Sumire
Meaningviolet · Japanese
Sumire is a Japanese girl name meaning “violet”. 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 simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Word funSumire doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- GenerationSumire peaked in 2018, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Sumire you'd meet today is about 7 years old.
- HistorySumire first shows up in US birth records in 1994, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 31 years since.
US births per million girls, 1994–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Sumire
Sumire is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “violet”. 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 Sumire
What does the name Sumire mean?
Sumire means “violet” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Violet (“violet flower”), Violeta (“violet”), Violette (“violet”) and Viola (“violet”).
What is the origin of the name Sumire?
Sumire is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Sumire a boy or girl name?
Sumire is a girl name.
How popular is the name Sumire?
Sumire is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #9,151 in 2018, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Sumire?
If you like Sumire, you might also like Violet, Violeta, Violette and Viola.
What should I know before naming my baby Sumire?
Sumire is a Japanese girl name meaning “violet”. 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 simple to spell and say, 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.