5 Ways to Create Japanese Nicknames + List

Ever wondered what Japanese nicknames are like? Do nicknames exist in such a formal language? How do Japanese language nicknames work? What are the main nicknames in Japan? In this article you will see all that and more.

Let's teach our readers that in the Japanese language there are many interesting facts related to Japanese nicknames. Ready to venture into the world of Japanese nicknames?

Are there Nicknames in Japan or in the Japanese language?

Japan is a very formal language, so nicknames are rarely used. When one person becomes intimate with another, they usually call him by his first name. This is the main way to express love, affection and friendship.

But, the Japanese have some cute nicknames. They often use adjectives to express affection like kawaii which means cute and several other nicknames. The most common way to nickname a Japanese person is to use and shorten the person's own names.

It's not easy to find a list of Japanese nicknames because usually Japanese nicknames are literally puns on names, along with adding some cute suffix. Fortunately, there are some nicknames that we can highlight and present.

Adana and Aijyou - Nickname in Japanese

Japanese nicknames are called Fluente [あだ名], also known as aijyou [愛称] which indicates nicknames for animals, affectionate, intimate and informal nicknames. It can be recognized from English as a nickname [ニックネーム].

A nickname is usually used to call another person, to add on behalf of online game characters, account on forums and websites or also on pets. Some nicknames are mocking and offensive, but they are not common in Japan.

Motorcycles and automobiles are also nicknamed, some put the name of their Hayate which means fast or Nozomi that reminds the bullet-train. Even places like the Tokyo Police Department earn nicknames like Sakuradamon.

Stations and trains also often earn nicknames. Some nicknames are as common in Japan as they are in the West, animal names like “Pochi" [ポチ] for dogs and "Tama" [タマ] for cats is a good example of Japanese nicknames for pets.

5 ways to create nicknames in Japanese + list

Nickname Shortening the name

The Japanese way of putting nicknames is one of the smartest and funniest in the world. The most common and simple is shortening the name, this happens a lot in the west. In the same way that we speak Dani to Daniele, the Japanese speak Haru to Haruna.

Usually the last or two last syllables are hidden when nicknaming someone in Japanese. It is also necessary to use a treatment suffix, the most common for women is -chan and for men it is -kun. Remembering that they are informal suffixes for friends.

As a nickname, another quite unusual suffix that exudes cuteness, affection and sweetness is -tan, used for cute babies and kids. Another alternative is the suffix -rin. At the end of the article we will leave a list with many cute suffixes to use in names.

Not just the first name, but the family name or surname is also widely used as an abbreviated nickname with a cute suffix in Japan. So consider turning your friend's last name into something cute.

Some names can be abbreviated by adding an extension [ー] to the end of the last syllable. Others shorten the name by removing a syllable (あいうえお) and replacing it with a small tsu lengthening [っ]. See some examples below:

  • Miichan de Misaki (extension ー);
  • Yukko de Yuuko (tsu pequeno);
  • Yuririn from Yuri (suffix);
What does nico nico ni mean? Why did it go viral?
Nico can be considered a character nickname, Nico Nico Nii!

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Nickname Joining the names

Another option is to combine the first name with the last name. For example: Kimura Takuya can turn Kimu-Taku, a cute nickname created by joining the Japanese name and surname. Another famous example is the Matsumoto Jun that you see MatsuJun for the fans.

Some names are not shortened, but they are also not junctions of the first and last names. Some simply join pieces of the name with other adjectives, onomatopoeias or words that represent or show some characteristic of the person.

Famous people like singers, idols and voice actresses usually have their names changed in a way considered Kawaii. Below is a list of names that have been merged or shortened in a unique way:

  • Maririn - Mariko Shinoda;
  • Meetan - Megumi Ohori;
  • Hikki - Utada Hikaru;
  • Miikashi - Miike Takashi;
  • Emurina - Emu Kasurina (foreign name);
  • Kyonkyon - Kyoko Koizumi
  • Match - Kondo Masahiko
  • Yukko - Yukiko Okada
  • Mayyu - Mayu Watanabe
  • Aii - Aika Hirota
Japanese nicknames - suggestions and list
The Idol Group AKB48 often have their names nicknamed.

Nicknames with kanji puns

You japanese names are written using ideograms that often have meanings of their own. The ideograms called kanji can also have different readings, many have the same reading, which makes it possible to create nicknames.

For example, if a friend of yours calls Shi [市] you can write a message using Shi [士] meaning knight. Yes, you can indirectly nickname someone speaking the same name, but in your head it resembles something else.

Who doesn't remember the famous Ichigo [一護]? Your name and ideograms have absolutely nothing to do with it, but strawberry can also mean Strawberry. People with that name end up being related to strawberry in one way or another.

Others have names that can be read differently. See the case of Otonage [大人気] which can also be read Daininki [大人気] which literally means a super popular person.

The possibilities are endless, but for these creations it is necessary to have an advanced knowledge of Japanese ideograms and also to know the person well to resemble some characteristic to their name.

Japanese nicknames - suggestions and list
Ideograms that can have the same pronunciation but different meanings.

Nicknames misspelled

Some Japanese nicknames can come from breaking or mispronunciation. You can make a mistake on purpose, by pronouncing a word that resembles another. Another cause is the rendaku Where KA [か] turns GA [が] or TA [た] life Untranslatable [だ], it kind of generates nicknames.

Others create nicknames derived from the name, but which resemble some Japanese word or adjective that coincidentally is similar or the same written with another ideogram. We have the famous case of Sawako that turned Sadako in the anime Kimi ni Todoke.

See below some examples of nicknames that were created through the pronunciation error, similarity or rendaku:

  • Teko > Peko
  • Ayachan > Yayachan
  • Manaka > Maaka
  • Queen > Reenya

Other alternatives would be to purposely invert the syllables of the name to form nicknames. Translate the name into English or put syllables that are synonymous with the person's name. The ways to play with names are endless. See below:

  • Yuichan - Chanyui
  • Nanami - Miinana
  • Haruka - HaruHaru
  • Momo - Peach
  • Koharu - Chibiharu

Affectionate Nicknames in Japanese

Below we will leave some cute and affectionate nicknames used in the Japanese language. Remembering that some of the nicknames below need to be pronounced with suffixes (chan, kun) to make any sense. I will mark with [#] the ones that need a suffix.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
ダーリン daarinDarling - From English darling
ハニーhaiiHoney - Honey
旦那danacute husband shape
yomebride, wife
奥さんoksanWife
ottoHusband
tsumaWife
団子dango Japanese Sweet #
鼠ちゃんnezumichanmouse
あなたanataDear
スウィーティーsooooooohoney, sweetness
Japanese nicknames - suggestions and list
It was in the Nisekoi anime that I met the terms Darling and Honey.

Pejorative nicknames in Japanese

Below we will leave a list of nicknames that are used as an insult, or pejorative. We also recommend reading our article that talks about the swearing in japanese. Remembering that pejorative nicknames in Japanese are also used by changing the name.

Some add a word that looks like a name but has an insulting flavor by adding the formal suffix -san. Some of the nicknames in the list below will explain this well. Sometimes the insult is not intentional, just a characteristic of the person.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
駄目君damekunfailed
ボケbokeIdiot
バカちゃんbakachanIdiot
バカちbakachiIdiot
不細工busaikuClumsy
ガキgaki Shorty, Brat
butaPig
あほahoDonkey
変態hentaiPervertido

Fluffy Suffixes in Japanese

The idea below is simple, in the circle you put the person's name followed by the treatment suffix. Doing so serves as a nickname and cute treat for a close friend. All suffixes below are considered cute and affectionate.

Some of the suffixes below are more appropriate if used when shortening or merging a name. as in the case of Fujita Niko can turn Nikorun using suffixed name shortening run. See if the chosen suffix doesn't fit better this way.

  • 〇〇ちゃん - chan
  • 〇〇ちゃそ - chaso
  • 〇〇ちゃま - flame
  • 〇〇ちゅん - chun
  • 〇〇しゃん - shan
  • 〇〇たん - tan
  • 〇〇たそ - taso
  • 〇〇たゃ - tya
  • 〇〇きゅん - kyun
  • 〇〇きゃん - kyan
  • 〇〇ん -n
  • 〇〇やん - yan
  • 〇〇はん - han
  • 〇〇ちん - chin
  • 〇〇りん - rin
  • 〇〇めろ - mere
  • 〇〇める - meru
  • 〇〇にゃ -nya
  • 〇〇みゅ - myu
  • 〇〇にゃん - nyan
  • 〇〇ぴょん - pyon
  • 〇〇ぽぽ - popo
  • 〇〇ころ - koro
  • 〇〇しゃん - shyan
  • 〇〇ぺこ - peko
  • 〇〇ち - chi
  • 〇〇す - su
  • 〇〇ぴ - pi
  • 〇〇ぷー - puu
  • 〇〇ーぬ - ーnu
  • 〇〇もち - mochi
  • 〇〇まる - maru
  • 〇〇ぽよ - poyo
  • 〇〇っちょ - ttyo
  • 〇〇ちょこ - choko (loves chocolate)
  • 〇〇めろ
  • うさ〇〇 - Prefix (rabbit host)
  • ゆめ〇〇 - Prefix (dreamer)
  • 〇〇てぃー

Research sources: Fluent

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