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Mei in Japanese

KatakanaメイMei
Kanji芽衣Mei

In Japanese, Mei is written in katakana as メイ (Mei), 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 芽衣 (mei): “sprout”, “garment”.

How Mei sounds in Japanese

メイ

Kanji for Mei

芽衣
mei
  • 芽
    me sprout
    A bud or sprout; the beginning of growth.
    Green tea picked from the first tender spring buds is revered as the finest Shincha (新茶).
  • 衣
    i garment
    Clothing and robes; how you present yourself.
    Junihitoe, meaning "twelve layers," is the elaborate silk court robe worn by Heian-era noblewomen.
芽唯
mei
  • 芽
    me sprout
    A bud or sprout; the beginning of growth.
    Green tea picked from the first tender spring buds is revered as the finest Shincha (新茶).
  • 唯
    i the only one
    “Only” or “one and only”; someone irreplaceable.
芽偉
mei
  • 芽
    me sprout
    A bud or sprout; the beginning of growth.
    Green tea picked from the first tender spring buds is revered as the finest Shincha (新茶).
  • 偉
    i greatness
    Admirable and great; someone whose deeds are respected.

By style

Masculine
芽偉
sprout · greatness
Feminine
愛唯
love · the only one

Real Japanese names that sound like Mei

Mei sounds close to めい (Mei), which is a real given name in Japan. Japanese parents write it with kanji such as:

  • 恵愛 mei — blessing + love
  • 恵衣 mei — blessing + garment
  • 恵生 mei — blessing + life
  • 愛衣 mei — love + garment
  • 愛生 mei — love + life

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.
  • 衣 (garment) is common in Japanese given names.

Mei in anime worlds

Mei as an anime character →Mei in Jujutsu Kaisen (fan-made) →Mei in Demon Slayer (fan-made) →Mei in Attack on Titan (fan-made) →Mei in Dandadan (fan-made) →

Questions about Mei in Japanese

How do you write Mei in Japanese?

Mei is written メイ in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Mei would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag.

What are the best kanji for Mei?

Our top pick is 芽衣 (Mei). 芽 means “sprout” and 衣 means “garment”. Other good options are 芽唯 (Mei) and 芽偉 (Mei).

Is 芽衣 a real Japanese name?

Yes. 芽衣 is also found in Japan as a girl’s name, read Mei, so it looks natural to Japanese readers. For Mei, it works as both a real-looking Japanese name and a kanji spelling of your own name.

How many strokes is 芽衣?

芽衣 has 14 strokes in total (芽: 8, 衣: 6). That is quite simple to write by hand, even for beginners.

Can I use 芽衣 as a tattoo?

Each character in 芽衣 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 “Mei”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (メイ) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.

Planning a tattoo or a print? Read the kanji tattoo checklist, and check the kanji in the name tool. Not sure which script to use? See katakana or kanji.

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