Geisha Name Generator
Geimei, okiya and teahouse names in traditional style
Browse 500 geisha-style professional names, from lineage names such as Mameharu and Fukuchiyo to older Tokyo forms like Umekichi and Koyakko, plus okiya and teahouse names for the house behind them.
About geisha names
A geisha works under a professional name, a geimei, in place of her own. In Kyoto, where geisha are called geiko and apprentices maiko, the name is given around the debut and ties the newcomer to the people who trained her. The common pattern takes one element from the name of her older sister, the senior geiko who mentors her, or from a name that runs in her house, and adds a second element of her own. That is why names in one line often open the same way: Mame, Ichi, Fuku, Katsu and similar elements come back across generations, joined to words for plants, seasons, cranes, bells and long life.
Tokyo had its own fashion. The geisha of Fukagawa were known for short names that sounded like men's names, ending in -kichi, -ji, -yakko, -hachi or -matsu. This list mixes both traditions with a smaller share of names for an okiya, the house where geisha live and train, and an ochaya, the teahouse where they entertain.
Every name here is formed from elements of the kind such names use, and the list is not a historical record. Because the stock of elements is small, a formed name can coincide with the professional name of a real geiko or maiko. Treat these as names for fictional characters.
How to choose geisha names
- Build a lineage first. Pick one opening element for a house, such as Mame, Fuku or Ichi, and give it to every character trained there. Readers will see who belongs together without being told.
- Let the style of the name set the place. Two-part names such as Katsuhina or Tsunemomo suggest Kyoto, while Somekichi, Kikuji or Haruyakko suggest an old Tokyo district.
- Name the house too. An okiya or ochaya name from the list, such as Tachibana Okiya or Shirakawa Ochaya, anchors a scene faster than a description of the street.
- A maiko usually keeps the same professional name when she becomes a geiko, so choose one that suits the character at every stage of her career.
- Write the work with care. Geisha are trained performers of traditional dance, music and conversation, so put the name on a character with a craft and a daily routine.
Frequently asked questions
How are geisha names formed?
A geimei usually has two parts. In Kyoto the first part is commonly taken from the name of the older sister who mentors the newcomer, or from a name that runs in the house, and the second part is her own. Names in the list such as Mameharu, Mamesuzu and Mamekiku show how one opening element can link a whole line.
Are these the names of real geisha?
Not on purpose. The names are formed from elements of the kind geimei use, and the list is not a record of working or historical geiko and maiko. Geimei are handed down and the stock of elements is small, so some names here are certain to match the professional name of a real geiko or maiko, past or present. Use them for fictional characters and do not attach one to a real person.
What is the difference between the Kyoto and Tokyo styles?
Kyoto names tend to be two flowing parts, such as Fukuchiyo, Katsuhina or Ichimomo. The geisha of Tokyo's Fukagawa district were known for short names that sounded masculine, and the list has many in that style, such as Umekichi, Kikuji and Koyakko. Both kinds are here so you can match the name to the setting.
What are the okiya and ochaya names for?
An okiya is the house where geisha live and train, and an ochaya is the teahouse where they entertain guests. The list has a smaller share of names for both, such as Yanagi Okiya, Tatsumi Ochaya and Willow Bridge Teahouse. They are made up in a plausible style for stories and games and can coincide with a real business, so check for yourself before using one outside fiction.
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All 500 geisha names
A: 10 names
- Aoyagi Ochaya
- Asagao
- Asahiya Okiya
- Asaji
- Ayaha
- Ayakoma
- Ayame
- Ayano
- Ayasuzu
- Azuma
B: 3 names
- Baika Ochaya
- Bamboo Blind Teahouse
- Botan
C: 21 names
- Camellia Teahouse
- Chidori
- Chidoriya Okiya
- Chigusa
- Chihaya
- Chikafuku
- Chikaharu
- Chikamaru
- Chikamomo
- Chikano
- Chikasaya
- Chikayu
- Chiyogiku
- Chiyoha
- Chiyoharu
- Chiyoji
- Chiyokichi
- Chiyoryu
- Chiyosuzu
- Chiyotsuru
- Crane and Pine Teahouse
E: 7 names
- Eichiyo
- Eiharu
- Eikichi
- Eimaru
- Eiryu
- Eiyakko
- Evening Bell Teahouse
F: 26 names
- First Snow Teahouse
- Fujika
- Fujikichi
- Fujimaru
- Fujino
- Fujinoya Okiya
- Fukuaya
- Fukuchiyo
- Fukuha
- Fukuhana
- Fukuhina
- Fukuito
- Fukukinu
- Fukumari
- Fukuno
- Fukusato
- Fukusono
- Fukusuzu
- Fukutama
- Fukuteru
- Fukuyu
- Fumichiyo
- Fumiha
- Fumikazu
- Fumino
- Fumisuzu
H: 46 names
- Hanachiyo
- Hanaikada Ochaya
- Hanaji
- Hanakichi
- Hanakoma
- Hanamatsu
- Hanaryo
- Hanateru
- Hanatsuru
- Hanayakko
- Harugiku
- Haruji
- Harukichi
- Harukoma
- Harusame
- Harusame Ochaya
- Harutomi
- Harutsuru
- Haruyakko
- Hatsugiku
- Hatsuhana
- Hatsune
- Hatsuneya Okiya
- Hatsuyakko
- Hatsuyuki
- Higashiyama Ochaya
- Hinachiyo
- Hinagiku
- Hinakoma
- Hinamomo
- Hinano
- Hinasato
- Hinayu
- Hinoki Ochaya
- Hisacho
- Hisae
- Hisagiku
- Hisahachi
- Hisaharu
- Hisamomo
- Hisano
- Hisaryo
- Hisasuzu
- Hisatomo
- Hishiya Okiya
- Hotaru
I: 17 names
- Ichiaya
- Ichiemi
- Ichifuku
- Ichigiku
- Ichiharu
- Ichiho
- Ichimomo
- Ichisayo
- Ichisen
- Ichisuzu
- Ichiteru
- Ichitomo
- Ichiume
- Ichiwaka
- Iris Pond Teahouse
- Isuzu
- Izumiya Okiya
K: 107 names
- Kaede
- Kamo Riverside Teahouse
- Kamogawa Ochaya
- Kanoemi
- Kanoha
- Kanoharu
- Kanohiro
- Kanoka
- Kanoryo
- Kanosumi
- Kanotomo
- Kanoyumi
- Kashiwaya Okiya
- Kasumi
- Katsue
- Katsugiku
- Katsuhachi
- Katsuhina
- Katsuho
- Katsumomo
- Katsuna
- Katsuryo
- Katsusen
- Katsusuzu
- Katsutomo
- Katsuyakko
- Kawabata Okiya
- Kikuhachi
- Kikuji
- Kikune
- Kikuno
- Kikuryo
- Kikusato
- Kikushino
- Kikusuzu
- Kikutomo
- Kikutsuru
- Kikuyae
- Kikuyakko
- Kikuyu
- Kikyo
- Kikyoya Okiya
- Kimiaya
- Kimichie
- Kimichiyo
- Kimigiku
- Kimiharu
- Kimika
- Kimikichi
- Kiminao
- Kimishizu
- Kimitomo
- Kimiyu
K, continued
- Kimizuru
- Kiyoharu
- Kiyoji
- Kiyokichi
- Kiyomatsu
- Kiyoryu
- Kiyosuzu
- Kiyotsuru
- Kiyoyakko
- Kochiyo
- Kocho
- Koen
- Kofuku
- Kofumi
- Kogetsu Ochaya
- Kogiku
- Kohana
- Kohina
- Komachi Ochaya
- Komagiku
- Komahachi
- Komaharu
- Komaji
- Komakichi
- Koman
- Komari
- Komaryu
- Komataro
- Komatsuru
- Komayakko
- Koryo
- Kosato
- Kosen
- Kosome
- Kosono
- Kosuzu
- Kotama
- Koteru
- Kotogiku
- Kotoha
- Kotoji
- Kotomi
- Kotosuzu
- Kotoyakko
- Koyae
- Koyakko
- Koyoshi
- Koyuki
- Kozue
- Kozuru
- Kuniji
- Kunikichi
- Kunimatsu
- Kuniyakko
M: 58 names
- Makiko
- Mamechika
- Mamefuji
- Mamehana
- Mameharu
- Mamekazu
- Mamekiku
- Mamekinu
- Mameroku
- Mameryo
- Mamesono
- Mamesumi
- Mamesuzu
- Mametoyo
- Mameyuri
- Mangiku
- Mankichi
- Mantaro
- Manyakko
- Maple Bridge Teahouse
- Masachiyo
- Masafuji
- Masahina
- Masakinu
- Masane
- Masaryo
- Masasae
- Masayu
- Masuya Okiya
- Matsuba
- Matsuha
- Matsuji
- Matsukaze Okiya
- Matsunoya Okiya
- Minatoya Okiya
- Misao
- Mitsugiku
- Mitsuha
- Mitsuji
- Mitsukichi
- Mitsuna
- Miyako Ochaya
- Miyuki
- Momichiyo
- Momifuku
- Momiha
- Momihana
- Momiji
- Momiji Ochaya
- Momikazu
- Momisuzu
- Momitsuru
- Momiyuki
- Momochiyo
- Momoji
- Momokichi
- Momotsuru
- Momoyakko
N: 10 names
- Nadeshiko
- Naochiyo
- Naogiku
- Naoha
- Naohina
- Naokazu
- Naomatsu
- Naosato
- Naosome
- Naosuzu
O: 6 names
- Oborozuki Ochaya
- Old Capital Teahouse
- Otoha
- Otohachi
- Otoji
- Otowa
P: 3 names
- Paper Lantern Teahouse
- Plover Teahouse
- Plum Lantern Teahouse
R: 5 names
- Ryogiku
- Ryoha
- Ryohana
- Ryoka
- Ryosuzu
S: 46 names
- Sagano Ochaya
- Satochiyo
- Satogiku
- Satohana
- Satoharu
- Satoka
- Satomitsu
- Satonami
- Satono
- Satoryu
- Satoyuki
- Satsuki
- Sayaka
- Sazanami
- Sazanka Ochaya
- Senji
- Senkichi
- Senmaru
- Senyakko
- Shamisen Lane Teahouse
- Shinobu
- Shiragiku
- Shirakawa Ochaya
- Shiraume Okiya
- Shirayuki
- Shizuka
- Silk Fan Teahouse
- Snow Pine Teahouse
- Somegiku
- Someharu
- Someji
- Someka
- Somekichi
- Somemaru
- Sometaro
- Sometsuru
- Someyakko
- Spring Dance Teahouse
- Stone Lantern Teahouse
- Suehiro Okiya
- Sumire
- Suzuha
- Suzuji
- Suzukichi
- Suzumaru
- Suzuyakko
T: 81 names
- Tachibana Okiya
- Takachiyo
- Takaha
- Takahina
- Takamari
- Takamomo
- Takane
- Takaryo
- Takasago Okiya
- Takasono
- Takasuzu
- Takateru
- Takayae
- Takayakko
- Tamachiyo
- Tamae
- Tamaha
- Tamahana
- Tamaji
- Tamakazu
- Tamakichi
- Tamanoya Okiya
- Tamaryo
- Tamayakko
- Tatsumi Ochaya
- Terugiku
- Teruji
- Terukichi
- Terukoma
- Terutsuru
- Teruyakko
- Teruyo
- Three Cranes Teahouse
- Tokiwa
- Tomichie
- Tomigiku
- Tomiharu
- Tomihina
- Tomikazu
- Tomino
T, continued
- Tomishizu
- Tomisuzu
- Tomitae
- Tomitsuyu
- Tomiyakko
- Tomoe
- Toshichika
- Toshiemi
- Toshigiku
- Toshiha
- Toshihana
- Toshimomo
- Toshinae
- Toshisayo
- Toshisumi
- Toshisuzu
- Toshiteru
- Toshiyu
- Tsubaki
- Tsukimi Ochaya
- Tsuneha
- Tsunehana
- Tsuneka
- Tsunekazu
- Tsunemari
- Tsunemomo
- Tsunesono
- Tsunetomo
- Tsunewaka
- Tsuneyu
- Tsuruchiyo
- Tsurue
- Tsuruha
- Tsuruhachi
- Tsuruji
- Tsuruka
- Tsurukazu
- Tsurukichi
- Tsurumatsu
- Tsurunoya Okiya
- Tsuruyo
U: 16 names
- Umechie
- Umechika
- Umeha
- Umehachi
- Umehina
- Umeji
- Umekichi
- Umeno
- Umenoya Okiya
- Umeryo
- Umesaya
- Umetsuru
- Umewaka
- Umeyae
- Umeyakko
- Umeyu
W: 14 names
- Wakaba
- Wakachiyo
- Wakagiku
- Wakakoma
- Wakakusa Ochaya
- Wakamatsu
- Wakana
- Wakasuzu
- Wakatake Okiya
- Wakatama
- Wakatsuru
- Wakayakko
- Willow Bridge Teahouse
- Wisteria Teahouse