One of the first things you will be asked to do in Japan — whether filling in a form, checking into a hotel, or introducing yourself in class — is write your name. But your name in Japanese is not just a translation: it follows a specific order, uses the katakana alphabet, and follows rules that are the reverse of what English speakers expect. This guide walks you through everything you need to know.
Yuka外国人の名前って日本語でどう書くの？(How do foreigners write their names in Japanese?)
Rei外国人の名前はカタカナで書くのが普通だよ。あと、日本語では名字が先で名前が後になるよ。(Foreign names are normally written in katakana. Also, in Japanese, the family name comes first and the given name second.)
At a Glance: Japanese Name Vocabulary
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 氏名 / フルネーム | shimei / furu nēmu | full name |
| 名字 / 苗字 | myōji | family name / last name |
| 名前 | namae | first name (or “name” in general) |
| 旧姓 | kyūsei | maiden name |
| お名前 | o-namae | polite form — “your name” (business/formal) |
Katakana: How Foreign Names Are Written
Foreign names are written in katakana, the phonetic alphabet designed for non-Japanese words. If you have not learned katakana yet, it is worth doing — it is a small alphabet of around 46 characters and you can learn it in a few days. Once you know it, you can write any foreign name in Japanese.
Middle names are included too. For example, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg becomes マーク・エリオット・ザッカーバーグ — note the middle dot (・) separating each part of the name.
氏名 / フルネーム — Full Name
氏名 and フルネーム both mean “full name” and are interchangeable. Importantly, Japanese name order is family name first, given name second — the opposite of most Western name orders. So John Smith would be written スミス・ジョン in Japanese.
Sample
Yuka氏名を教えていただけますか？ (May I know your full name?) (shimei wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?)
Rei鈴木たつやです。 (My name is Tatsuya Suzuki.) (Suzuki Tatsuya desu.)
Reiこのお笑い芸人のフルネームを教えてくれない？ (Can you tell me this comedian’s full name?) (kono waraigenin no furu nēmu wo oshiete kurenai?)
名字 — Family Name (Last Name)
名字 and 苗字 are both read みょうじ and both mean family name. 名字 is the more common and official form. February 13th is designated as 名字の日 (Family Name Day) in Japan. Married women often adopt their husband’s 名字, and their original family name becomes their 旧姓 (maiden name).
Sample
Reiゆかの名字って何だっけ? (What is Yuka’s family name again?) (Yuka no myōji tte nanda kke?)
Yuka香川だよー。 (It’s Kagawa.) (Kagawa da yo-.)
名前 — First Name (Given Name)
名前 technically means first name, but native speakers also use it to mean “name” in general. To be specific, you can say 下の名前 (given name / literally “bottom name”) or 上の名前 (family name / literally “top name”). In formal or business situations, the polite お名前 is used.
Sample
Yukaあの人って名前なんだっけ・・・ (What was that person’s first name again?) (ano hito tte namae nanda kke…)
Reiお名前を教えていただけますか？ (Would you tell me your name?) (o-namae wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?)
Yuka香川ゆかです。 (My name is Yuka Kagawa.) (Kagawa Yuka desu.)
Quick Quiz: Fill in the Blank
Choose the correct word from the box: 名字, 名前, 氏名, 旧姓.
- フォームに_______ を記入してください。 (Please fill in your full name on the form.)
- 彼女の結婚前の_______ は田中です。 (Her _______ before marriage was Tanaka.)
- _______ は鈴木です。下の名前はたつやです。 (My _______ is Suzuki. My given name is Tatsuya.)
Answers: 1. 氏名 2. 旧姓 3. 名字
Writing your name in Japanese is a great early milestone. Learn katakana, remember that the family name comes first, and keep the vocabulary above handy — you will be ready for any Japanese form or introduction.
📖 Want to take your Japanese further? Practice speaking with a professional Japanese tutor on italki — affordable 1-on-1 online lessons at your own pace.
Learn more!
