Japanese Samurai Names
Names of legendary samurai, warlords and warriors, and names with a martial spirit. Each entry includes its kanji, meaning and historical background.
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Japanese Samurai Names (16)
Kanji, reading, meaning and stroke count for every character| Name | Kanji | Gender | Meaning | Kanji breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibukiいぶき | 伊吹 | Unisex | Breath of the Mountain — fresh vitality and untamed natural strength.Mount Ibuki is a sacred historic peak on the border of Shiga and Gifu prefectures. | 伊 (6 strokes): That, classic elegance; 吹 (7 strokes): Breathe, blow, flourish |
| Ieyasuいえやす | 家康 | Boy | Tranquil Dynasty & Enduring Peace — founder of the 250-year Edo Shogunate.Revered for unparalleled strategic patience; codified the Bushido laws of military houses. | 家 (10 strokes): House, lineage, dynasty; 康 (11 strokes): Peaceful, ease, flourishing |
| Kageyoshiかげよし | 影義 | Boy | Shadow of Righteousness — silent guardian defending honor from the depths of darkness.Evokes the shinobi philosophy of serving justice unseen and unpraised. | 影 (15 strokes): Shadow, silhouette; 義 (13 strokes): Righteousness, honor, duty |
| Kenshinけんしん | 謙信 | Boy | Modest Devotion & Faith — embodying bushido honor and spiritual discipline.Immortalized by Uesugi Kenshin, the legendary 'Dragon of Echigo' renowned for chivalry. | 謙 (17 strokes): Humble, modest, self-effacing; 信 (9 strokes): Trust, faith, truth |
| Kotaroこたろう | 小太郎 | Boy | Swift Eldest Son — agile warrior endowed with fearless speed and cunning.Famous through Fuma Kotaro, legendary Sengoku ninja clan master of Sagami. | 小 (3 strokes): Small, swift, nimble; 太 (4 strokes): Grand, robust; 郎 (9 strokes): Son, noble young man |
| Kuroganeくろがね | 黒鉄 | Boy | Black Steel / Ancient Iron — unyielding, unbreakable fortress of will.Traditional Japanese poetic word for tempered black iron used in master katana armor. | 黒 (11 strokes): Black, shadow; 鉄 (13 strokes): Iron, steel, weapon |
| Masamuneまさむね | 政宗 | Boy | Righteous Pillar of Ancestry — legendary swordsman and statesman valor.Shared by Date Masamune (the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu) and legendary master swordsmith Gorō Nyūdō Masamune. | 政 (9 strokes): Governance, righteousness; 宗 (8 strokes): Ancestral line, origin, doctrine |
| Miyabiみやび | 雅 | Girl | Courtly Refinement — quintessential Heian aesthetic of aristocratic grace and subtle wit.Miyabi was the cardinal virtue of the Kyoto imperial court during the Golden Age of Japanese literature. | 雅 (13 strokes): Elegance, courtly, refined |
| Musashiむさし | 武蔵 | Boy | Martial Sanctuary — supreme swordsmanship, philosopher mind, and inner stillness.Named after Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's most famous kensei (sword saint) and author of The Book of Five Rings. | 武 (8 strokes): Martial, valor, warrior; 蔵 (15 strokes): Treasury, harbor, depth |
| Nobunagaのぶなが | 信長 | Boy | Enduring Trust & Grand Vision — relentless leadership that reshapes destiny.Carried by Oda Nobunaga, the epochal Sengoku Daimyo who initiated Japan's unification. | 信 (9 strokes): Trust, faith, conviction; 長 (8 strokes): Leader, enduring, long |
| Ryunosukeりゅうのすけ | 龍之介 | Boy | Mediator of the Dragon — celestial power, fierce intellect, and leadership.Famous through literary titan Akutagawa Ryunosuke; invokes the supreme water dragon god. | 龍 (16 strokes): Dragon, imperial power; 之 (3 strokes): Of, belonging to; 介 (4 strokes): Assist, mediator, armor |
| Shingenしんげん | 信玄 | Boy | Deep Conviction & Profound Mystery — the famed "Tiger of Kai" and master cavalry tactician.Immortalized by his battle standard Fūrinkazan (Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain). | 信 (9 strokes): Faith, conviction; 玄 (5 strokes): Profound mystery, deep truth |
| Sojoboそうじょうぼう | 僧正坊 | Boy | High Priest King of Mount Kurama — supreme ruler of the Tengu warriors.Legendary mountain spirit who instructed young Minamoto no Yoshitsune in supernatural swordsmanship. | 僧 (14 strokes): Ascetic monk, priest; 正 (5 strokes): Supreme, righteous; 坊 (7 strokes): Hermitage, master dwelling |
| Tomoeともえ | 巴 | Girl | Sacred Swirling Comma — ancient magatama symbol and warrior bravery.Honoring Tomoe Gozen, the legendary female warrior (onna-musha) of the Genpei War. | 巴 (4 strokes): Comma-shaped swirl, crest |
| Yoshitsuneよしつね | 義経 | Boy | Righteous Wayfarer — tragic hero of the Genpei War and master of the eight-boat leap.Minamoto general whose peerless swordsmanship and loyalty embody the spirit of hōganbiiki. | 義 (13 strokes): Righteousness, honor; 経 (11 strokes): Enduring classic, pathway |
| Yukimuraゆきむら | 幸村 | Boy | Blessed Village Warrior — the "Crimson Demon of War", celebrated as Japan’s greatest samurai.General of the Sanada Clan who wore fiery red armor and fought with peerless valor at Osaka Castle. | 幸 (8 strokes): Fortune, blessing, courage; 村 (7 strokes): Village, stronghold clan |
How Samurai Were Named
Samurai often had several names over a lifetime. A boy received a childhood name (幼名, yōmei), often ending in -maru (丸), such as Ushiwakamaru, the childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. At his coming-of-age ceremony (元服, genpuku) he took an adult name (諱, imina), frequently including a character from his lord or family, such as 信 (nobu) or 家 (ie).
Only samurai and nobles could officially use family names until the Meiji government allowed all citizens to register surnames in 1870 and required it in 1875. Learn more in our guide to Japanese names and Japanese last names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the most famous samurai?
The "three unifiers" of Japan were Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Other legendary figures include Date Masamune, Takeda Shingen, Sanada Yukimura, Miyamoto Musashi and the female warrior Tomoe Gozen.
Could women be samurai?
Women of samurai families trained in arms, and some fought, like Tomoe Gozen in the 12th century. The term onna-musha (女武者) is used for female warriors.
Which comes first in a Japanese name, the family name or the given name?
In Japanese the family name comes first and the given name second, so 田中太郎 is Tanaka (family name) Tarō (given name). Since 2020 the Japanese government has asked that official English documents also put the family name first.