April 2026 Baby Naming Trends Announced: 'Sakura Names' Soar in Popularity

Baby Calendar, which operates Japan's largest childcare support site providing direct advice from experts, has announced its 'April Baby Naming Trends' survey, based on data from 7,496 babies born in April 2026.

[Girls' Naming Trends] The top girl's name for April was 'Iroha'. Names evoking the warmth of spring and the colors of new greenery gained popularity. A notable highlight is the surge in 'Sakura names'. Including the second-ranked 'Mio', numerous names using the character for 'Sakura' (cherry blossom) or read as 'Sakura' appeared in the rankings. The name 'Sakura' itself, which was outside the top 100 in March, jumped to 9th place in April.

[Boys' Naming Trends] The top boy's name for April was 'Minato'. Names that suggest the beginning of a new season are popular. Even in boys' names, 'Sakura names' are drawing attention, with the kanji for 'Sakura' significantly increasing its rank. In addition to the top-ranked 'Minato', names like 'Ren' and 'Saku' also secured top positions.

[Kanji and Pronunciation Trends] In the girls' kanji ranking, 'Sakura' took the top spot, rising sharply from 10th in March. The character for 'Hana' (flower) also ranked 2nd, continuing the popularity of 'flower names'. In the pronunciation ranking, 'Koharu' took 1st place. The sound 'Haru', which evokes the warmth of spring, remains popular for both boys and girls.

Spring is a special time for parents, coinciding with the birth of new life. This survey reveals the warm sentiments of Japanese parents who cherish this sense of seasonality in their children's names. Baby Calendar will continue to provide the latest information and the charm of naming through its monthly trend reports.