Whether you and your family are of Asian descent or not, the names that hail from these vibrant cultures may just suit the cherished young one you’re awaiting. In fact, it has become a prominent trend for Western parents to give their child an Eastern name. Check out our list of the top Asian baby names for your baby boy or baby girl.

While people like novelist Amy Tan, director Ang Lee, architect Ieoh Ming “I.M.” Pei, poet Kimiko Hahn, designer Vera Wang, Olympians Michelle Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi and cellist Yo-Yo Ma are all worth emulating, Asian-inspired names go beyond the famous. See if it might suit you and your little one to go global with one of the following.

Alternate spellings provided in parentheses.

Girl Baby Names of Chinese Origin

Bo – meaning precious (Beau)
Cai – meaning full of color (Kai, Keye)
Chang-Chang – meaning thriving
Genji – meaning gold (Gengee)
Huo – meaning fire
Ji – meaning good fortune
Jia – meaning beautiful (Gia)
Jiao – meaning one who is pretty and gentle
Jing – meaning beauty (Ging)
Jun – meaning truth (June)
Kiew – meaning beautiful (Kew, Que)
Lian – meaning lotus flower (Leann, Leanne)
Li-Mei – meaning a pretty rose
Lin – meaning family name (Lyn, Lynne)
Ling – meaning dawn
Mei – meaning plum
Xiang – meaning sweet-smelling
Xing – meaning star
Xiu – meaning graceful
Xue – meaning snow, symbolizing purity (Xoo)
Yang – meaning sun
Yi – meaning joyous (Yee)
Zhin – meaning treasure
Zi – meaning increase in number (Zee)

Boy Baby Names of Chinese Origin 

Bao – meaning treasure
Chang – meaning smooth
Chen – meaning great
Chi – meaning life energy (Chee)
Deshi – meaning virtuous
Dewei – meaning highly noble
Dishi – meaning man of virtue
Enlai – meaning appreciation
Fai – meaning light (Feigh)
Feng – meaning wind
Jie – meaning one who rises above the rest (Gie)
Le – meaning happiness (Lee)
Li – meaning strength
Ning – meaning calm
Quon – meaning bright (Kwon)
Shan – meaning coral
Sying – meaning a star
Tai – meaning one who is from Thailand (Ty, Tye)
Wei – meaning large
Xiao – meaning early morning

Get more Chinese baby name ideas here.

Girl Baby Names of Japanese Origin

Akemi – Ake, meaning bright and Mi, meaning beautiful
Akiko – meaning iris; light and bright (Akeeko)
Aya – meaning full of color (Aeya)
Aneko – meaning older sister (Aniko)
Chiyo – meaning thousand years; eternal
Hana – meaning flower (Hannah)
Haruka – meaning far off
Hoshi – meaning star
Kameko – meaning child of the tortoise (Kameco)
Kami – meaning Lord (Cammie, Cami)
Kaori – meaning fragrant
Kaya – meaning adds a place of resting (Caya, Kaiya)
Kumiko – meaning eternally beautiful child
Kyoko – meaning mirror
Maemi – meaning smile of truth (Mamie, Meme)
Midori – meaning green
Mika – meaning a new moon (Mica, Micah)
Miya – meaning three arrows; temple
Taya – meaning valley field
Yoko – meaning positive
Yumiko – meaning arrow child
Yuriko – meaning lily child

Boy Baby Names of Japanese Origin

Akeno – meaning beautiful sunrise/dawn
Akira or Akio – meaning bright boy (variant of Akihiko)
Dai – meaning large; generation (Dae)
Daiki – meaning very valuable
Ebisu – the Japanese god of labor and luck
Jomei – meaning spread light
Juro – meaning tenth son; best wishes; longevity
Kaemon – meaning joyful; righthanded; an old Samurai name
Kane – meaning putting together; money (Cane, Cain)
Kannon – form of Kuan-yin, the Chinese Buddhist deity of mercy (Cannon, Canon)
Keiji – meaning governs with discretion
Keitaro – meaning blessed
Kenji – meaning intelligent second son; strong and vigorous
Nariko – meaning gentle child
Rai – meaning trust; lightning; thunder (Ray, Rey)
Rei – meaning law; strive (also a name for girls)
Reizo – meaning cool, calm, well-groomed
Rinji – meaning peaceful forest
Seiji – meaning lawful
Shou – meaning to soar
Suzu – meaning long-lived; crane
Taji – meaning silver and yellow color
Toshiro – meaning talented, intelligent

Get more Japanese baby name ideas here.

Girl Baby Names of Korean Origin

Gi – meaning one who is brave
Haneul – meaning heaven
Hea – meaning grace
Hyun – meaning clever
Iseul – meaning dew
Sun – meaning goodness
Yong – meaning courage
Yoora – meaning enough silk
Yun – meaning melody

Boy Baby Names of Korean Origin

Bae – meaning inspiration
Chul – meaning firm
Chung-Hee – meaning righteous
Dong-Sun – meaning eastern integrity
Hyun-Shik – combination of wisdom and honesty
Hyun-Su – meaning a long life
Kwan – meaning one who is strong
Min-Ki – combination of cleverness and energy
Seung – meaning successor

Get more Korean baby name ideas here.

Get more baby name ideas here:

Japanese Baby Names: Names from the Land of the Rising Sun

Chinese Baby Names – Ancient Nation, New Beginnings

Exotic Baby Names from Around the World

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