Hi, Junko from Japan here! Night says YORU in Japanese. It’s a misterious word and symbol, but not quite good for a name.
In fact, it’s hard to find Japanese names that mean “night” since it’s not common for us to use Kanji characters related to “night” or “darkness.” Yet you still want some cool names with Japanese origins, right?
Don’t worry! I’ve selected some beautiful Japanese words for you that are both in sounds and meanings.
BYAKUYA: White Nights, Midnight Sun
White nights says BYAKUYA in Japanese. BYAKU means “white,” and YA is “night.” It’s said the word was imported from Russia. Since Japan has no midnight sun, the word was literally translated.
If you use it as a name, I think it would be more suitable for boys rather than girls. The word BYAKUYA sounds sturdy while having poetic and classic impressions.
JOAN: Purified Darkness
JOAN is a term for Shinto rituals and stands for “purified darkness.” Some Shinto rituals must be held in the night which has pure darkness.
The actual pronunciation is close to JŌAN, and it’s good for a baby boy name.
Shinto is a unique religion in Japan that is different from Buddhism. Shinto is a kind of nature worship, and it believes more than 8 million deities exist everywhere in nature.
While we don’t have a specific founder or doctrine, the Japanese emperor, known as TENNO, is considered the highest priest. According to Japanese mythology, the lineage of the Japanese emperor family is believed to be descended from Shinto deities.
It may seem strange to you, but most Japanese believe in Shinto and Buddhism together, and their teachings have been naturally integrated into our lives and customs.
MEI: Darkness, Other World
MEI is a relatively common Japanese girl name. We can give various meanings to the name depending on which Kanji symbols you use.
One of them is this MEI symbol. The upper part pictures “cover,” the middle one stands for “sun,” and the bottom one depicts “hands.” The entire character represents that you are covering the sun with both hands, and the place becomes dark.
Though it doesn’t directly mean “night,” the word MEI is very close to it.
SAYO: Night, Serenade
SAYO is one of the most traditional names for girls. The Kanji combination literally means “small night.” We usually don’t use the “night” symbol for given names, but this name is an exception.
The detailed origin is unknown, but it’s true the name SAYO has a classic and sophisticated atmosphere.
Also, a classic music term “serenade” is translated as SAYOKYOKU or SHOYAKYOKU in Japanese, and is spelled with the same Kanji letters meaning “small night.” It’s romantic, isn’t it?
SHUYA: Autumn Night
SHUYA means “autumn night.” Though the exact word isn’t common, the first name SHUYA is quite possible for boys.
With its Kanji combination and meaning, SHUYA gives cool and smart impressions.
TOBARI: Night Curtain
TOBARI is an old Japanese word that stands for curtains or fabric for bedrooms. This word isn’t used alone but is often used as the fixed phrase YORUNO TOBARI, literally meaning “night curtain.”
“Yoru no tobari” represents the sun is going down, and it’s getting darker and darker like curtaining the sky. TOBARI isn’t a word for Japanese names, but I think it’s possible if it’s for foreign children.
Related Posts about Japanese Names
7 Amazing Japanese Names That Mean STAR
Japanese Names with Dark Meanings: 32 Names for SHADOW
12 Mysterious Japanese Girl Names That Mean MOON
Read More: Japanese Names: Authentic and Meaningful Guide by a Native Speaker
How Did You Like It?