Mirai
Meaningfuture · Japanese
Mirai is a Japanese girl name meaning “future”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Mirai and you get Amiri. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Mirai has the name Ira hiding inside it.
- GenerationMirai is having its moment right now. Most Mirais are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Mirai would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 80,645 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMirai first shows up in US birth records in 1999, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 26 years since.
US births per million girls, 1999–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Mirai
Mirai is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “future”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Mirai
What does the name Mirai mean?
Mirai means “future” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Future (“future”) and Mirae (“future”).
What is the origin of the name Mirai?
Mirai is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Mirai a boy or girl name?
Mirai is a girl name. In 2025, 20 US girls were named Mirai.
How popular is the name Mirai?
Mirai ranked #5,917 for US girls in 2025, given to 20 babies. Its best year was 2020, when it reached #3,399. Over the last five years it has slipped 2,518 places.
What names are similar to Mirai?
If you like Mirai, you might also like Future and Mirae.
What should I know before naming my baby Mirai?
Mirai is a Japanese girl name meaning “future”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.