Buddhist and East Asian Baby Names
788 Buddhist and East Asian names with meanings, from Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and more — with popular, modern, classic and rare picks for boys and girls.
This page gathers names from the Buddhist world and the East Asian cultures it shaped: Tibetan and Ladakhi names given by a lama (Tenzin, Pema, Tashi, Dolma), Sherpa and Bhutanese day-names, Sinhala names from Sri Lanka, Thai, Burmese, Khmer and Lao names, and the great naming traditions of Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam, where Buddhist ideas of harmony, virtue and nature run through everyday names even in secular families.
The common thread is meaning built from small parts. A Japanese name is written in kanji and each character adds a meaning — Haruto can be “sunlight, soaring”, Yui “tie, gentle”. Korean names pair a generational syllable with a chosen one (Ji-woo, Seo-yeon). Tibetan names are often given by a monk and describe a quality the child should grow into — Sonam (merit), Dechen (great bliss), Jigme (fearless). Chinese and Vietnamese names read the same way: Ming (bright), Linh (spirit), An (peace).
Because these languages use different scripts, the romanised spellings here are the most common ones in English. If you are naming a child across two cultures, the finder’s “also works in” option is useful for finding names that sit comfortably in both.
boy girl unisex — tap a name to see it in the finder with your surname.
Popular Buddhist and East Asian names 60
The most widely used names in this tradition.
- Sara — precious, noble
- Bo — to live, dweller
- Rashmi — ray of light
- Aiden — little fire
- Akira — graceful strength
- Jin — precious, truth
- Jun — handsome, talented
- Pavithra — pure
- Shota — soaring, big
- Sora — sky
- Akihiro — bright, abundant
- Akio — bright man
- Akito — bright person
- Aoi — hollyhock, blue
- Arata — fresh, new
- Asahi — morning sun
- Atsushi — sincere, industrious
- Ayumu — walk, dream
- Daichi — great earth
- Daigo — great enlightenment
- Daiki — great glory
- Daisuke — great help
- Eiji — eternal order, prosperous
- Eita — flourishing, great
- Fumio — literary man
- Gen — origin, source
- Genji — the source clan, the prince
- Goro — fifth son
- Hachiro — eighth son
- Haru — spring, sunlight
- Haruto — sunlight, soaring
- Hayato — falcon person
- Hikaru — light, radiance
- Hinata — sunny place, facing the sun
- Hiro — generous, abundant
- Hiroki — abundant joy
- Hiroshi — generous, tolerant
- Hiroto — great flight, abundant
- Hisashi — long-lasting
- Hotaka — the mountain, step by step
- Ibuki — breath, vigour
- Ichiro — first son
- Ikuto — nurturing person
- Isao — merit, honour
- Issei — first generation, sincere
- Itsuki — tree, timber
- Jiro — second son
- Junpei — pure, peaceful
- Kaito — ocean, soaring
- Kanade — to play music
- Kanato — musical person
- Kaoru — fragrance
- Katsu — victory
- Katsuo — victorious man
- Kazuki — harmony, hope
- Kazuo — harmonious man
- Kazuya — peaceful one
- Keisuke — blessed help
- Kenichi — strong first son
- Kenji — strong second son
Buddhist and East Asian boy names 40
- Bo — to live, dweller
- Aiden — little fire
- Shota — soaring, big
- Akihiro — bright, abundant
- Akio — bright man
- Akito — bright person
- Arata — fresh, new
- Asahi — morning sun
- Atsushi — sincere, industrious
- Ayumu — walk, dream
- Daichi — great earth
- Daigo — great enlightenment
- Daiki — great glory
- Daisuke — great help
- Eiji — eternal order, prosperous
- Eita — flourishing, great
- Fumio — literary man
- Gen — origin, source
- Genji — the source clan, the prince
- Goro — fifth son
- Hachiro — eighth son
- Haruto — sunlight, soaring
- Hayato — falcon person
- Hiro — generous, abundant
- Hiroki — abundant joy
- Hiroshi — generous, tolerant
- Hiroto — great flight, abundant
- Hisashi — long-lasting
- Hotaka — the mountain, step by step
- Ichiro — first son
- Ikuto — nurturing person
- Isao — merit, honour
- Issei — first generation, sincere
- Itsuki — tree, timber
- Jiro — second son
- Junpei — pure, peaceful
- Kaito — ocean, soaring
- Kanato — musical person
- Katsu — victory
- Katsuo — victorious man
Buddhist and East Asian girl names 40
- Sara — precious, noble
- Rashmi — ray of light
- Pavithra — pure
- Ema — whole
- Hana — grace
- Rina — melted, dissolved
- Amaya — night rain, the end
- Aya — sign, miracle, verse
- Hina — henna, fragrance
- Nayana — eye
- Aiko — beloved child
- Erika — eternal ruler
- Kumari — maiden, princess
- Malini — fragrant, garlanded
- Mei — bud, sprout
- Padma — lotus
- Rachana — creation, composition
- Yumi — beautiful reason, bow
- Aika — love song
- Airi — love, jasmine
- Akane — deep red
- Akari — light, brightness
- Akemi — bright beauty
- Akiko — bright child
- Anzu — apricot
- Ayame — iris
- Ayano — colourful field
- Ayumi — walk, progress
- Azumi — safe residence
- Chie — wisdom
- Chiharu — thousand springs
- Chihiro — thousand fathoms
- Chinatsu — thousand summers
- Emiko — blessed beautiful child
- Eri — blessed prize
- Etsuko — joyful child
- Fumi — literature, history
- Hanae — flower blessing
- Harumi — spring beauty
- Hatsu — first, beginning
Modern picks 40
Short, current and rising.
- Sara — precious, noble
- Bo — to live, dweller
- Aiden — little fire
- Akira — graceful strength
- Sora — sky
- Aoi — hollyhock, blue
- Asahi — morning sun
- Hinata — sunny place, facing the sun
- Ibuki — breath, vigour
- Kanade — to play music
- Kanato — musical person
- Kyo — capital, cooperation
- Minato — harbour
- Mitsuki — beautiful moon, hope
- Raiden — thunder and lightning
- Ren — lotus, love
- Reo — lion
- Riku — land
- Kai — sea
- Noa — motion, movement
- Ema — whole
- Hana — grace
- Sena — good news
- Amaya — night rain, the end
- Aya — sign, miracle, verse
- Hina — henna, fragrance
- Rui — famous ruler
- Aiko — beloved child
- Mei — bud, sprout
- Yumi — beautiful reason, bow
- Aika — love song
- Airi — love, jasmine
- Anzu — apricot
- Ao — blue, green
- Hibiki — echo, sound
- Himari — sunflower, hollyhock
- Honoka — harmony flower
- Ichigo — strawberry, one protector
- Ichika — one flower
- Koharu — little spring, Indian summer
Classic picks 40
Names that have stayed in use for generations.
- Kensuke — healthy help
- Kenta — healthy, big
- Kento — healthy, wise
- Kiyoshi — pure, quiet
- Kohei — peaceful, flat
- Koji — little second son, glorious
- Koki — bright, glorious
- Kosuke — rising sun help
- Kota — great, peaceful
- Kyosuke — the capital's help
- Makoto — sincerity
- Mamoru — protector
- Manabu — to study
- Masahiro — justice, abundant
- Masaki — flourishing tree
- Masato — righteous person
- Motoki — origin, hope
- Nao — honest
- Naoki — honest tree
- Naoto — honest person
- Nobu — faith, trust
- Nobuyuki — faithful happiness
- Ren — lotus, love
- Riki — strength
- Riku — land
- Rintaro — dignified big son
- Ryo — refreshing, distant
- Ryoichi — good first son
- Ryoma — dragon horse, the samurai
- Ryosuke — clear help
- Ryota — refreshing, big
- Ryuji — dragon second son
- Ryunosuke — dragon's help, the writer
- Saki — blossom of hope
- Satoshi — wise, quick-witted
- Sota — sudden, big
- Takeshi — warrior, fierce
- Takumi — artisan, skilful
- Tatsuki — dragon, tree
- Yamato — great harmony, ancient Japan
Nature, light and sky 30
- Rashmi — ray of light
- Sora — sky
- Akihiro — bright, abundant
- Akio — bright man
- Akito — bright person
- Asahi — morning sun
- Daichi — great earth
- Daigo — great enlightenment
- Haru — spring, sunlight
- Haruto — sunlight, soaring
- Hikaru — light, radiance
- Hinata — sunny place, facing the sun
- Hotaka — the mountain, step by step
- Itsuki — tree, timber
- Kaito — ocean, soaring
- Koki — bright, glorious
- Kosuke — rising sun help
- Masaki — flourishing tree
- Minato — harbour
- Mitsuki — beautiful moon, hope
- Mitsuo — shining man
- Naoki — honest tree
- Ren — lotus, love
- Riku — land
- Saki — blossom of hope
- Tatsuki — dragon, tree
- Yuki — snow, happiness
- Kai — sea
- Amaya — night rain, the end
- Dinesh — lord of the day, sun
Rare gems 30
Uncommon names your child is unlikely to share with a classmate.
- Lhamo — goddess
- Nyima — the sun
- Tashi — good fortune
- Chosphel — spreader of the dharma
- Deskyong — protector of happiness
- Dolkar — the white Tara
- Duc — virtue
- Dung — brave, beautiful
- Hanh — happiness, virtue
- Hieu — filial, respectful
- Hoa — flower
- Hung — brave, heroic
- Huong — fragrance
- Huy — glorious
- Jigmet — fearless
- Khanh — celebration, joy
- Kunzang — all good
- Linh — spirit, soul
- Minh — bright, clever
- Namgyal — victorious
- Ngawang — powerful speech
- Ngoc — jade, gem
- Phuc — blessing, good fortune
- Phuong — phoenix, direction
- Quan — soldier, general
- Quang — light, clear
- Quynh — the night-blooming flower
- Son — mountain
- Tai — talent, wealth
- Tam — heart, eighth
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Meanings and origins are compiled from common references and are approximate. Many names carry several meanings across traditions — please confirm with family or a native speaker before deciding. Updated 2026-09-20.