Nanami
Meaningoften seven seas · Japanese
Nanami is a Japanese girl name often meaning “seven seas”. 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: Nanami has the name Ana hiding inside it.
- GenerationNanami peaked in 2009, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Nanami you'd meet today is about 16 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Nanami would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 270,270 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryNanami first shows up in US birth records in 1996, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 29 years since.
US births per million girls, 1996–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Nanami
Nanami is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often seven seas”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. 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 Nanami
What does the name Nanami mean?
Nanami means “often seven seas” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Seven (“seven”), Kokona (“often heart and seven”), Nanaka (“often seven flowers”) and Nanako (“often seven child”).
What is the origin of the name Nanami?
Nanami is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Nanami a boy or girl name?
Nanami is a girl name. In 2025, 6 US girls were named Nanami.
How popular is the name Nanami?
Nanami ranked #13,208 for US girls in 2025, given to 6 babies. Its best year was 2009, when it reached #6,811. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,066 places.
What names are similar to Nanami?
If you like Nanami, you might also like Seven, Kokona, Nanaka and Nanako.
What should I know before naming my baby Nanami?
Nanami is a Japanese girl name often meaning “seven seas”. 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.