The Kira Kira Name Trend: Unusual Baby Names in Japan

Some people believe that one’s name can largely impact one’s life. It can affect one’s personality and self-image and even shape others’ impressions of them. In Japan, this can be particularly true as names can hold a deeper significance than they do in the West. That’s because Japanese names use kanji, or Chinese characters, which aside from giving someone a name, hold meaning in and of themselves. Kanji can have different pronunciations and can be used in combination to make different names.

Since the late 1980s in Japan, there has been a trend of naming babies that some find controversial. People used the term ‘kira-kira’ or sparkly, to describe these creative names, which some think might be too “different.” Japanese society is traditionally all about conformity and not standing out. In fact, there’s an old saying that goes, “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” So, it isn’t hard to see why some might find unconventional names that go against the grain to be a bit too much.

There are different categories of ‘kira-kira’ names. Some names include odd or seldom-used readings for kanji, making them difficult to decipher or pronounce without asking. This also includes using kanji for a child’s name, but instead using an English pronunciation or foreign word based on the meaning of that kanji. For example, the kanji 光 can be read as “Hikaru”, meaning light. Instead of using the Japanese pronunciation, people are using the borrowed pronunciation “Raito” from English.

These names can be a bit out there but are admittedly more ‘tame’ than some other ‘kira-kira’ names. Another example of this trend is naming children after characters from popular shows, movies, manga, and books. Think Pikachu and Naruto. For obvious reasons, some find it strange and even inappropriate to name your baby after a pop culture reference.

On the topic of inappropriateness, some of the ‘kira-kira’ names get more intense than that. That’s because some people have named their children using taboo words, like akuma (devil), or even named them after random objects. These names tend to get the most backlash, for obvious reasons and are an example of how that ‘kira-kira’ sparkle could attract attention in all the wrong ways.

Even with the older generations giving the most push-back, polls have shown overall feelings towards this trend are still generally negative. People worry that strange or outlandish names may lead to bullying and teasing, making a child’s life more difficult. On the other hand, some people who choose to follow this trend hope that by giving their child a unique name, they’ll be more likely to embrace that outstanding nature and become a performer or a star or stand out in their field. Others have argued that these unique names might seem cute or interesting for children but aren’t suitable for adults and could potentially impact their professional prospects and how others perceive them.

Whatever the reception currently is, there is hope that acceptance of these names will grow in the future regardless of whether the trend itself continues to grow or not!

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.