Wakana
Meaningoften young greens · Japanese
Wakana is a Japanese girl name often meaning “young greens”. 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: Wakana has the name Ana hiding inside it.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Wakana would score 13 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationWakana peaked in 1991, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Wakana you'd meet today is about 34 years old.
- HistoryWakana first shows up in US birth records in 1991, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 34 years since.
US births per million girls, 1991–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Wakana
Wakana is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often young greens”. 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 Wakana
What does the name Wakana mean?
Wakana means “often young greens” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Hina (“often sun and greens”), Haruna (“often spring greens”) and Suzuna (“often bell and greens”).
What is the origin of the name Wakana?
Wakana is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Wakana a boy or girl name?
Wakana is a girl name.
How popular is the name Wakana?
Wakana is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2011. It peaked at #13,147 in 1991, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Wakana?
If you like Wakana, you might also like Hina, Haruna and Suzuna.
What should I know before naming my baby Wakana?
Wakana is a Japanese girl name often meaning “young greens”. 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.