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Hanako

Girl name · Japanese

Meaningflower child · Japanese

Hanako is a Japanese girl name meaning “flower child”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.

Did you know?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Hanako has the name Hana hiding inside it.
  • Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Hanako would score 13 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
  • GenerationHanako peaked in 1921, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Hanakos too.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Hanako would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 161,290 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryHanako first shows up in US birth records in 1915, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 110 years since.
Newborn in a white knit cap
hello, little Hanako

US births per million girls, 1915–2025

08161915196020002025

Similar names

Girl name: HannahGirl name: HannaGirl name: HanaGirl name: HaniaGirl name: HaniyaGirl name: Hanan
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Hanako

Hanako is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “flower child”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Japanese names

More Japanese girl names

Questions about the name Hanako

What does the name Hanako mean?

Hanako means “flower child” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “flower” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Violet (“violet flower”), Lily (“lily flower”), Rose (“rose flower”) and Magnolia (“magnolia flower”).

What is the origin of the name Hanako?

Hanako is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).

Is Hanako a boy or girl name?

Hanako is a girl name. In 2025, 10 US girls were named Hanako.

How popular is the name Hanako?

Hanako ranked #9,457 for US girls in 2025, given to 10 babies. Its best year was 1921, when it reached #2,048. Over the last five years it has climbed 5,631 places.

What names are similar to Hanako?

If you like Hanako, you might also like Violet, Lily, Rose and Magnolia.

What should I know before naming my baby Hanako?

Hanako is a Japanese girl name meaning “flower child”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.