Ume
Meaningplum blossom · Japanese
Ume is a Japanese girl name meaning “plum blossom”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationUme peaked in 2014, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Ume you'd meet today is about 11 years old.
- HistoryUme first shows up in US birth records in 2014, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
US births per million girls, 2014–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Ume
Ume is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “plum blossom”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. 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 Ume
What does the name Ume mean?
Ume means “plum blossom” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Thalia (“to blossom”), Sakura (“cherry blossom”), Mio (“often waterway or cherry blossom”) and Misaki (“often beautiful blossom”).
What is the origin of the name Ume?
Ume is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Ume a boy or girl name?
Ume is a girl name.
How popular is the name Ume?
Ume is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2014. It peaked at #16,513 in 2014, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Ume?
If you like Ume, you might also like Thalia, Sakura, Mio and Misaki.
What should I know before naming my baby Ume?
Ume is a Japanese girl name meaning “plum blossom”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.