In Japanese, foreign names are normally written using the phonetic katakana alphabet. To see what your name looks like in Japanese, just type it in below and click the “Translate” button. If you like, you can also choose from a few different character styles.
Notes
- This dictionary does not contain Japanese names. Japanese names are normally written using kanji characters, not katakana.
- The Japanese write foreign words phonetically, so it is not always possible to say how a name should be written in Japanese without further information. For example, the last two letters of can be pronounced like ier in the word barrier, or like ayer in the word layer. If you get results that don’t match the way you pronounce your name, you may be able to find an alternative spelling that does (e.g., ).
- Traditionally, some names have unusual pronunciations in Japanese. For example, the name is often pronounced “fen-ix” instead of the more accurate “fee-nix”. In this dictionary I have opted for the spelling closest to the actual pronunciation.
- The use of an accented U to represent the sound of the letter “V” seems to be a recent innovation in Japanese writing. Earlier sources tend to use a B sound instead, so for example is often pronounced kebin rather than kevin. For the sake of consistency, I have used the more accurate notation throughout this dictionary.
- (Disclaimer) Unlike many of the other “name translators” on the web, this tool is a real dictionary containing about 3,700 names. Each one has been individually checked, and errors are extremely uncommon. However, since this is a free service, I can’t accept liability for any problems that might occur. If you’re planning on getting a Japanese tattoo, I would strongly recommend you at least study katakana first. There are plenty of resources available online.