Na in Japanese
In Japanese, Na is written in katakana as ナ (Na), 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 南 (na): “south”.
How Na sounds in Japanese
Kanji for Na
- 南na southThe south; warmth and open skies.
- 奈na naraA character used in names for its soft sound; also in 奈良 (Nara), the ancient capital.
- 凪na calm seaThe stillness of the sea when the wind drops. One of the most popular names for boys in Japan today.Yunagi refers to the serene evening calm over the Seto Inland Sea when the sea breeze gently fades.
By style
Questions about Na in Japanese
How do you write Na in Japanese?
Na is written ナ in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Na would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag.
What are the best kanji for Na?
Our top pick is 南 (Na). 南 means “south”. Other good options are 奈 (Na) and 凪 (Na).
Is 南 a real Japanese name?
Partly. The characters 南 appear in Japanese names, but with the reading Nami and Namuchoru rather than Na. As a spelling of Na, it is a creative kanji choice (ateji): Japanese readers will see the meaning of each character.
How many strokes is 南?
南 has 9 strokes. That is quite simple to write by hand, even for beginners.
Can I use 南 as a tattoo?
Each character in 南 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 “Na”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (ナ) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.
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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.
Nearby names
Myron · Myrta · Myrtice · Myrtis · Myrtle · Myung · Nabila · Nacho · Nada · Nader · Nadia · Nadine