About middle names in Japan

[nightsdawn]

I have been thinking about baby names in Japan recently. When I was talking to my better half, he wasn't sure if we could use kanji for the middle name as Japanese people don't have middle names. I am Canadian and my better half is Japanese.
Ideally, I want my child to have a western first name and a Japanese middle and last name. Has anyone named their child using kanji for the middle name? Should I just switch the name order if I want to use kanji for the middle name?

[Effected After]

Japanese citizens cannot legally have a middle name. There is no method to deal with this. As such, you have two options:

1) Blend the child's first and middle name into one, which will become their legal first name. For example, if you want to name your child John Taro Suzuki, he would actually be Johntaro Suzuki legally. This means everything in their life from birth to death.
2) Register the child with a middle name in your home country, and without one in Japan. For most countries, the child can legally have different names registered in each country. I think some don't allow this anymore. This was the choice I made with my child - he had a middle name registered in my homeland, but no middle name in Japan. Unfortunately this means you cannot use kanji for the middle name, unless your country has some provision for that (maybe China, HK or Taiwan?).

[KansaiBen]

Ideally, I want my child to have a western first name and a Japanese middle and last name. Has anyone named their child using kanji for the middle name? Should I just switch the name order if I want to use kanji for the middle name?

If kid is bicultural you can only put two names on the family register though there is nothing stopping you giving it two first names on a foreign passport. Foreign sounding names will be put in Kanji or katakana on the family register.

FWIW my two kids have Japanese first names that work well in English. Do you want kids in Japan to be called by their western name or their Japanese name? They could be in for a good deal of bullying if you plan to bring them up in Japan with obviously foreign names.

[YokohamaTommy]

Here's a question:
Will your child live in Japan or Canadia?

if Japan, my advice is to keep a Japanese name, but at the same time, chose a name which can be acceptable in the the West.
makes life easier I think.
This is what I did with my newest son.
He has a middle name on his American citizenship, and a Japanese name with his Japanese citizenship.
He'll have to choose later, however as mentioned by those wiser than I,
No such thing as middle names here.

[nightsdawn]

Thank you Effected After, for your swift reply and information. I didn't know that I couldn't register middle names at all in Japan. My better half has a half Japanese and half Canadian student at his school, and she has a middle name, but it's in katakana. Blending is an interesting idea, but maybe the blended name would give the children some trouble later on.

"FWIW my two kids have Japanese first names that work well in English. Do you want kids in Japan to be called by their western name or their Japanese name? They could be in for a good deal of bullying if you plan to bring them up in Japan with obviously foreign names."

Thank you as well KansaiBen
Hmm, two first names. I have researched names that work in both Japanese and English, but it is very limited. Do you mind me asking what names you chose?
Well, originally I wanted to give my kid a western first name with his/her Japanese last name. But the western name which I chose is not easy to pronounce in Japan. My better half thought it wouldn't matter, but I did think that there might be bullying problems. Therefore, I thought of giving the kid a Japanese middle name which he/she could use in Japan. The first name would be used by me and my Canadian relations. But now, I'll have to rethink that.

[nightsdawn]

Here's a question:
Will your child live in Japan or Canadia?

Well, we are not quite sure. For the first few years, we will be in Japan. I want my child to spend some time in Canada (maybe for Junior high). I need a name or names that would be good for both places. Plus middle names are important to me. I want to include the names of my family members in my child's name. I have two middle names myself, both of them are from my grandparents.

[Seattlegirl]

I have never understood this obsession with middle names. They serve no real purpose for the majority of those who have them. To me, a Western name as a first name coupled with a Japanese middle name (or vice-versa) followed by a Western surname looks a bit silly. I don't mean to be disrespectful or insulting to anyone but I think parents should seriously ask "What purpose does a middle name serve, and does my child need one?"

We didn't give our son a middle name and therefore it hasn't been an issue.

Humorous side note: My middle name is Lee, and it was always funny when my name was called in Japan because they would say "Last name, First name, Lee-san!" Confused a lot of people in the waiting area.

[KansaiBen]

TTherefore, I thought of giving the kid a Japanese middle name which he/she could use in Japan. The first name would be used by me and my Canadian relations. But now, I'll have to rethink that.

And what will your kid decide his name is going to be? Will it be his Japanese name in Japan or his foreign name in Canada? All it will do is confuse the heck out of your kid as to his personal identity and will simply exemplify his foreignness

Sounds like its more for your convenience than it is for him.

PS I have a middle name named after a distant relative, got mercilessly teased all through high school over it and personally think they are more trouble than they are worth.

[Effected After]

Middle names serve two purposes as I see it:

1) It makes yelling at your kids easier. "John Lee Smith get your a$$ over here"
2) It can be quickly used as an alias when you want to be vague about who you are. "My name is Lee" (when everyone really calls you John).

[KansaiBen]

1) It makes yelling at your kids easier. "John Lee Smith get your a$$ over here"
2) It can be quickly used as an alias when you want to be vague about who you are. "My name is Lee" (when everyone really calls you John).

They are also good if you want to move to the Ozarks or star on Dukes of Hazzard.

"Come here Bobby-Lee and Carly-Sue....."

[Deathblob]

My kid's got a middle name, and it's on all the legal docs.

On his first passport his name was the first name and middle name munged together and romanjicised, eg. Victor David Doe => DOE BIKUTADEBITO

But when he got his passport renewed, it was DOE VICTOR DAVID

[Seattlegirl]

They are also good if you want to move to the Ozarks or star on Dukes of Hazzard.

"Come here Bobby-Lee and Carly-Sue....."

Actually those could all be FIRST names. My mama was from the south and her first name was Betty Jo.

[KansaiBen]

Actually those could all be FIRST names. My mama was from the south and her first name was Betty Jo.

Folks like that must have a field day when they come to Japan and apply for gaijin cards.

Betty-Jo Anne-Marie Smith-Jones.

[nightsdawn]

And what will your kid decide his name is going to be? Will it be his Japanese name in Japan or his foreign name in Canada? All it will do is confuse the heck out of your kid as to his personal identity and will simply exemplify his foreignness.

Sounds like its more for your convenience than it is for him.

PS I have a middle name named after a distant relative, got mercilessly teased all through high school over it and personally think they are more trouble than they are worth.

Thank you for your thoughts. I don't really see how this will confuse him/her. My grandparents and that side of the family always called me by my slovenian name, and I didn't have an identity crisis. I grew up in a mixed culture household as well. I think it would be easier, my family calls him by the western name, and the Japanese side will call him/her with his/her Japanese name. This way there wouldn't be horrid mispronuncing of his/her name in either country. I also don't see how it would exemplify his/her foreigness if he/she goes by a Japanese name while in Japan.
I think every parent makes decisions based on what they think is "convenient". They do think of the child as I am, but who can say which name is the best. Every name has the potencial to be bullied. Mine was and it is soo common. Sure more names are easier targets, but you can't avoid it altogether (obviously, I wouldn't give my child a really horrible name like a number or demon or something). Also, if I was just choosing something convenient for me, then I wouldn't even be thinking about a Japanese name. I'd just choose the western name.

About middle names. People have their own opinions, and in my family middle names are important. In my family they show family connections. And maybe the child will never meet that relation, but it's nice to know they are connected. I want to use my deceased mother's name as one of my child's middle names. That is important to me because I was close to my mother and unfortunately my child will never know her. I would like to know that my mother is apart of my child's life somehow. I loved my grandmother and I am happy to have her name as one of my middle names.

I might just use middle names on the Canadian documents for my child. It would be easier. I was very happy to receieve all the feedback though. Thank you!

[kurogane]

I have never understood this obsession with middle names.

With Youzes guyz, and the Uptighty Whiteys up my way, it's mostly dumb habit and a bit of this whole Roots and Heritage crap:

Ooooh...........I would just love to give my children important names from their heritage, like my grandmother's third pet hamster's first born.....coo

Middle Crass Cretins, as a Japanese might pronounce it.



Any parent that gives a part Japanese child in Japan a middle name is at least a boorish clod, and probably a self-serving sadist, too.

I say:

Off with their heads!!!!!!!!!


IHOMO.


I very do much like the OP's use of Better Half to refer to her man.

It seems so rational and proper................

In general, I mean...........

[Super Grover]

I have never understood this obsession with middle names. They serve no real purpose for the majority of those who have them. To me, a Western name as a first name coupled with a Japanese middle name (or vice-versa) followed by a Western surname looks a bit silly. I don't mean to be disrespectful or insulting to anyone but I think parents should seriously ask "What purpose does a middle name serve, and does my child need one?"

We didn't give our son a middle name and therefore it hasn't been an issue.

Humorous side note: My middle name is Lee, and it was always funny when my name was called in Japan because they would say "Last name, First name, Lee-san!" Confused a lot of people in the waiting area.

We got ours in a 2 for 1 sale. Is that okay?

I have 3 names. I like all 3. One name connects me to my grandfather and great grandfather who, fortunately, were not complete tools! The other is my every day, daily name. Sometimes I like to dress up and use all three. Some of us like a suit and tie! Our son was given a proper Japanese name and a middle name celebrating the rest of his heritage. And, the more names a person has, the harder it is to be busted! I particularly like the Spanish names -- Ana Silvia Gonzales Garcia Zapatos Rojos!

[Seattlegirl]

We got ours in a 2 for 1 sale. Is that okay?

I have 3 names. I like all 3. One name connects me to my grandfather and great grandfather who, fortunately, were not complete tools! The other is my every day, daily name. Sometimes I like to dress up and use all three. Some of us like a suit and tie! Our son was given a proper Japanese name and a middle name celebrating the rest of his heritage. And, the more names a person has, the harder it is to be busted! I particularly like the Spanish names -- Ana Silvia Gonzales Garcia Zapatos Rojos!

Fair enough. I think I was mainly thinking about gaijin who insist on registering a middle name for their kid in Japan and of course cannot and they get really agitated and insistent about it.

AFAIK, I am the only person in this world with my particular name, and that's without my middle name. So you're right: Add in my middle name and I'm confident I'm the only one out of 7 billion people who have my name. Pretty cool, yes? (I think I just made a case for a Western first name + Japanese last name, although of course in my case it was my choice. )

[Effected After]

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the world with my first and last name as well. And I have a middle name. But my last name isn't Japanese, it's east European.

[Andun]

My kid's got a middle name, and it's on all the legal docs.

Mine too. My daughter has 2 middle names and I'm pretty sure they are not blended together.

[mr.sumo.snr]

I might just use middle names on the Canadian documents for my child. It would be easier. I was very happy to receieve all the feedback though. Thank you!

You've answered your question there! Japan is a bit anally-retentive when it comes to names, Canada is somewhat more relaxed (as is my home country - the UK). My son has a Japanese first and last name (all children born in Japan must take their mother's family name - if you haven't changed it to your husband's name then you should be aware of this). His Japanese name works well in English. His UK birth certificate uses the long-form English version of his Japanese name plus my middle name and family name. My wife had to submit written consent for his name not being exactly the same as his Japanese name on the UK birth certificate.

Can I suggest, if you give your children different names on their Japanese and Canadian birth certificates, that the names are not too dissimilar. You can saddle them with something different as a middle name for Canada. Also choose the long-form of any western name. Then it's up to them if they want to shorten it in later life (or maybe their friends do it for them.) For 20 plus years I used the short-form of my name in the UK but switched to the full-length when I moved to Japan. Glad I did because it's impossible to get a legal ID using a nickname.


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[Andun]

OK. I checked with the wife. As stated above you can only have 2 names, so our daughter's name is three rolled into one. But outside official documents we/she only uses one of those names.

[JennC]

Yeah as far as Japanese names go you can only have a first and last name. Which is not a problem if you ask me. I don't recall ever having to use my middle name in my life where is would distinguish me from others. I do like the idea stated earlier of shouting at ones kids with a middle name though ! There are a number of nice Japanese name sites on the web you can check for more info and ideas on baby naming.

Japanese Names

[evilone]

Legal aliases (通称名) solve a lot of these problems. Register the full (including middle) name as an alias.

[nightsdawn]

Thank you all for the responses.

Legal aliases (通称名) solve a lot of these problems. Register the full (including middle) name as an alias.

That's interesting. I'll look into it. Thanks.

[Since1990]

I registered my daughter's name in Japan with the first and middle names joined together, but applied for her NZ citizenship with her first and middle names separated. Hence she has her middle name indicated as a separate middle name in her NZ and Japanese Passports (since the Japanese passport name is indicated in English). I applied for her NZ citizenship before applying for her Japanese passport. The situation may differ with other countries...

[streamworksaudio]

I am too a Canadian ;-) Both of my boys were born in Japan, they have Japanese (kanji) first names. When they were added to my wife's Koseki Touhon we added their middle name as well. The middle names were English, so of of course Katakana was used.

[nightsdawn]

I am too a Canadian ;-) Both of my boys were born in Japan, they have Japanese (kanji) first names. When they were added to my wife's Koseki Touhon we added their middle name as well. The middle names were English, so of of course Katakana was used.

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I was thinking about switching the name order to make it all easier. Put the Japanese name first, and then the English name in the middle. That way I can use Kanji for the Japanese name. Have your kids been bullied in your part of Canada because of their first Japanese name? I know that in my area in Canada it isn't as bad anymore since there are so many kids from all kinds of backgrounds at these schools now.

[streamworksaudio]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I was thinking about switching the name order to make it all easier. Put the Japanese name first, and then the English name in the middle. That way I can use Kanji for the Japanese name. Have your kids been bullied in your part of Canada because of their first Japanese name? I know that in my area in Canada it isn't as bad anymore since there are so many kids from all kinds of backgrounds at these schools now.

My oldest son is now in Grade Six (Vancouver), and there are no issues with his background at all. Most kids in his school have parents that are immigrants, so having a non English name has never been a problem.

We gave them Japanese first names because their last names are already in English My wife says that when she registered them she put our last name first, then first and middle together with no space after that. eg: 山田　太郎ニコラス　(Yamada Tarou Nikolas)

Their Japanese passports, the middle names appears as they do on their Canadian passports.

[Sira]

(all children born in Japan must take their mother's family name - if you haven't changed it to your husband's name then you should be aware of this).


--

This is not correct- all children here take the family name of the head of their koseki, who has to be Japanese. This means in the case of Japanese women who are married to foreigners but haven't changed their names officially, the kids have a Japanese last name. If Japanese women do change their names on marriage, the kids will then have the father's last name.

I haven't changed my family name to my husband's, and our son has my husband's family name, since he is head of the koseki.

Our son has just given name and family name on his Japanese passport because I didn't want to saddle him with something like ジョン太郎 or 宏司マイケル like some kids I know whose parents wanted both names on their Japanese documents as well, so they have ended up having to use those run-on names for everything official. When I applied in my home country for his citizenship and passport there I had a middle name added, but we won't use it in Japan.

[korpsy]

I have been thinking about baby names in Japan recently. When I was talking to my better half, he wasn't sure if we could use kanji for the middle name as Japanese people don't have middle names. I am Canadian and my better half is Japanese.
Ideally, I want my child to have a western first name and a Japanese middle and last name. Has anyone named their child using kanji for the middle name? Should I just switch the name order if I want to use kanji for the middle name?

I literally JUST registered my daughter at the ward office with a western first name and kanji middle name. Yes, they had to be squished together but the western part is in katakana and the Japanese part is kanji. Looks hilarious but oh well, it's her name, dammit!

Next step is getting it on the J-passport. With my son, in order to have his name (Marcus) spelled properly (not MAKASU) they required "proof". They accepted a letter addressed to him from overseas. I had my dad send a letter from Canada and brought it in, it was that simple. I'm going to try the same thing with my daughter and hopefully get her first and middle names with a space in between them on her passport. Wish me luck!

[korpsy]

Just an update for anyone searching for this information in the future, as it seems like there is very little confirmed info online. I was able to put my daughter's name on her Japanese passport with a middle name included (with a space!). Here's how.

When I registered her at the ward office, I put her middle name on the koseki. They don't allow a space on the koseki, that's fine. It went FIRSTMIDDLE LAST.
Then I got my father in Canada to mail a letter addressed to my daughter (obviously with her name written FIRST MIDDLE LAST).
Took the letter to the passport office when applying for her passport. Their logic is that if you can prove that the name is written/used that way overseas then they can put it on the passport that way. All the proof you need is that letter (I think preferably from a family member).

Hope that helps some future someone! Bringing a letter from overseas with correct spelling also helps if you don't want a western name 'romaji' spelling (Sarah- Sera, Marcus- Makasu etc).

[hml]

Their logic is that if you can prove that the name is written/used that way overseas then they can put it on the passport that way. All the proof you need is that letter (I think preferably from a family member).

Congrats on getting it done.

It's too bad they are so silly about things like this. As if a letter addressed to the person in question is any more valid than you saying it. Everyone knows you can write *any* name on a letter and it will be delivered. Anyway, congrats!

[Effected After]

I had to do the same thing to register an alias. They wanted a letter with my alias on it. So I called up a friend, he sent me a letter with the alias on it, and I brought it to the ward office, where they accepted it.

Waste of a stamp really.

[nynapaj]

Just an update for anyone searching for this information in the future, as it seems like there is very little confirmed info online. I was able to put my daughter's name on her Japanese passport with a middle name included (with a space!). Here's how.

When I registered her at the ward office, I put her middle name on the koseki. They don't allow a space on the koseki, that's fine. It went FIRSTMIDDLE LAST.

If this went on the koseki, wouldn't it be LAST FIRSTMIDDLE?

Also, you got the passport with a space, but does this have any effect on her "FIRSTMIDDLE" name for the koseki?

[nynapaj]

I had to do the same thing to register an alias. They wanted a letter with my alias on it. So I called up a friend, he sent me a letter with the alias on it, and I brought it to the ward office, where they accepted it.

Waste of a stamp really.

I find this pretty interesting legally. One would assume that you register the name and THEN you are allowed to use it in public.
This literally leaves open the legal possibility to use several aliases but not register them.

[korpsy]

If this went on the koseki, wouldn't it be LAST FIRSTMIDDLE?

Also, you got the passport with a space, but does this have any effect on her "FIRSTMIDDLE" name for the koseki?

On the koseki you are right, it is probably LAST FIRSTMIDDLE. The only point I was trying to make is that on the koseki they don't allow a space between first and middle names, but to put them both anyway or else it is difficult (if not impossible) to get the middle name on the Japanese passport at all.

I can't think of any effect there would be on the koseki from making the passport. What were you thinking of specifically? I don't really understand the question.

[Sterling]