Names for Boy/Girl twins

Name Advice
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I am currently attempting to find Japanese names for b/g twins that are easily pronounceable in [name_f]English[/name_f] (US). We are trying to avoid the ‘standard’ Japanese/English names like [name_f]Ema[/name_f], [name_f]Sara[/name_f], [name_m]Ken[/name_m], [name_m]Kai[/name_m], etc. We prefer more modern names, but aren’t completely set on this.

They will have a 3 syllable last name beginning with Y.

We have narrowed it down to a few for each gender. What are your opinions on these names? How would you pronounce them?

[name_f]Girl[/name_f]:
[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] (杏)-This should be easy to pronounce, and has a nice meaning (apricot).

[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] (月)- Tsu sound might be hard to pronounce. This is a more unusual name.

[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] (春菜)- This could be shortened to [name_f]Runa[/name_f], and having 3 syllables may make it sound more complete.

[name_f]Tsumugi[/name_f]- I love the way this name sounds, and like Tsu or Gi as a nickname.

[name_m]Boy[/name_m]:

[name_m]Souta[/name_m] / Sōta / [name_m]Sota[/name_m]- This is the current frontrunner for boy names. I think the pronunciation should be fairly intuitive. Unsure which [name_f]English[/name_f] spelling is best.

[name_f]Taiga[/name_f]- Sounds a lot like tiger. I’m unsure if this is a positive or a negative.

[name_m]Jun[/name_m]- A very simple name. Unsure if people would pronounce it correctly initially.

Ao/Aoi- I love these, but I know they might be too hard to pronounce.

Which of these names do you find the best? How would you pronounce them? [name_f]Any[/name_f] other suggestions? Thank you!

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As an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking Australian:

[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] - I would pronounce Ahn-zoo but would wonder if Ann-zoo. I love the meaning!

[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] - would think it’s [name_f]Suki[/name_f] with the faintest T at the start. I like this name - but the T may mean a small hesitation. I know it’s a different name, but [name_f]Suki[/name_f] would be easier if you like both.

[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] - Hah-roo-nah - seems like the easiest to pronounce. I don’t love the name/sound [name_f]Runa[/name_f] so it wouldn’t be my personal pick but it is approachable for an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker.

[name_f]Tsumugi[/name_f] - Tsoo-moo-gee? This would /does make me stumble the most.

Boys:

[name_m]Sota[/name_m] - I would guess Soh-tah and would choose this spelling as I wouldn’t know what to do with the macron. And with [name_m]Souta[/name_m], I might say Suit-ah or Sow-tah when I think it’s actually more Sort-ah.

[name_f]Taiga[/name_f] - I would say Tay-gah on first attempt or wonder if this or more Ty-ga (tiger). I think having the animal association is cute but it also reminds me of the rapper and I’m not sure about it.

[name_m]Jun[/name_m] - [name_m]Joon[/name_m] (but fast)? I don’t mind this name but it also doesn’t excite me either. Seems quite low key and safe? I think some would say [name_f]June[/name_f] (ie slow Joon).

Ao/Aoi - these are cool but because we don’t say letters separately, I think you’d get best effort attempts “Aye-oh” or “Ow” (Ao) and “Ah-oy”,or “Ow-ee” (Aoi). They might sound like the sounds we make when we’ve hurt ourselves, even if we get closer to what it should sound like. I think these ones will really trip people up. Obviously up to you how much this matters.

You’ve listed these in preference order for me!

Some other names but not sure how obvious / standard, let alone cool in Japanese:

[name_f]Reina[/name_f], [name_f]Rumi[/name_f], [name_m]Yuma[/name_m], [name_f]Koharu[/name_f], [name_f]Sakura[/name_f], [name_m]Eren[/name_m], [name_m]Yuki[/name_m], [name_f]Asami[/name_f]

[name_f]Riku[/name_f], [name_m]Kaito[/name_m], [name_m]Renji[/name_m], [name_m]Asa[/name_m], [name_m]Hiro[/name_m], Isaku, [name_m]Akira[/name_m], [name_m]Kengo[/name_m], [name_m]Hikaru[/name_m].

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Thank you for such a comprehensive response!

Most of your pronunciations are correct.

[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] is indeed like Ahn-zoo

My main worry with [name_f]Haruna[/name_f] is that it may be said with stress on the middle syllable, like Ha-ROO-na, rather than HA-roo-na.

[name_f]Taiga[/name_f] is like [name_m]Tyga[/name_m] (like Kai).

Appreciate the feedback on [name_m]Jun[/name_m].

I think you are right that [name_f]Tsumugi[/name_f], Ao, and [name_f]Aoi[/name_f] are a bit too difficult, so I’ll cross those off the list.

I don’t necessarily love [name_f]Suki[/name_f], as it isn’t really a name used in Japan, but it would definitely be easier to say.

I like [name_m]Yuki[/name_m] and [name_f]Yuuki[/name_f] a lot, but don’t love the alliteration with our last name.

[name_m]Akira[/name_m] and [name_m]Hiro[/name_m] for a boy is something to add to the list.

Some other options we are considering are [name_f]Himari[/name_f], [name_f]Ichika[/name_f], [name_f]Kanon[/name_f], [name_f]Sumire[/name_f], and [name_m]Mitsuki[/name_m] for a girl, and [name_m]Minato[/name_m] and [name_f]Sora[/name_f] for a boy.

Thanks again!

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Glad it helped and two new boys on list. Tsuki meaning moon is lovely. Keep it on list!

Of your new names, I like all the girls except Kanon - should add, Kanon sounds very fresh and like something you’d hear in US, I just don’t like the canon sound association. I’d also be very reluctant to use Ichika with the nn Itchy - it’s spunky but I see some major teasing potential.

As for Minato, you’d probably get Mini or Nate for short - though I’m not sure you’d get the even syllable stresses you’d like, think it might get a strong NA or TOE (same as Haruna - I think it would be Ha-ROO-nah when HA-ru-na is much prettier). Sora to me is very cool - it’ll get the “boy or girl?” questions but I really like it for a boy!

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[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] is lovely, as is [name_f]Haruna[/name_f] – approachable and sparky!

I like [name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] too - cool meaning and while the sound might give some people pause, i dont think its too hard?

[name_m]Sota[/name_m] is cool - succinct and confident. I think this sp. works best as [name_m]Souta[/name_m] could get you Soo-tuh

[name_f]Taiga[/name_f] is spiky and bright and i like how it sounds like [name_f]Tiger[/name_f]. [name_m]Jun[/name_m] is simple and down to earth :slight_smile:

Fave sets:

[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] and [name_f]Taiga[/name_f]
[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] and [name_m]Sota[/name_m]
[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] and [name_f]Taiga[/name_f]
[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] and [name_m]Jun[/name_m]

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Yes, I have heard others dislike [name_f]Kanon[/name_f] for its similarity to canon and cannon. Hadn’t thought about [name_f]Ichika[/name_f] having an ‘itchy’ association, so thank you. [name_m]The[/name_m] I makes an ee sound, rather than a short I, but I don’t know if that’s enough to separate it from itchy.

[name_m]The[/name_m] syllable stress for 3 syllable names doesn’t always sound as nice in [name_f]English[/name_f], which does make us a bit reluctant to go with a 3 syllable name, as you mentioned.

[name_f]Sora[/name_f] does seem to read more feminine in [name_f]English[/name_f] than Japanese (that ending -a I imagine). I’m worried that this could be a problem, but I don’t really know.

Really appreciate all your insight!

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[name_m]The[/name_m] Tsu sound is my biggest concern for [name_f]Tsuki[/name_f], as I know many english speakers struggle to say it, and may say Sue-key instead.

It’s seeming like [name_m]Sota[/name_m] is the more intuitive pronunciation.

[name_m]The[/name_m] sets you have chosen seem great, though I may be concerend about having both names start with the same letter, as they may end up being confused with each other.

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Meant cannon, I’m writing about something involving the ‘canon’ so brain on auto.

I do think Itchika would get Itchy-ka…

I think [name_f]Sora[/name_f] is cool for a boy. Because it’s not a well known name, there’s more flexibility. It sounds epic!

As a twin, would def choose different starting letters (and ending sounds) so not super matchy. [name_m]Can[/name_m] already geel intense and enmeshing as a twin so nice to have some differentiation.

Eg:

[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] & [name_f]Taiga[/name_f]
[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] & [name_m]Akira[/name_m]
[name_f]Himari[/name_f] & [name_f]Sora[/name_f]
[name_f]Asami[/name_f] & [name_m]Sota[/name_m]
[name_f]Sumire[/name_f] & [name_m]Hiro[/name_m]

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How I would pronounce:
[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] - Ahn-zhu
[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] - Tsoo-kee
[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] - Huh-roo-na
[name_f]Tsumugi[/name_f] - Tsoo-moo-gee
[name_m]Souta[/name_m] / Sōta / [name_m]Sota[/name_m] - Sow-tuh / Sau-tah
[name_f]Taiga[/name_f] - Tay-guh
[name_m]Jun[/name_m] - Juh-n / Joo-n
Ao/Aoi - Ay / Oi

(I like [name_f]Anzu[/name_f] + [name_m]Sota[/name_m] as a pairing!)

Names I would also suggest:
Boys - [name_m]Asahi[/name_m], [name_f]Sora[/name_f], [name_m]Toma[/name_m], [name_m]Haru[/name_m], [name_m]Raiden[/name_m], [name_m]Rio[/name_m], [name_m]Ruka[/name_m], [name_f]Riku[/name_f], [name_m]Saku[/name_m], [name_m]Reo[/name_m], [name_m]Taji[/name_m]
Girls - [name_f]Rin[/name_f], [name_m]Mio[/name_m], [name_f]Reina[/name_f], [name_f]Koto[/name_f], [name_f]Senna[/name_f], [name_f]Mei[/name_f], [name_f]Nami[/name_f], [name_f]Kiki[/name_f], [name_f]Hana[/name_f], [name_f]Maya[/name_f], [name_f]Saya[/name_f]

(I really like [name_m]Ruka[/name_m] (流架) + [name_f]Nami[/name_f] (波) together.
[name_m]Ruka[/name_m] meaning “flowing current” & [name_f]Nami[/name_f] (波) meaning “wave.” They just sound great together, I think anyway!)

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Congratulations on your twins! [name_f]Anzu[/name_f] and [name_f]Taiga[/name_f] have my heart—what a great duo! [name_m]Sota[/name_m] is lovely too though and pairs well with [name_f]Anzu[/name_f] as well.

I would pronounce them as:

[name_f]Anzu[/name_f] - ahn zoo
[name_f]Tsuki[/name_f] - tsoo (like the double z in pizza) kee
[name_f]Haruna[/name_f] - hah ROO nah
[name_f]Tsumugi[/name_f] - tsoo MOO ghee

[name_m]Sota[/name_m] - SOH tah (if you’re in a region where they call [name_f]Pepsi[/name_f] etc., soda, this might be problematic in an [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking country, some regions don’t distinguish well between the T and D sounds? It is lovely though!)
[name_f]Taiga[/name_f] - tye gah
[name_m]Jun[/name_m] - like the month of [name_f]June[/name_f]!
Ao/Aoi - ow or owee… probably not right but that was my first thought. :sob::sob:

Good luck!

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