NazukeYour Name in KanjiKanji meaningsAll namesGuides

Nan in Japanese

KatakanaナンNan
Kanji南Nan

In Japanese, Nan is written in katakana as ナン (Nan), 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 (nan): “south”.

How Nan sounds in Japanese

ナン

Kanji for Nan

南
nan
  • 南
    nan south
    The south; warmth and open skies.
凪
na
  • 凪
    na calm sea
    The 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.
和
na
  • 和
    na harmony
    Peace and harmony; the character for Japan itself, as in 和食 (Japanese food).
    Wa (和) represents the foundational Japanese philosophy of peace and harmony, famously declared in Prince Shotoku's 17-Article Constitution.

By style

Masculine
南
south
Feminine
奈
nara

Questions about Nan in Japanese

How do you write Nan in Japanese?

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

What are the best kanji for Nan?

Our top pick is 南 (Nan). 南 means “south”. Other good options are 凪 (Na) and 和 (Na).

Is 南 a real Japanese name?

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

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 “Nan”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (ナン) 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.

ShareXRedditFacebookWhatsApp

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.

Personalize Nan in kanji →Nan as an anime character ⚡

Nearby names

Nadine · Nadja · Nahuel · Naima · Najwa · Nam · Nana · Nanang · Nancy · Nanda · Nando · Nanette