A name. A world of connections.

羽

“feathers”

Language contexts for this entry: Japanese, Chinese

feminineHan script

[ha̠ne̞] · Japanese

Origin: Not established
2 language contexts: Japanese Chinese
Follow the evidence: 5 cited sources Source-reported

01 / Meaning & origin

About 羽

羽 is a feminine given name documented in Japanese and Chinese. English Wiktionary records an etymology for it. Its character means “feathers” (KANJIDIC2).

2 source accounts

Meaning in the sources

Source-reported

Meaning: “feathers”

Appears in the Wamyō Ruijushō of 938 CE. Compound of 羽(は) (ha, “feather”, see below) + 根(ね) (ne, “root”), originally referring specifically to where the quill of a feather attaches to the skin. Over time, the meaning broadened to refer to a feather, and from there, to refer to a wing.

Sources for this account (3)

Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
JMnedict entry 5131574CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-15
KANJIDIC2: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-288 · retrieved 2026-10-15

Explore 1 more accountHide additional accountsSource accounts may describe the same origin.

Chinese Wiktionary accountSource-reported見於西元938年成書的《和名類聚抄》。為羽 (ha，“羽毛”，見下) + 根 (ne)的組詞，原先特指翎與皮膚相連的部分。隨著時間推移，意思逐漸擴大到羽毛及翅膀。

見於西元938年成書的《和名類聚抄》。為羽 (ha，“羽毛”，見下) + 根 (ne)的組詞，原先特指翎與皮膚相連的部分。隨著時間推移，意思逐漸擴大到羽毛及翅膀。

Sources for this account (1)

Chinese Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

02 / Across borders

Where 羽 is used

Explore published naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.

The name atlas

Across borders

countries in our sources

Select a country to follow 羽’s connections around the world.

0 countries with published statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.

Selected country

Japan

Language records

Documented as a given name in Japanese.

Explore Japan

2 of 2 countries

03 / By the numbers

Popularity over time

Follow the spelling through the years, one published dataset at a time.

No official statistics are imported for this spelling. No statistical dataset covering this spelling has been imported yet. See data coverage.

04 / Through time

History

Notable bearers

People recorded with this given name in Wikidata. Their names may use a different spelling, or include it as a middle or baptismal name.

Guan Yu
160–220
Chinese general serving warlord Liu Bei (160-220)
Wikipedia Wikidata source
Xiang Yu
232 BC–202 BC
Chinese military leader
Wikipedia Wikidata source
Jimmy Wang Yu
1943–2022
Chinese-Taiwanese actor and filmmaker (1943-2022)
Wikipedia Wikidata source

A little story to keep

A name worth keeping.

Take the story of 羽 with you. Create a personal name passport with its meaning, roots and connections.

06 / Behind the facts

Sources for this page

Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.

Name origins & languageDictionaries, name records and related forms5

Wikidata Q96240256CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
JMnedict entry 5131574CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-15
KANJIDIC2: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-288 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Chinese Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.

Opening name…

About 羽

羽 is a feminine given name documented in Japanese and Chinese. English Wiktionary records an etymology for it. Its character means “feathers” (KANJIDIC2).

2 source accounts

Meaning in the sources

Source-reported

Meaning: “feathers”

Sources for this account (3)

Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
JMnedict entry 5131574CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-15
KANJIDIC2: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-288 · retrieved 2026-10-15

Explore 1 more accountHide additional accountsSource accounts may describe the same origin.

Sources for this account (1)

Chinese Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

Where 羽 is used

Explore published naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.

The name atlas

Across borders

countries in our sources

Select a country to follow 羽’s connections around the world.

0 countries with published statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.

Selected country

Japan

Language records

Documented as a given name in Japanese.

Explore Japan

2 of 2 countries

History

Notable bearers

People recorded with this given name in Wikidata. Their names may use a different spelling, or include it as a middle or baptismal name.

Guan Yu
160–220
Chinese general serving warlord Liu Bei (160-220)
Wikipedia Wikidata source
Xiang Yu
232 BC–202 BC
Chinese military leader
Wikipedia Wikidata source
Jimmy Wang Yu
1943–2022
Chinese-Taiwanese actor and filmmaker (1943-2022)
Wikipedia Wikidata source

Sources for this page

Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.

Name origins & languageDictionaries, name records and related forms5

Wikidata Q96240256CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
JMnedict entry 5131574CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-10-15 · retrieved 2026-10-15
KANJIDIC2: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · rev. 2026-288 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Chinese Wiktionary: 羽CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.

A story to pass on.

About 羽

Meaning in the sources

Where 羽 is used

Across borders

Japan

Popularity over time

History

Notable bearers

Guan Yu

Xiang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu

Related names

Different forms. Shared stories.

Meet the family

Related names in the catalogue

Yu

A name worth keeping.

Sources for this page

A story to pass on.

About 羽

Meaning in the sources

Where 羽 is used

Across borders

Japan

Popularity over time

History

Notable bearers

Guan Yu

Xiang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu

Related names

Different forms. Shared stories.

Meet the family

Related names in the catalogue

Yu

A name worth keeping.

Sources for this page