日本語

Your Name in Japanese Katakana

Type a name to see it in katakana, hiragana and half-width katakana. 1394 common English first names and surnames use the spelling Japanese people usually write; other names are estimated from their spelling and marked Estimated (推定). Nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Type a name in English letters (e.g. Michael Smith)

Writing your name on Japanese forms

Boys' names

Girls' names

Surnames

FAQ

How do I write my name in Japanese?

Foreign names are written in katakana, following how the name sounds, not how it is spelled. Type your name above: common English names use the spelling Japanese people usually write, and other names are estimated from their spelling (marked Estimated).

Can I get my name in kanji?

Not in any official sense. Kanji for foreign names (ateji) are picked only for their sound and appearance and their meanings are invented, so this site does not offer them. On Japanese documents a foreign name appears in the Latin alphabet, with katakana as the reading.

What is half-width katakana?

A narrow form of katakana (e.g. ｽﾐｽ instead of スミス) that some Japanese bank, card and airline systems still require in the name field. Voiced marks become separate characters (ジ → ｼﾞ).

Which order should I use on Japanese forms?

Japanese forms usually ask for the family name first (e.g. スミス ジョン). In ordinary writing foreign names keep Western order with a middle dot: ジョン・スミス.

How spellings are chosen: the first spelling is the one most commonly used for this name in Japanese books, media and everyday writing, checked against the Japanese government's rules for writing foreign words (Cabinet Notice No. 2 of 1991, 外来語の表記). The list was compiled by this site; it is not an official register. Pronunciation matters more than spelling — if your name is pronounced differently, the katakana can differ too.