Did you know that it is possible to write your name in kanji (ideogram), even if your name is not Japanese? Those who study Japanese know that it is common to use katakana to write foreign names, but there is no problem writing your name in kanji. In fact, this is very fun because you choose ideograms that give a certain meaning to your name.
There is no problem writing foreign names using kanji, because before katakana existed, only kanji existed. Take the Chinese language, for example; it only has ideograms. Of course, if you are going to write your name in everyday situations, it is better to use katakana. But have you ever thought about how your name would look in kanji? Which kanji and which meanings to choose? In this article, we will teach you how to do that!
Choosing Kanji for Your Name
Choosing kanji for your name is not an easy task. Japanese ideograms have many ways of reading, and the readings of names can be different from what you learned when studying that kanji. Remember that you are not going to change your name; you will just use the syllables of your name written in katakana and find kanji that fit to replace them.
You should also be careful not to choose a feminine or masculine kanji. It is not easy to determine whether an ideogram is appropriate for your name or not; pay attention to the meaning and decide if that kanji is suitable for you. Another issue is that there are ideograms that are not commonly used in names, not to mention their standard reading and the different readings for names, so be very careful.
Where to find the correct ideograms? We recommend that you visit the website jisho.org and search syllable by syllable for your name in the Names category of the site. There you will find all the kanji with their correct readings used in names along with their meanings in English.
This is another way to write your name in Japanese and give it a real meaning. It is worth remembering that this is not your official name, so it is not advisable to sign documents with it; a Japanese person might confuse the reading.
Another alternative to Jisho is the website kanjizone.com where you simply write your name in Portuguese, and it presents suggestions of ideograms and their meanings for you to form your name. It is quite easy and practical.
How Did I Choose My Name?
I only found out that there is no problem using kanji in my foreign name when a Japanese family asked me and suggested that I choose kanji for my name. I used Jisho to find kanji and learn their readings, and with the help of the Japanese, I came to the following results:
- My name is Kevin (ケビン or ケヴィン).
- 計敏 – ke (計) means plot, plan, scheme, measure. / bin (敏) means intelligent, agile, and alert;
- 花敏 – ke (花) – means flower;
I liked the meaning of my name. I kept these two options because the Japanese started saying that using [花] was a bit feminine, but then they said it was not a problem. Of course, there are many other ideograms with different meanings to choose from, but it is not easy.
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