A name. A world of connections.

名前

“name”

Language contexts for this entry: Japanese, Central Okinawan

Han script

[na̠ma̠e̞] · Japanese

Origin: Not established
2 language contexts: Japanese Central Okinawan
Follow the evidence: 4 cited sources Source-reported

01 / Meaning & origin

About 名前

名前 is a given name documented in Japanese and Central Okinawan. English Wiktionary records an etymology for it. As a word, 名前 means “name” (JMdict).

2 source accounts

Meaning in the sources

Source-reported

Meaning: “name”

Derived from 名 (na, “name”) + 前 (mae, front). Compare the semantics of Latin praenomen. Appears as a term only in the last few centuries, becoming more widely used during the Meiji period. Similarity to English name and other Indo-European words derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ is coincidental.

Sources for this account (3)

Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Polish Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
JMdict: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15

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

French Wiktionary accountSource-reportedComposé de 名, na (« nom ») et de 前, mae (« devant »).

Composé de 名, na (« nom ») et de 前, mae (« devant »).

Sources for this account (1)

French Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

02 / Across borders

Where 名前 is used

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

The name atlas

Across borders

country in our sources

Select a country to follow 名前’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

1 of 1 country

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

No historical attestations or sourced notable bearers are recorded yet. Historical databases are being evaluated for reuse permission; nothing is listed until a record can be cited.

A little story to keep

A name worth keeping.

Take the story of 名前 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 2026-10-17.

Name origins & languageDictionaries, name records and related forms4

Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Polish Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
JMdict: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
French Wiktionary: 名前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 名前

名前 is a given name documented in Japanese and Central Okinawan. English Wiktionary records an etymology for it. As a word, 名前 means “name” (JMdict).

2 source accounts

Meaning in the sources

Source-reported

Meaning: “name”

Sources for this account (3)

Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Polish Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
JMdict: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15

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

French Wiktionary accountSource-reportedComposé de 名, na (« nom ») et de 前, mae (« devant »).

Composé de 名, na (« nom ») et de 前, mae (« devant »).

Sources for this account (1)

French Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14

Where 名前 is used

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

The name atlas

Across borders

country in our sources

Select a country to follow 名前’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

1 of 1 country

Sources for this page

Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-17.

Name origins & languageDictionaries, name records and related forms4

Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Polish Wiktionary: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
JMdict: 名前CC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
French Wiktionary: 名前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 名前

Meaning in the sources

Where 名前 is used

Across borders

Japan

Popularity over time

History

Related names

Different forms. Shared stories.

Meet the family

A name worth keeping.

Sources for this page

A story to pass on.

About 名前

Meaning in the sources

Where 名前 is used

Across borders

Japan

Popularity over time

History

Related names

Different forms. Shared stories.

Meet the family

A name worth keeping.

Sources for this page