Yoo-ee-nah
Spelling: 結菜
39. Asuka
Pronunciation: Ah-soo-kah
Spelling: 明日香
40. Sayo
Pronunciation: Sah-yoh
Spelling: 紗世
41. Airi
Pronunciation: Ah-ee-ree
Spelling: 愛理
42. Miku
Pronunciation: Mee-koo
Spelling: 美空
43. Naho
Pronunciation: Nah-hoh
Spelling: 直穂
44. Sayuri
Pronunciation: Sah-yoo-ree
Spelling: 小百合
45. Momoka
Pronunciation: Moh-moh-kah
Spelling: 桃花
46. Keiko
Pronunciation: Kay-koh
Spelling: 恵子
47. Yume
Pronunciation: Yoo-meh
Spelling: 夢
48. Mami
Pronunciation: Mah-mee
Spelling: 真実
49. Konomi
Pronunciation: Koh-noh-mee
Spelling: 好実
50. Kanami
Pronunciation: Kah-nah-mee
Spelling: 香奈美
51. Chiharu
Pronunciation: Chee-hah-roo
Spelling: 千春
52. Harumi
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-mee
Spelling: 晴美
53. Megumi
Pronunciation: Meh-goo-mee
Spelling: 恵
54. Kana
Pronunciation: Kah-nah
Spelling: 佳奈
55. Sachi
Pronunciation: Sah-chee
Spelling: 幸
56. Nanako
Pronunciation: Nah-nah-koh
Spelling: 菜々子
57. Makoto
Pronunciation: Mah-koh-toh
Spelling: 真琴
58. Kiyoko
Pronunciation: Kee-yoh-koh
Spelling: 清子
59. Aya
Pronunciation: Ah-yah
Spelling: 彩
60. Natsumi
Pronunciation: Naht-soo-mee
Spelling: 夏美
61. Yuka
Pronunciation: Yoo-kah
Spelling: 優花
62. Kotomi
Pronunciation: Koh-toh-mee
Spelling: 琴美
63. Minami
Pronunciation: Mee-nah-mee
Spelling: 南
64. Suzune
Pronunciation: Soo-zoo-neh
Spelling: 鈴音
65. Ayame
Pronunciation: Ah-yah-meh
Spelling: 菖蒲
66. Kurea
Pronunciation: Koo-ray-ah
Spelling: クレア
67. Riko
Pronunciation: Ree-koh
Spelling: 莉瑚
68. Saki
Pronunciation: Sah-kee
Spelling: 咲
69. Haruka
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kah
Spelling: 陽翔
70. Yukari
Pronunciation: Yoo-kah-ree
Spelling: 紫
Japanese Boy Names that Mean Light
71. Akira
Pronunciation: Ah-kee-rah
Spelling: 明
72. Hikaru
Pronunciation: Hee-kah-roo
Spelling: 光
73. Haruto
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-toh
Spelling: 陽翔
74. Kaito
Pronunciation: Kai-toh
Spelling: 海斗
75. Yuki
Pronunciation: Yoo-kee
Spelling: 優輝
76. Taiki
Pronunciation: Tie-kee
Spelling: 大輝
77. Raito
Pronunciation: Rye-toh
Spelling: 雷斗
78. Ren
Pronunciation: Rehn
Spelling: 蓮
79. Sora
Pronunciation: Soh-rah
Spelling: 空
80. Kiyoshi
Pronunciation: Kee-yoh-shee
Spelling: 清
81. Itsuki
Pronunciation: Eet-soo-kee
Spelling: 樹
82. Haruki
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-kee
Spelling: 春輝
83. Sho
Pronunciation: Shoh
Spelling: 昇
84. Kento
Pronunciation: Ken-toh
Spelling: 健人
85. Yuuto
Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
Spelling: 優翔
86. Seiji
Pronunciation: Say-jee
Spelling: 清司
87. Daiki
Pronunciation: Dah-kee
Spelling: 大輝
88. Satoshi
Pronunciation: Sah-toh-shee
Spelling: 智
89. Yuji
Pronunciation: Yoo-jee
Spelling: 優二
90. Kazuya
Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-yah
Spelling: 一也
91. Akito
Pronunciation: Ah-kee-toh
Spelling: 明人
92. Kyo
Pronunciation: Kyo
Spelling: 京
93. Yuto
Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
Spelling: 悠斗
94. Shunya
Pronunciation: Shoon-yah
Spelling: 舜也
95. Rei
Pronunciation: Ray
Spelling: 玲
96. Taichi
Pronunciation: Tie-chee
Spelling: 太一
97. Kazuto
Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-toh
Spelling: 一翔
98. Natsuki
Pronunciation: Naht-soo-kee
Spelling: 夏輝
99. Jiro
Pronunciation: Jee-roh
Spelling: 次郎
100. Tsubasa
Pronunciation: Tsoo-bah-sah
Spelling: 翼
101. Koji
Pronunciation: Koh-jee
Spelling: 浩二
102. Toma
Pronunciation: Toe-mah
Spelling: 斗真
103. Hiroshi
Pronunciation: Hee-roh-shee
Spelling: 弘
104. Makoto
Pronunciation: Mah-koh-toh
Spelling: 誠
105. Genji
Pronunciation: Gen-jee
Spelling: 源二
106. Haruya
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-yah
Spelling: 陽也
107. Ryo
Pronunciation: Rye-oh
Spelling: 涼
108. Seiji
Pronunciation: Say-jee
Spelling: 聖司
109. Tetsuya
Pronunciation: Teh-tsu-yah
Spelling: 哲也
110. Taizo
Pronunciation: Tie-zoh
Spelling: 泰三
111. Shun
Pronunciation: Shoon
Spelling: 俊
112. Yuichi
Pronunciation: Yoo-ee-chee
Spelling: 優一
113. Hideki
Pronunciation: Hee-deh-kee
Spelling: 秀樹
114. Kazuhiro
Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-hee-roh
Spelling: 一宏
115. Shunji
Pronunciation: Shoon-jee
Spelling: 俊司
116. Makoto
Pronunciation: Mah-koh-toh
Spelling: 真
117. Ryosuke
Pronunciation: Rye-oh-skeh
Spelling: 涼介
118. Junnosuke
Pronunciation: Joon-noh-skeh
Spelling: 淳之介
119. Kazuya
Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-yah
Spelling: 和也
120. Yoshiki
Pronunciation: Yoh-shee-kee
Spelling: 良輝
121. Reiichiro
Pronunciation: Ray-ee-chee-roh
Spelling: 玲一郎
122. Kaito
Pronunciation: Kai-toh
Spelling: 快斗
123. Haruto
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-toh
Spelling: 陽翔
124. Daigo
Pronunciation: Dai-goh
Spelling: 大悟
125. Kiyoshi
Pronunciation: Kee-yoh-shee
Spelling: 喜祥
126. Daiki
Pronunciation: Dah-kee
Spelling: 大樹
127. Shogo
Pronunciation: Shoh-goh
Spelling: 祥悟
128. Renji
Pronunciation: Rehn-jee
Spelling: 蓮司
129. Yuuma
Pronunciation: Yoo-mah
Spelling: 優真
130. Soji
Pronunciation: Soh-jee
Spelling: 壌次
131. Hikaru
Pronunciation: Hee-kah-roo
Spelling: 光
132. Yasuo
Pronunciation: Yah-soo-oh
Spelling: 康男
133. Kohaku
Pronunciation: Koh-hah-koo
Spelling: 琥珀
134. Gaku
Pronunciation: Gah-koo
Spelling: 岳
135. Kazuki
Pronunciation: Kah-zoo-kee
Spelling: 一樹
136. Shintaro
Pronunciation: Shin-tah-roh
Spelling: 新太郎
137. Reiji
Pronunciation: Ray-jee
Spelling: 玲司
138. Riku
Pronunciation: Ree-koo
Spelling: 陸
139. Kento
Pronunciation: Ken-toh
Spelling: 健斗
140. Yuuto
Pronunciation: Yoo-toh
Spelling: 優翔
Japanese Gender-Neutral Names that Mean Light
141. Hikari
Pronunciation: Hih-kah-ree
Spelling: 光
142. Akari
Pronunciation: Ah-kah-ree
Spelling: 明り
143. Haru
Pronunciation: Hah-roo
Spelling: 陽
144. Yū
Pronunciation: Yoo
Spelling: 優
145. Kōki
Pronunciation: Koh-kee
Spelling: 光輝
146. Sora
Pronunciation: Soh-rah
Spelling: 空
147. Noa
Pronunciation: No-ah
Spelling: 乃亜
148. Kō
Pronunciation: Koh
Spelling: 光
149. Ren
Pronunciation: Ren
Spelling: 蓮
150. Saki
Pronunciation: Sah-kee
Spelling: 咲
151. Mei
Pronunciation: May
Spelling: 芽衣
152. Aoi
Pronunciation: Ah-oh-ee
Spelling: 葵
153. Riku
Pronunciation: Ree-koo
Spelling: 陸
154. Shin
Pronunciation: Sheen
Spelling: 真
155. Kaito
Pronunciation: Kai-toh
Spelling: 海翔
156. Kōka
Pronunciation: Koh-kah
Spelling: 光華
157. Tsukasa
Pronunciation: Tsoo-kah-sah
Spelling: 司
158. Aki
Pronunciation: Ah-kee
Spelling: 明
159. Fūka
Pronunciation: Foo-kah
Spelling: 風香
160. Natsuki
Pronunciation: Naht-soo-kee
Spelling: 夏希
161. Arata
Pronunciation: Ah-rah-tah
Spelling: 新
162. Akira
Pronunciation: Ah-kee-rah
Spelling: 明
163. Izumi
Pronunciation: Ee-zoo-mee
Spelling: 泉
164. Hikaru
Pronunciation: Hee-kah-roo
Spelling: 光
165. Tsubasa
Pronunciation: Tsoo-bah-sah
Spelling: 翼
166. Mirai
Pronunciation: Mee-rah-ee
Spelling: 未来
167. Ryo
Pronunciation: Ree-oh
Spelling: 亮
168. Kaoru
Pronunciation: Kah-oh-roo
Spelling: 薫
169. Fumika
Pronunciation: Foo-mee-kah
Spelling: ふみか
170. Yuuki
Pronunciation: Yoo-kee
Spelling: 優輝
171. Seiji
Pronunciation: Say-jee
Spelling: 誠司
172. Natsu
Pronunciation: Naht-soo
Spelling: 夏
173. Kōji
Pronunciation: Koh-jee
Spelling: 幸司
174. Renji
Pronunciation: Ren-jee
Spelling: 蓮司
175. Hoshiko
Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-koh
Spelling: 星子
176. Kōri
Pronunciation: Koh-ree
Spelling: 光理
177. Naoki
Pronunciation: Nah-oh-kee
Spelling: 直樹
178. Takumi
Pronunciation: Tah-koo-mee
Spelling: 匠
179. Yuna
Pronunciation: Yoo-nah
Spelling: 優奈
180. Akemi
Pronunciation: Ah-keh-mee
Spelling: 明美
181. Taro
Pronunciation: Tah-roh
Spelling: 太郎
182. Sayo
Pronunciation: Sah-yoh
Spelling: 紗世
183. Toma
Pronunciation: Toh-mah
Spelling: 斗真
184. Kiyoshi
Pronunciation: Kee-yoh-shee
Spelling: 清志
185. Maki
Pronunciation: Mah-kee
Spelling: 真希
186. Reika
Pronunciation: Ray-kah
Spelling: 麗香
187. Hiro
Pronunciation: Hee-roh
Spelling: 弘
188. Riki
Pronunciation: Ree-kee
Spelling: 力
189. Kanato
Pronunciation: Kah-nah-toh
Spelling: 奏人
190. Nanami
Pronunciation: Nah-nah-mee
Spelling: 七海
191. Sora
Pronunciation: Soh-rah
Spelling: 空
192. Minato
Pronunciation: Mee-nah-toh
Spelling: 湊
193. Yori
Pronunciation: Yoh-ree
Spelling: 頼
194. Ryōta
Pronunciation: Ree-oh-tah
Spelling: 良太
195. Izuru
Pronunciation: Ee-zoo-roo
Spelling: いづる
196. Kosei
Pronunciation: Koh-say
Spelling: 晃生
197. Fūji
Pronunciation: Foo-jee
Spelling: 風司
198. Kiyu
Pronunciation: Kee-yoo
Spelling: 喜優
199. Seina
Pronunciation: Say-nah
Spelling: 星奈
200. Aru
Pronunciation: Ah-roo
Spelling: ある
201. Kenta
Pronunciation: Ken-tah
Spelling: 健太
202. Chika
Pronunciation: Chee-kah
Spelling: 智香
203. Akito
Pronunciation: Ah-kee-toh
Spelling: 昭人
204. Tatsuya
Pronunciation: Tah-tsoo-yah
Spelling: 達也
205. Niko
Pronunciation: Nee-koh
Spelling: 日向
206. Aki
Pronunciation: Ah-kee
Spelling: 明
207. Shū
Pronunciation: Shoo
Spelling: 俊
208. Haruto
Pronunciation: Hah-roo-toh
Spelling: 陽翔
209. Taiki
Pronunciation: Tah-ee-kee
Spelling: 大輝
210. Minoru
Pronunciation: Mee-noh-roo
Spelling: 実
Tips for Choosing Japanese Names that Mean Light
Picking a name with a radiant meaning like “light” can give your child a beautiful, positive association. Japanese names often carry deep symbolism, so consider both sound and meaning when choosing. Here are key factors to help you find the perfect luminous name.
1. Consider the Type of Light
Names like Hinata (sunny place) or Haru (sunlight) evoke warmth and energy, while Akari (light/moonlight) or Tsukiko (moon child) suggest a softer glow.
For celestial charm, Hoshiko (star child) or Seira (stellar light) are lovely choices, and bold, fiery names include Homura (flame) or Ran (glow).
2. Think About Gender Associations
Masculine options include Akira (bright) and Kouki (light + hope), while feminine picks might be Hikari (light) or Nozomi (hope like light). Unisex choices like Teru (Shine) or Niko (Sunlight Child) work well for any child.
3. Match the Name’s Meaning to Your Values
If strength is important, Ryou (bright + fearless) could be ideal. For hope, Nozomi (wish like light) is meaningful, while Shizuka (quiet glow) conveys peace.
4. Check Pronunciation & Ease of Use
Avoid names that might be difficult to pronounce in your language, such as Tsukasa. Opt for intuitive spellings, like Kira instead of Kyouko, if simplicity is key.
5. Research Cultural Significance
Some names, like Hikaru or Akari, are widely recognized, while others, such as Hotaru (firefly), are poetic but less common. Ensure the name doesn’t have unintended meanings in Japanese.
6. Test the Name’s Longevity
Choose a name that will grow with your child—Hikari suits all ages, while Pikari might feel too cutesy for an adult. Consider a nickname potential, like Hika for Hikari or Aki for Akira.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it—a bright bunch of Japanese names all about light! Aren’t they wonderful?
These shining names do more than just sound pretty. They bring special meaning and good wishes to anyone lucky enough to have them.
Remember, picking a name is personal. If you go with something that means “morning sunshine” or “glowing moon,” the perfect light name is one that feels right to you.
We hope this list helped you find that special name you’ve been looking for! Maybe you’ve found the perfect name for your baby, your story character, or just learned something cool about Japanese culture.
Thanks for joining us on this bright ride through Japanese names. Which light-filled name was your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
