One question you might have is about middle names in Japan – do they exist? Have you ever come across someone in Japan who did have a middle name?
Have you ever seen or heard a middle name mentioned in Anime? The answer is most likely a resounding no. Middle names don’t technically exist in Japan!
For many other cultures around the world, middle names are an important part of our identity.
They often come from close loved ones or relatives. Maybe you had an uncle Brian, so you were given the middle name Brain.
For many, middle names help keep the family legacy alive. In Japan, middle names simply don’t exist.
Why is that? If you want to learn more about middle names in Japan, as well as how naming and addressing works in the country, stick around – there’s a lot to learn!
Do Japanese People Have Middle Names?
Japanese people do not have middle names. Of course, there might be an exception if you are a foreigner living in Japan, or you are part of a foreign country, but Japanese people do not have middle names.
This might seem odd for some countries where our middle names are important, but it’s the norm in Japan.
Why This Is The Case
Legal documents only have space for a first and last name in Japan. This is also the case in countries like China and North and South Korea.
As such, if you wanted a middle name, it wouldn’t be able to go on any legal paperwork – which kind of makes having one pointless.
In many Western countries, middle names didn’t become popular until a few years ago.
Before then, it wasn’t uncommon for people to only go by one name.
So, since all countries work on their own timeline and preferences, who knows – middle names might come to Japan in the future, too!
The Exceptions
With that being said, there are some rare exceptions for when Japanese people might have a middle name.
This tends to be the case for people who have adopted different names for their religion (see also ‘The 4 Most Common Religions In Japan‘), or if their field of work requires it.
Many people who work on publications may be required to add a middle name or initial to their name in order to differentiate their work from someone with the same first and last names.
A Japanese person might also be given a middle name if they move abroad, whether alone or with their family.
This middle name isn’t obligatory, but might be given according to whichever country they are moving to.
They might also need to adopt a middle name to make their life more practical as a foreigner.
Finally, a Japanese Person might have a middle name because they weren’t born in Japan.
While their middle name is unlikely to really be mentioned or written down on paperwork, they would still legally have a middle name thanks to their birth certificate from another country.
Middle Names In Japan – What If You Want One?
There are three options you can do with if you desperately want a middle name in Japan. Let’s take a look at these three options below:
Get a legal alias – if you are desperate to get a middle name, you can get a legal alias. This is a name that is separate from your legal name, but can be used for a number of purposes in Japan.
Add your middle name to your first name – a common solution that Japanese people come up with when they want a middle name is to simply add it to their first name. In Japan, no spaces or hyphens can be used in names. So, if you wanted a middle name, it would be Laurenmary, rather than Lauren-Mary. There are no rules against long names or names with many compounds, so it is a real possibility for anyone who wants to have some kind of middle name.
Become a citizen of another country and have dual citizenship – if possible, you can register the name (with the middle name) in another country. This option has been known to cause some issues, but tends to run smoothly for the most part. You should have the option of putting the middle name in brackets on the Japanese passport, which will make things a lot easier.
Addressing People Correctly In Japan
On the topic of names, it’s important to know how to address someone in Japan. Names are a crucial part of the culture in Japan, and so is respect.
If you are a foreigner visiting Japan, it might be a lot easier to accidentally be rude to someone by not knowing any better.
Rules and customs are very different here compared to most of the Western world, and when visiting Japan, it’s pivotal that you remember that.
If you meet someone in Japan, they will likely only tell you their surnames.
Even if you do find out their first names, you should never use it to address them unless you are extremely close.
Even then, however, it’s better to use surnames to address people.
Japan uses honorifics to address various people, and you will have an honorific that people will use with you.
For example, as a way of showing respect, someone might put san on the end of your name, and you should do the same.
If you are addressing someone who is of a higher social status than you, you would attach the honorific sama at the end of their name.
These honorifics are simply a way of showing respect to whoever you are talking to, and while there are many more, those are the most important to remember.
Final Thoughts
Names are important in Japanese culture. From middle names (or a lack thereof) to honorifics, it’s important to know a little about the culture you are stepping into.
Even if it is for a short time, it’s important to have an understanding of a country and the way it works.
Middle names don’t really exist in Japan, unless there are special circumstances of it.
Hopefully this has answered the questions you have, and feel like you know a bit more about Japan. Are you planning on visiting?
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
