Gunnar in Japanese

Gunnar is written グンナル in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Gunnar would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag. Depending on the origin of the name, it can also be written グンナー (as written in Japan) and グンナール (as written in Japan).

Our top pick is 弘南琉 (Gunaru). 弘 means “broad”, 南 means “south” and 琉 means “lapis lazuli”. Other good options are 弘和瑠 (Gunaru) and 宮南流 (Gunaru).

Not as a traditional name. Japanese people write foreign names in katakana, so 弘南琉 is a creative kanji spelling (called ateji), chosen for its sounds and meanings. Japanese readers will understand what each character means, and many will enjoy the idea behind it.

弘南琉 has 25 strokes in total (弘: 5, 南: 9, 琉: 11). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.

Each character in 弘南琉 has a positive meaning, so it is a reasonable choice. Keep in mind that Japanese people will read it as the meaning of the characters, not instantly as “Gunnar”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (グンナル) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.