“Twinkle, twinkle, little star! How I wonder what you are?”
Did that nostalgic tune just start playing in your mind?
Get ready because you’ll soon find yourself singing it on repeat, teaching it to your little one with all the love and tenderness of a sentimental mom.
Oh, the countless times I’ve hummed this tune, wondering about the magic those little stars hold.
It’s amazing how the simplest melodies become the soundtrack of our parenting journey.
This particular song holds a special place in our hearts as it was one of the first tunes that our parents shared with us.
Are you on the lookout for something truly special for your little bundle of joy, your own little shining star?
Perhaps you’re seeking a name that not only captures the luminosity of a star but also carries a unique twist, and that’s why you’re considering Japanese names that mean star, a unique name.
Imagine your little one becoming their own radiant star, shining brightly in the vast universe.
In recent years, the allure of Japanese names has captivated many, drawing people into the rich tapestry of Japanese culture. As a mom who’s been through the name-picking adventure, I know the importance of finding that perfect name that resonates with your dreams for your little one.
Now, as you embark on the beautiful journey of choosing the perfect name for your baby, I’m here to share my experiences and insights. I remember the days of scouring the internet, crafting a list of names that resonated with my hopes and dreams for my beautiful child.
Today, I present to you a curated list of beautiful Japanese names that mean star, each intricately connected to the celestial world—a collection inspired by the brilliance of stars.
In the Japanese language, the word “Hoshi” (星) means “star.” The character 星 is used to represent celestial bodies that shine in the night sky, such as stars. It is a common term used in various contexts, including astronomy, poetry, and everyday language.
The character itself has ancient origins and can be traced back to Chinese characters. The Chinese character for “star” is 星 (xīng in Mandarin), and it made its way into the Japanese writing system through cultural exchange and the adoption of Chinese characters in Japan.
Unisex Japanese Name or Gender-neutral Name That Mean Star
- Hoshi (星)
- Meaning: Star
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee
- Hoshizora (星空)
- Meaning: Starry Sky
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-zoh-rah
- Hoshiyo (星陽)
- Meaning: Sun and Stars
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-yoh
- Hoshikage (星影)
- Meaning: Star Shadow
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-kah-geh
- Hikari (光)
- Meaning: Light (Stars emit light, and this name symbolizes brightness.)
- Pronunciation: Hee-kah-ree
- Pop Culture: Hikari is a common name in Japanese pop culture, often used for characters who possess a bright and positive personality.
- Akari (明星)
- Meaning: Light or Glow (Stars are sources of light in the night sky.)
- Pronunciation: Ah-kah-ree
- Pop Culture: Akari is a popular name in Japan and has been used in anime and manga for characters with a luminous or radiant presence.
- Hikaru (光る)
- Meaning: Shining or Glimmering (Reflecting the brightness of stars.)
- Pronunciation: Hee-kah-roo
- Pop Culture: Hikaru is a well-known name in Japan and has been featured in various anime and manga series.
- Kira (キラ)
- Meaning: Sparkle or Twinkle
- Pronunciation: Kee-rah
- Pop Culture: Kira is a popular name and has been used in anime and manga, including the famous character Light Yagami in “Death Note.”
- Aoi (葵)
- Meaning: Blue (as in the color of the sky where stars shine)
- Pronunciation: Ah-oh-ee
- Pop Culture: Aoi is a common name in Japan and has been used for various characters in anime and manga.
- Tsubasa (翼)
- Meaning: Wing (as in reaching for the stars)
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-bah-sah
- Pop Culture: Tsubasa is a popular name and has been featured in anime and manga, including the character Tsubasa Ozora in “Captain Tsubasa.”
- Ren (蓮)
- Meaning: Lotus (inspired by the stars’ reflection in water)
- Pronunciation: Rehn
- Yozora (夜空)
- Meaning: Night Sky (where stars are most visible)
- Pronunciation: Yoh-zoh-rah
- Takara (宝)
- Meaning: Treasure (symbolizing the value of stars)
- Pronunciation: Tah-kah-rah
- Kogane (黄金)
- Meaning: Golden (as stars shine brightly in the night sky)
- Pronunciation: Koh-gah-neh
- Yozakura (夜桜)
- Meaning: Night Sakura (where stars shine through cherry blossoms)
- Pronunciation: Yoh-zah-koo-rah
Popular Japanese Names That Mean Star For Girls
- Hoshiko (星子)
- Meaning: Star Child
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-koh
- Hoshimi (星美)
- Meaning: Beautiful Star
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-mee
- Yuko (夢子)
- Meaning: Child of the Universe
- Pronunciation: Yoo-koh
- Pop Culture: Yuko is a traditional name and might be found in classic Japanese literature.
- Yuriko (百合子)
- Meaning: Lily Child (with the idea of stars as pure and delicate, like lilies)
- Pronunciation: Yoo-ree-koh
- Hotaru (蛍)
- Meaning: Firefly (associated with the twinkling lights of stars)
- Pronunciation: Hoh-tah-roo
- Riko (理子)
- Meaning: Child of Truth (stars often associated with guidance and truth)
- Pronunciation: Ree-koh
- Mizuki (瑞月)
- Meaning: Beautiful Moon (symbolizing the connection between stars and the moon)
- Pronunciation: Mee-zoo-kee
- Serika (星 璃 花)
- Meaning: Crystal, flower, star
- Pronunciation: Sey-ri-ka
Popular Japanese Names That Mean Star For Baby Boys
- Seiichiro (星一郎)
- Meaning: First Son of the Star
- Pronunciation: Say-ee-chee-roh
- Akio (明夫)
- Meaning: Man of Brightness (Bright as a star)
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-oh
- Pop Culture: Akio is a well-used name in Japan and has been featured in various manga and anime series.
- Kosei (光星)
- Meaning: Shining Star
- Pronunciation: Koh-say
- Haruto (陽翔)
- Meaning: Soaring Sun (Stars shining in the sky)
- Pronunciation: Ha-roo-toh
- Pop Culture: Haruto is a trendy and popular name in Japan and has been used for characters in anime and manga.
- Asteru (アステル)
- Meaning: Star
- Pronunciation: Ah-steh-roo
- Seiichiro (星一郎)
- Meaning: First Son of the Star
- Pronunciation: Say-ee-chee-roh
- Kosei (光星)
- Meaning: Shining Star
- Pronunciation: Koh-say
- Hoshiaki (星明)
- Meaning: Bright Star
- Pronunciation: Hoh-shee-ah-kee
- Ryusei (流星)
- Meaning: Shooting Star
- Pronunciation: Ryu-sei
- Kaito (海翔)
- Meaning: Soaring Over the Ocean (like stars in the sky)
- Pronunciation: Kai-toh
- Pop Culture: Kaito is a popular name in Japan and has been used for characters in anime and manga.
- Masaki (昌樹)
- Meaning: Shining Tree (symbolizing a radiant star)
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-kee
- Koichi (光一)
- Meaning: First (or only) Son of Light
- Pronunciation: Koh-ee-chee
- Hikoboshi (彦星)
- Meaning: Star of the Cowherd (a character in a Japanese folk story, associated with the star Altair)
- Pronunciation: Hee-koh-boh-shee
- Pop Culture: Hikoboshi is a cultural reference and could be a unique choice for those interested in folklore.
- Akimitsu (明光)
- Meaning: Bright Light
- Pronunciation: Ah-kee-mee-tsoo
- Minato (港)
- Meaning: Harbor (symbolizing a place where stars reflect on the water)
- Pronunciation: Mee-nah-toh
- Pop Culture: Minato is a common name in Japan and may be found in anime and manga.
- Yuko (勇光)
- Meaning: Courageous Light
- Pronunciation: Yoo-koh
- Pop Culture: Yuko could be chosen for characters with a brave and radiant personality.
- Kaito (怪盗)
- Meaning: Mysterious Thief (inspired by the twinkling and elusive nature of stars)
- Pronunciation: Kai-toh
- Pop Culture: Kaito is a name that may be associated with characters who have a mysterious or adventurous persona.
- Satoshi (聡)
- Meaning: Clear Thinking (stars often associated with clarity in the night sky)
- Pronunciation: Sah-toh-shee
- Pop Culture: Satoshi is a common name in Japan and may be found in various media.
- Ryuusei (隆星)
- Meaning: Prosperous Star
- Pronunciation: Ryoo-sei
- Masaki (真樹)
- Meaning: True Tree (symbolizing the enduring nature of stars)
- Pronunciation: Mah-sah-kee
Japanese names that mean Pleiades star cluster
- Subaru (昴)
- Meaning: The Pleiades star cluster. Also, “unite,” “bring together.”
- Pronunciation: soo-bah-roo
- Popular Culture: The name Subaru is well-known as a Japanese automotive manufacturer. Additionally, the character Subaru Natsuki is the protagonist of the light novel and anime series “Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World.”
- Subaruha (昴羽)
- Meaning: “Wings of the Pleiades.”
- Pronunciation: soo-bah-roo-hah
- Subaruko (昴子)
- Meaning: “Child of the Pleiades.”
- Pronunciation: soo-bah-roo-koh
- Subarashi (昴子)
- Meaning: “Wonderful” or “Marvelous.”
- Pronunciation: soo-bah-rah-shee
- Subaruji (昴司)
- Meaning: A combination of Subaru and “ji,” meaning “ruler” or “officer.”
- Pronunciation: soo-bah-roo-jee
Japanese celestial names
- Tsuki (月)
- Meaning: Moon
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-kee
- Popular Culture: Tsuki is a common term for the moon and makes a unique celestial name . It appears in various cultural and artistic expressions, including poetry and literature.
- Asteria (アステリア)
- Meaning: Starry One (Derived from Greek mythology)
- Pronunciation: Ah-sheh-ree-ah
- Origin: Greek (Adopted into Japanese)
- Popular Culture: While not extremely common, Asteria has a celestial and mythological feel and might be used for characters in anime or fantasy stories.
- Sora (空)
- Meaning: Sky
- Pronunciation: Soh-rah
- Popular Culture: Sora is a popular name in Japan and has been used in numerous anime, manga and video games for characters with a connection to the sky or celestial themes. It reflects the vastness and beauty of the sky.
- Amane (雨音)
- Meaning: Sound of the Heavens
- Pronunciation: Ah-mah-neh
- Popular Culture: Amane could be chosen for characters in anime or manga stories with celestial or otherworldly backgrounds.
- Haruka (遥)
- Meaning: Distant
- Pronunciation: Ha-roo-kah
- Popular Culture: Haruka is a common name and is often used for characters in anime and manga. It reflects a sense of distance or farness.
- Kozue (梢)
- Meaning: treetop (can be associated with the sky)
- Pronunciation: Koh-zoo-eh
- Popular Culture: Kozue is a name with a natural and celestial touch. It might be used for characters in stories that have a connection to nature.
- Amaterasu (天照)
- Meaning: Shining in the Heavens (Sun Goddess in Shinto mythology)
- Pronunciation: Ah-mah-teh-rah-soo
- Origin: Japanese (Shinto Mythology)
- Popular Culture: Amaterasu is a significant deity in Japanese mythology and is sometimes referenced in anime, manga, and video games. The character Amaterasu is the protagonist in the video game “Ōkami.”
- Seiza” (星座)
- Meaning: “Seiza” can be translated to “constellation” in English. The characters break down as “sei” (星), meaning “star,” and “za” (座), meaning “seat” or “constellation.”
- Pronunciation: Say-zah
- Pop Culture: While not extremely common, names like Seiza are appreciated for their elegant and meaningful sound. In Japanese culture, the beauty of the night sky and constellations holds a certain poetic allure, making names like Seiza quite appealing.
- Tsukuyomi (月読)
- Meaning: Moon Reader (Moon God in Shinto mythology)
- Pronunciation: Tsoo-koo-yoh-mee
- Popular Culture: Tsukuyomi is a deity in Japanese mythology and may be referenced in works of literature, anime, and manga.
- Amanogawa (天の川)
- Meaning: Milky Way
- Pronunciation: Ah-mah-noh-gah-wah
- Origin: Japanese
- Popular Culture: Amanogawa is a name associated with the Milky Way and may be used in literature, poetry, or as a symbol of cosmic beauty.
What does it mean to name your child star?
It’s a name that can carry a lot of meaning!
Stars are known for their brightness and radiance, so naming your child ‘Star’ might symbolize the hope for their life to shine brightly and bring light into the world.
Stars also guide us, so the name could represent the wish for your child to be a guiding force, providing direction and inspiration.
Stars are unique, just like your child, so naming them ‘Star’ could celebrate their individuality.
It’s also a timeless name, suggesting a wish for your child to have a lasting impact. In some cultures, stars have spiritual significance, so the name might express a connection to cosmic or spiritual elements.
Overall, naming your child ‘Star’ can convey hope, aspirations, appreciation for beauty, and may have cultural or personal significance for you.”
Final Thoughts
Choosing a Japanese name for your family can be a magical journey!
The way names are pronounced and the meanings behind the characters can add a special touch. Japanese names are written in three scripts: Kanji, Hiragana, and
Katakana, each with its own story.
Keep in mind that the pronunciation and meanings might vary.
If you’re interested in the authentic pronunciation and cultural background of names, chat with native speakers or ask experts for their wisdom!
And of course, a bit of your own research will go a long way.
As you embark on this joyous adventure of bestowing a name upon your precious one, may this curated collection of Japanese baby names that mean star be a wellspring of inspiration and guidance.
May the name you choose be a beacon of good luck and good fortune for your little one.
Here’s to you and your rising star! Happy naming!
For more of Japanese names, also read 300+ Japanese Names With Dark Meanings
