Mary in Japanese
In Japanese, Mary is written in katakana as メアリー (Mearii), the way Japanese people write foreign names. To write it in kanji, each sound gets a character chosen for its meaning. Our top pick is 芽愛里 (meari): “sprout”, “love”, “hometown”.
How Mary sounds in Japanese
Kanji for Mary
- 芽me sproutA bud or sprout; the beginning of growth.Green tea picked from the first tender spring buds is revered as the finest Shincha (新茶).
- 愛a loveLove and affection in every sense; the most popular character in Japanese girls’ names.The kanji 愛 was famously worn on the helmet crest of the Sengoku samurai Naoe Kanetsugu.
- 里ri hometownA village or home ground; the place you come back to.
- 明mei brightnessLight that clears the dark; bright, clear and open.It combines the sun 日 and the moon 月.
- 愛a loveLove and affection in every sense; the most popular character in Japanese girls’ names.The kanji 愛 was famously worn on the helmet crest of the Sengoku samurai Naoe Kanetsugu.
- 里ri hometownA village or home ground; the place you come back to.
By style
Real Japanese names that sound like Mary
Mary sounds close to めあり (Meari), which is a real given name in Japan. Japanese parents write it with kanji such as:
- 萌亜里 meari — sprout + next in line + hometown
- 芽亜里 meari — sprout + next in line + hometown
- 明有里 meari — brightness + have + hometown
- 夢亜理 meari — dream + next in line + reason
- 芽安里 meari — sprout + peace + hometown
If you want a kanji name that a Japanese person could mistake for a native name, these spellings are the closest.
How common are these kanji in Japan?
- 芽 (sprout) is common in Japanese given names.
- 愛 (love) is common in Japanese given names.
- 里 (hometown) is one of the most common characters in Japanese given names.
Mary in anime worlds
Mary as an anime character →Mary in Jujutsu Kaisen (fan-made) →Mary in Demon Slayer (fan-made) →Mary in Attack on Titan (fan-made) →Mary in Dandadan (fan-made) →
Questions about Mary in Japanese
How do you write Mary in Japanese?
Mary is written メアリー in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Mary would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag.
What are the best kanji for Mary?
Our top pick is 芽愛里 (Meari). 芽 means “sprout”, 愛 means “love” and 里 means “hometown”. Other good options are 明愛里 (Meiari) and 芽歩梨 (Meari).
Is 芽愛里 a real Japanese name?
Not as a traditional name. Japanese people write foreign names in katakana, so 芽愛里 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.
How many strokes is 芽愛里?
芽愛里 has 28 strokes in total (芽: 8, 愛: 13, 里: 7). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.
Can I use 芽愛里 as a tattoo?
Each character in 芽愛里 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 “Mary”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (メアリー) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.
Make it yours
Pick the kind of person you are (Samurai, Shinobi, Miko and more) and Nazuke chooses kanji that match your personality. You can also save your result as an image.
Names that sound similar
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