How To Write Your Name In Japanese: Guide + Examples (2025)

If you’ve ever wanted a little doorway into Japanese, having your name in Japanese characters is a surprisingly fun (and personal) way to start. However, you can’t just grab a cool-looking Japanese kanji and call it a day.

Kanjis actually carry specific meanings and cultural nuance tied to native names. For non-Japanese names, the standard and most respectful route is katakana, the script used to represent foreign words and names by sound.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to write your name in Japanese Katakana, step by step. I’ll share plenty of examples and explain each decision so you can apply the same logic to your own name. We’ll also touch on ateji and cover what it is and when it’s used.

What Is Katakana?

Japanese has three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji, each with its own purpose. Kanji are characters that carry meaning, while hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar. Katakana, on the other hand, is used mainly for words and names that come from outside Japan — foreign words, loanwords, and non-Japanese names.

When you write your name in Japanese, you’re not translating it; you’re transcribing how it sounds using katakana characters. This means your name keeps its sound rather than taking on a new meaning. For example:

• Emma → エマ (Ema)
• Michael → マイケル (Maikeru)
• Sophia → ソフィア (Sofia)
• David → デイビッド (Deibiddo)

Katakana has a sharp, angular appearance that makes it stand out from the rounded flow of hiragana and the intricate structure of kanji. It instantly signals that a word or name is foreign, allowing Japanese readers to recognize and pronounce it correctly.

How To Write Your Name In Japanese

As mentioned above, Katakana is designed to represent foreign words and names because it focuses on sound. One thing you should note when writing your name in Japanese is that the syllables almost always end with a vowel (except for n), so your name will be adjusted to fit Japanese phonetics.

So technically, the goal is not to translate your name but to match its pronunciation as closely as possible.

Step 1: Break your name by sound

Start by listening to your name and splitting it into bite-sized beats that a Japanese speaker could say easily. Ignore tricky English spellings and focus on what you actually hear. This matters because Japanese builds words from clean syllable units that mostly end with vowels, so clean sound chunks will translate more smoothly.

• “Michael” → My kul
• “Laura” → Lo ra
• “David” → Day vid
• “Sophia” → So fi a
• “Isabella” → I za bel la
• “Nathan” → Nay than

Step 2: Find the closest katakana equivalents

Match each sound to the nearest Japanese syllable. Some English sounds do not exist in Japanese. V tends to become B, L and R collapse into a single R sound, TH often becomes S or Z, and final consonants usually need a vowel after them or a small ッ to show a stop. Do not aim for perfect one-to-one letters. Aim for a natural Japanese pronunciation of your name.

• Michael → マイケル (Maikeru)
• Laura → ローラ (Rōra)
• David → デイビッド (Deibiddo)
• Sophia → ソフィア (Sofia)
• Isabella → イザベラ (Izabera)
• Nathan → ネイサン (Neisan)

Step 3: Build it with katakana characters

Now assemble your katakana. Katakana is mostly consonant plus vowel blocks, like カ ki ku ke ko for K plus a vowel. You string these blocks together to recreate your sound map.

Use small ア イ ウ エ オ to stretch long vowels, the small ッ to double a following consonant, and the ウィ ウェ ウォ type combos for sounds like Wi We Wo when needed.

• Emma → エマ (Ema)
• Daniel → ダニエル (Danieru)
• Olivia → オリビア (Oribia)
• Lucas → ルーカス (Rūkasu)
• William → ウィリアム (Wiriamu)
• Hannah → ハンナ (Hanna)

Step 4: Check and fine-tune

Compare your result with trusted references. Look up how public figures with the same name are written in Japanese, or try reputable converters to confirm patterns for long vowels, doubled consonants, and tricky blends. If you see multiple accepted forms, pick the one that best matches how you say your name.

• Taylor → テイラー (Teirā)
• Ryan → ライアン (Raian)
• Chloe → クロエ (Kuroe)
• Ethan → イーサン (Īsan)
• Daniel Radcliffe → ダニエル・ラドクリフ
• Leonardo DiCaprio → レオナルド・ディカプリオ

What Is Ateji?

While katakana is the standard way to write foreign names in Japanese, there’s another interesting concept called ateji (当て字). Ateji literally means “assigned characters.” It’s the practice of using kanji characters for their sounds rather than their meanings. In other words, the kanji don’t describe what your name means—they’re chosen because their pronunciation matches the sounds of your name.

Historically, ateji was used to represent foreign words or names before katakana became standardized. Here are a few examples to illustrate how ateji works:

• Anna (アンナ) → 安奈 (An-na, “peace” + “elegant”)
• Maria (マリア) → 真里亜 (Ma-ri-a, “truth” + “village” + “Asia”)
• John (ジョン) → 譲恩 (Jo-n, “to yield” + “grace”)
• Emily (エミリー) → 恵美里 (E-mi-ri, “blessing” + “beauty” + “village”)
• David (デイビッド) → 大偉人 (Da-i-bi-do, “great” + “splendid” + “person”)

Each set of kanji sounds roughly like the name when read aloud, but the meanings are entirely symbolic.

Today, ateji is less common in daily life, but you’ll still see it in calligraphy art, name seals (hanko), or creative expressions like tattoos or poetry. For most purposes, stick with katakana—it’s clear, natural, and universally recognized.

Take Your Japanese Further with Lingopie

Now that you know how to write your name in Japanese, why stop there? Learning a new language isn’t just about memorizing characters—it’s about immersing yourself in the rhythm, sound, and flow of real communication.

With Lingopie, you can take that next step naturally. It lets you learn Japanese through real Japanese TV shows, anime, and movies with interactive subtitles that help you pick up new words, grammar, and pronunciation as you watch. You’ll start recognizing your name in katakana, hearing familiar words, and understanding how Japanese sounds in real conversations.

So, whether you’re dreaming of visiting Japan or just want to connect more deeply with its language and culture, start watching and learning with Lingopie!

FAQs

Can I write my name in kanji instead of katakana?

You can, but it’s not common or recommended. Kanji carries meanings and cultural nuances specific to Japanese names, so foreign names are almost always written in katakana for accuracy and respect.

How do I know if I’m writing my name correctly in Japanese?

Compare your version with trusted resources like Japanese Name Converter or Japanese Wikipedia pages for people who share your name. These references show the most natural, standard katakana spellings.

What’s the difference between hiragana and katakana?

Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar, while katakana is used for foreign names, loanwords, and onomatopoeia. Katakana’s sharp, angular style makes foreign words stand out visually.

Is ateji used in Japan today?

Rarely in daily life. Ateji mostly appears in art, calligraphy, or stylized names, where kanji are chosen for their sound rather than meaning. For practical writing, katakana is always preferred.

Can I choose how my name is spelled in katakana?

To some extent, yes. There might be a few acceptable variations depending on how you pronounce your name, but sticking with the most common version helps Japanese speakers recognize and say it naturally.