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Nova in Japanese

KatakanaノーバNooba
Kanji能葉Noha

In Japanese, Nova is written in katakana as ノーバ (Nooba), 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 能葉 (noha): “talent”, “leaf”.

How Nova sounds in Japanese

ノーバ

Kanji for Nova

能葉
noha
  • 能
    no talent
    Ability and talent; also Noh, Japan’s oldest masked theater.
  • 葉
    ha leaf
    Leaves; growth and the fresh green of nature.
    Hagakure (葉隠), meaning "Hidden by the Leaves," is a legendary 18th-century treatise on the samurai way.
乃葉
noha
  • 乃
    no of
    A classic, gentle particle loved in names for its soft sound.
    Widely used in classical Japanese grammar, this character gracefully connects words in ancient poetry.
  • 葉
    ha leaf
    Leaves; growth and the fresh green of nature.
    Hagakure (葉隠), meaning "Hidden by the Leaves," is a legendary 18th-century treatise on the samurai way.
能羽
noha
  • 能
    no talent
    Ability and talent; also Noh, Japan’s oldest masked theater.
  • 羽
    ha feather
    Feathers and wings; lightness and the freedom to fly.

By style

Masculine
能葉
talent · leaf
Feminine
乃葉
of · leaf

Questions about Nova in Japanese

How do you write Nova in Japanese?

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

What are the best kanji for Nova?

Our top pick is 能葉 (Noha). 能 means “talent” and 葉 means “leaf”. Other good options are 乃葉 (Noha) and 能羽 (Noha).

Is 能葉 a real Japanese name?

Not as a traditional name. Japanese people write foreign names in katakana, so 能葉 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 能葉?

能葉 has 22 strokes in total (能: 10, 葉: 12). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.

Can I use 能葉 as a tattoo?

Each character in 能葉 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 “Nova”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (ノーバ) 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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