My Name in Japanese

Foreign names in Japanese are written using katakana, one of the three Japanese writing systems. Katakana is specifically used for words and names of foreign origin, scientific terms, and onomatopoeia. When converting a foreign name to Japanese, the name is broken down into its phonetic sounds and then matched to the closest available katakana characters. Because Japanese has a more limited set of sounds than English, some approximations are necessary. For example, the English "L" sound becomes "R" in Japanese, and consonant clusters often have vowels inserted between them.

In Japanese, there is a clear convention for which writing system to use. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements. Kanji (Chinese characters) is used for words with Chinese-origin or native Japanese meanings, where each character carries a specific meaning. Katakana is reserved for foreign loanwords, foreign names, and borrowed terms. Since non-Japanese names do not have inherent meaning in Japanese, they are transliterated phonetically using katakana rather than assigned kanji characters. Some foreigners living in Japan do choose kanji for their names based on sound (called ateji), but this is a personal and informal choice, not the standard practice.

This converter provides a standard phonetic approximation for most common English names. However, English pronunciation can vary significantly based on regional accents, personal preferences, and name origins. For example, the name "Michael" could be pronounced differently by speakers of different English dialects. The converter uses the most common English pronunciation rules to generate katakana, but for names with unusual or ambiguous pronunciations, the result may not perfectly match how you would say your name. For the most accurate katakana representation, it is best to consult with a native Japanese speaker who can hear your pronunciation directly.

Japanese lacks several sounds found in English. The most notable differences include: the "L" sound (converted to "R" in Japanese, so "Laura" becomes "Rora"), the "V" sound (converted to "B", so "David" becomes "Debiddo"), the "TH" sound (converted to "S" or "Z", so "Thomas" becomes "Tomasu"), and the "F" sound except before "U" (so "Frank" becomes "Furanku"). Additionally, Japanese does not allow most consonant clusters. Nearly every consonant must be followed by a vowel, which is why names like "Smith" become "Sumisu" with extra vowels inserted.

Yes, using your name in katakana is the standard and expected way to introduce yourself in Japan as a non-Japanese person. When filling out official forms, making reservations, or introducing yourself in business or casual settings, writing or saying your name in katakana is perfectly appropriate. Japanese people will recognize katakana as the correct script for a foreign name. To introduce yourself, you would say "[Name] desu" (I am [Name]) or "Watashi no namae wa [Name] desu" (My name is [Name]), using your katakana name. Having your name in katakana also makes it easier for Japanese speakers to pronounce your name using familiar sounds.