Japanese Sword Name Generator
Authentic names for katana, tachi, tanto and legendary blades
Generate Japanese sword names in the styles real blades were recorded: legendary swords from the Kojiki, famous named treasures like Dojigiri Yasutsuna, smith signatures by province and school, -maru heirloom names and original poetic names with meanings. Covers katana, tachi, wakizashi, tanto, odachi and naginata.
About Japanese sword names
A real Japanese sword is usually known by more than one name, and this generator covers all of them. The oldest layer is mythic: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, Totsuka-no-Tsurugi and Ame-no-Ohabari are blades of the gods in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, built from Old Japanese words joined with no or -no-. Next come the meibutsu, named treasures of the samurai age, which pair a nickname with the smith who made the blade: Dojigiri Yasutsuna (the ogre-cutter by Yasutsuna), Mikazuki Munechika (the crescent-moon blade by Munechika), Honjo Masamune (Masamune's blade once owned by Honjo Shigenaga).
Below the famous names sits the way collectors and appraisers actually record swords: province, school and smith, often with the blade type. Bizen Osafune Kagemitsu, Sue-Seki Kanesada, Hizen Tadayoshi and Yamashiro no Kuni Ju Kunimitsu Tachi all follow that grammar, and a fictional blade given a plausible provenance like this instantly feels catalogued rather than invented. The -maru suffix marks a treasured object (Kogarasu-maru, Hotarumaru, Onimaru) and works well for heirloom swords in a story.
The final group is poetic: nature images, colors and weather rendered in romaji with a translation, such as Shirasagi (White Heron), Kogarashi (Withering Wind) or Tsuru no Ongaeshi (Crane's Return). Mix the layers to suit the blade: a court tachi wants a smith name, a ronin's wakizashi wants something quieter.
How to choose Japanese sword names
- Match the name form to the blade type: tachi and court swords suit smith-and-province names, katana carried by famous warriors suit meibutsu nicknames, and tanto or wakizashi suit short -maru or single-image poetic names.
- Deed names (-giri, -kiri) should record one specific act the blade supposedly performed, so use them sparingly; one Onikirimaru in a story is memorable, five are a pattern.
- If you give a fictional sword a smith signature, keep the province and school consistent with the era: Sue-Bizen and Sue-Seki are late Muromachi, Hizen and Osaka smiths are Edo-period, Gassan names are modern.
- Romaji names with translations read best in English fiction when the translation is short and concrete (White Heron, Withering Wind); long abstract translations lose their punch at the table.
- Check that a name you pick is not already a real National Treasure blade if you plan to sell the work; Mikazuki Munechika and Dojigiri Yasutsuna are recognisable to anyone who has visited the Tokyo National Museum.
Frequently asked questions
How were real Japanese swords named?
Most famous blades carry a nickname plus the smith's art name: Dojigiri (ogre cutter) Yasutsuna, Heshikiri (cut by pressing) Hasebe, Shokudaikiri (candlestick cutter) Mitsutada. Others are named for a former owner (Honjo Masamune), a pattern in the steel (Mikazuki, crescent moon) or use the heirloom suffix -maru (Kogarasu-maru, Onimaru).
What is the difference between a katana, tachi, wakizashi and tanto name?
The name itself does not change, but the blade type is often appended in records: Osafune Nagamitsu Naginata, Soshu Hiromitsu Tanto, Yamato Tegai Kanenaga Tachi. Tachi are older slung swords worn edge-down, katana are worn edge-up, wakizashi are the shorter companion sword and tanto are daggers.
What do the province and school names like Bizen Osafune or Sue-Seki mean?
They record where and by which lineage a blade was forged. Bizen, Yamashiro, Yamato, Soshu and Mino are the five great traditions; Osafune, Awataguchi, Rai, Tegai and Seki are schools within them; Sue- means late-period and Ko- means early-period. A smith's two-kanji art name like Kanemitsu or Sukesada follows.
Are these Japanese sword names accurate enough for a novel or tabletop game?
The legendary blades and meibutsu are real historical names; the smith signatures follow real provinces, schools and naming conventions; the poetic names are original romaji with accurate translations. Together they give you a spread from museum catalogue to heroic legend, so choose the register your scene needs.
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All 500 Japanese sword names
A: 37 names
- Aizu Izumi no Kami Kanesada
- Aizu Kanesada
- Aizu Kanetomo
- Aizu Kaneyuki
- Aizu Michitoki
- Akagumo (Red Cloud)
- Akahoshi (Red Star)
- Akai Tsuki (Red Moon)
- Akanezora (Madder Sky)
- Akatombo (Red Dragonfly)
- Akatsubaki (Red Camellia)
- Akatsuki-no-Tachi
- Akatsukimaru
- Akita Toshiro
- Amata Akitsugu
- Ame-agari (After Rainfall)
- Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi
- Ame-no-Ohabari
- Aoarashi (Green Storm)
- Aoba (Green Leaves)
- Aogiri (Blue Mist)
- Aokaze (Blue Wind)
- Aonami Hisakuni
- Aotake (Green Bamboo)
- Aotsuki (Blue Moon)
- Aozora (Blue Sky)
- Arashimaru
- Araumi Nagasone
- Asagiri Yoshimitsu
- Asayake (Morning Glow)
- Atsushi Toshiro
- Awataguchi Hisakuni
- Awataguchi Kunitomo
- Awataguchi Kuniyasu
- Awataguchi Norikuni
- Awataguchi Yoshimitsu
- Ayanokoji Sadatoshi
B: 22 names
- Benigumo (Crimson Cloud)
- Benitsuru (Crimson Crane)
- Benizakura (Crimson Cherry)
- Bitchu Aoe Moritsugu
- Bitchu Aoe Sadatsugu
- Bitchu Aoe Tsunetsugu
- Bitchu Aoe Yoshitsugu
- Bitchu no Kuni Aoe Ju Tsugunao Tachi
- Bizen Ichimonji Norifusa
- Bizen Ichimonji Sukezane
- Bizen Ichimonji Yoshifusa
- Bizen no Kuni Osafune Ju Sukesada Katana
- Bizen Osafune Chikakage
- Bizen Osafune Kagemitsu
- Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu
- Bizen Osafune Mitsutada
- Bizen Osafune Nagamitsu
- Bizen Saburo Kunimune
- Bizen Ukai Unsho
- Bungo no Kuni Takada Ju Tomoyuki Wakizashi
- Bungo Takada Tomoyuki
- Bungo Yukihira
C: 5 names
- Chidori no Ato (Plover's Tracks)
- Chikugo Miike Mitsuyo
- Chikuzen no Kuni Ju Nobukuni Tanto
- Chikuzen Sa Kunihiro
- Chogi Odachi
D: 2 names
- Daihannya Nagamitsu
- Dojigiri Yasutsuna
E: 19 names
- Echizen Kanenori
- Echizen Kanetane
- Echizen Kanetsugu
- Echizen no Kuni Ju Yasutsugu Katana
- Echizen Shigetaka
- Echizen Yasutsugu
- Edo Hojoji Masahiro
- Edo Ishido Korekazu
- Edo Kazusa no Suke Kaneshige
- Edo Kotetsu Okisato
- Edo Nagasone Kotetsu
- Edo Noda Hankei
- Edo Shitahara Yasushige
- Edo Tsunahiro
- Edo Yamano Kanjuro Nagahisa
- Edo Yamato no Kami Yasusada
- Enju Nobukuni
- Etchu Norishige
- Etchu Tametsugu
F: 8 names
- Fudo Masamune
- Fujimaru
- Fujishima Tomoshige
- Fukuoka Ichimonji Muneyoshi
- Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukeyoshi
- Fukuoka Ichimonji Yoshimune
- Futsu-no-Mitama
- Fuyugeshiki (Winter Scene)
G: 14 names
- Gassan Sadaichi
- Gassan Sadakatsu
- Gassan Sadakazu
- Gassan Sadamitsu
- Gassan Sadayoshi
- Gin no Ame (Silver Rain)
- Gin no Nami (Silver Wave)
- Gin no Tsuki (Silver Moon)
- Ginrei (Silver Peak)
- Ginryu (Silver Dragon)
- Go Yoshihiro
- Gojo Kanenaga
- Gojo Kuninaga
- Gokotai
H: 58 names
- Hachisuka Kotetsu
- Hakusan Yoshimitsu
- Hanagasumi Nagamitsu
- Hanakage (Flower Shadow)
- Hasebe Kunishige
- Hatsuhana (First Blossom)
- Hatsukaze (First Wind)
- Hatsune (First Sound)
- Hatsushimo Sadamune
- Hatsushio (First Tide)
- Hatsuyuki Hizen Tadahiro
- Hayabusamaru
- Heianjo Nagayoshi
- Heshikiri Hasebe
- Hi no Ken (Sword of Fire)
- Hi no Kuruma (Wheel of Fire)
- Hi no Tama (Fireball)
- Hi no Tori (Bird of Fire)
- Hien Sukehiro
- Higekiri
- Higo Enju Kunisuke
- Higo Enju Kunitoki
- Higo no Kuni Enju Ju Kunimura Tachi
- Hikarikiri Kagemitsu
- Hinomaru Tachi
- Hirano Toshiro
- Hirotsugu Kogarasu-zukuri Tachi
- Hizamaru
- Hizen Kunihiro
H, continued
- Hizen Masahiro
- Hizen Munetsugu
- Hizen Namihira Yasunori
- Hizen no Kuni Ju Tadayoshi Katana
- Hizen Tadahiro
- Hizen Tadakuni
- Hizen Tadamitsu
- Hizen Tadayoshi
- Hizen Yukihiro
- Hocho Masamune
- Hoki no Kuni Ohara Yasutsuna Tachi
- Hoki Sanemori
- Hoki Yasuie
- Hoki Yasutsuna
- Honebami Toshiro
- Honjo Masamune
- Horikawa Kunihiro
- Horikawa Kunimichi
- Horikawa Kuniyasu
- Horikawa Kuniyoshi
- Hoshiakari (Starlight)
- Hoshifuri Kunimitsu
- Hoshimaru
- Hoshizukiyo (Star-Moon Night)
- Hosokawa Masayoshi
- Hotaru no Hikari (Firefly's Light)
- Hotarumaru
- Hououmaru
- Hyuga Masamune
I: 14 names
- Ichibanboshi (First Star)
- Ichigo Hitofuri
- Ikazuchi Go Yoshihiro
- Ikazuchimaru
- Imanotsurugi
- Inaba no Kuni Ju Kagenaga Wakizashi
- Ise Masashige
- Ise Masazane
- Ise Muramasa
- Ishida Masamune
- Ishikirimaru
- Iwakage (Rock Shadow)
- Iwami no Kuni Ju Naotsuna Tachi
- Iwatooshi
J: 2 names
- Jizo Yukihira
- Juzumaru Tsunetsugu
K: 83 names
- Kaerikaze (Returning Wind)
- Kaga Darani Katsuhira
- Kaga Darani Katsukuni
- Kaga Fujishima Tomoshige
- Kaga Kanewaka
- Kaga Kashu Kiyomitsu
- Kaga Kiyomitsu
- Kaga no Kuni Ju Kiyomitsu Katana
- Kaga Yukimitsu
- Kagemitsu Kogarasu-zukuri Tachi
- Kagemitsu Naginata Naoshi
- Kageromaru
- Kai Mihara Masamori
- Kaminari Kanemitsu
- Kaminarimaru
- Kanemitsu Naginata Naoshi
- Karasu no Hane (Crow's Feather)
- Kasanegumo Rai Kunitoshi
- Kasen Kanesada
- Kashu Sanekage
- Katayama Ichimonji Norifusa
- Kawakamimaru
- Kawasemi Yasutsuna
- Kazahana (Wind Flowers)
- Kazemaru
- Kikko Sadamune
- Kikuichimonji
K, continued
- Kin no Hane (Gold Feather)
- Kin no Kaze (Gold Wind)
- Kin no Tsuki (Gold Moon)
- Kinboshi (Gold Star)
- Kirigakure (Hidden in Mist)
- Kitsune no Yomeiri (Fox's Wedding)
- Kitsunegaeshi Kanehira
- Kitsunemaru
- Kiyomaru
- Ko-Aoe Sadatsugu
- Ko-Aoe Yasutsugu
- Ko-Bizen Kanehira
- Ko-Bizen Masatsune
- Ko-Bizen Tomonari
- Ko-Hoki Yasutsuna
- Ko-Ichimonji Nobufusa
- Ko-Ichimonji Sukemitsu
- Ko-Ichimonji Sukemune
- Ko-Ichimonji Sukenari
- Ko-Mihara Masaie
- Ko-Naminohira Yukimasa
- Kodachi Kunitsuna
- Kodachi Kuniyoshi
- Kodachi Sadatoshi
- Kogarashi (Withering Wind)
- Kogarasu-maru
- Kogitsune-maru
- Kokage (Tree Shade)
K, continued
- Kokindenju Yukihira
- Kosetsu Samonji
- Kotegiri Masamune
- Koyama Munehira
- Koyama Munetsugu
- Kumamaru
- Kumogakure Muramasa
- Kumokirimaru
- Kumoma Yukihira
- Kumowake Sukesada
- Kunihiro Deshi Kunisuke
- Kunimitsu Ken
- Kunishige Naginata
- Kuniyuki Odachi
- Kurakumomaru
- Kurihara Nobuhide
- Kurogane-maru
- Kurogiri (Black Mist)
- Kurohamaru
- Kuromatsu (Black Pine)
- Kuroshio-maru
- Kuroshiro Morimitsu
- Kurotaka (Black Hawk)
- Kurotsubaki (Black Camellia)
- Kurotsuki (Black Moon)
- Kuroyuri (Black Lily)
- Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi
- Kyogoku Masamune
M: 25 names
- Magoroku Kanemoto
- Masamune Ken
- Matsukage (Pine Shadow)
- Mihara Masahiro
- Mihara Masaie
- Mikazuki Munechika
- Minamoto Kiyomaro
- Mino Kanefusa
- Mino Kanemoto
- Mino Kanenobu
- Mino Kanesada
- Mino Kanetsune
- Mino Kinju
- Mino no Kuni Seki Ju Kanesada Wakizashi
- Mino Shizu Kaneuji
- Miyairi Akihira
- Miyairi Yukihira
- Mizugaki Norimune
- Monoyoshi Sadamune
- Murakumo (Gathering Clouds)
- Murasame
- Musashi Masamune
- Musashi no Kuni Ju Kotetsu Katana
- Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki
- Myojo (Morning Star)
N: 25 names
- Nagaame (Long Rain)
- Nagamitsu Naginata Naoshi
- Nagareboshi (Shooting Star)
- Nagayama Kokan
- Nakatsukasa Masamune
- Nakigitsune Kuniyoshi
- Namazuo Toshiro
- Namimaru
- Naminohira Yasuyuki
- Naminohira Yukinori
- Naminohira Yukiyasu
- Nankai Taro Tomotaka
- Nansen Ichimonji
- Naoe Shizu Kanenobu
- Naoe Shizu Kanetomo
- Nemurihime (Sleeping Princess)
- Nenekirimaru
- Nihongo
- Nikkari Aoe
- Nikko Sukezane
- Nobukuni
- Norishige Odachi
- Nosada
- Nowaki (Autumn Gale)
- Nukemaru
O: 31 names
- Oborozuki (Hazy Moon)
- Odenta Mitsuyo
- Okamimaru
- Okurikara Hiromitsu
- Onimaru Kunitsuna
- Ookanehira
- Osafune Chogi Odachi
- Osafune Hidemitsu Tachi
- Osafune Kagemitsu Kodachi
- Osafune Kanemitsu Wakizashi
- Osafune Masamitsu Tanto
- Osafune Mitsutada Tachi
- Osafune Morikage Tachi
- Osafune Motoshige Katana
- Osafune Nagamitsu Naginata
- Osafune Sanemitsu Tanto
- Osafune Yoshikage Tachi
- Osafune Yoshimitsu Wakizashi
- Osaka Echizen no Kami Sukehiro
- Osaka Ikkanshi Tadatsuna
- Osaka Inoue Shinkai
- Osaka Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke
- Osaka Omi no Kami Tadatsuna
- Osaka Ozaki Suketaka
- Osaka Sukehiro
- Osaka Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi
- Osaka Tsuda Sukehiro
- Osaka Tsuda Sukenao
- Osumi Toshihira
- Otegine
- Oyamamaru
R: 9 names
- Rai Kunimitsu
- Rai Kunitoshi
- Rai Kunitsugu
- Rai Kuniyoshi
- Rai Kuniyuki
- Raikiri
- Ryokai
- Ryumon Nobuyoshi
- Ryuu no Kiba (Dragon's Fang)
S: 74 names
- Sa Hiroyasu
- Sa Sadayoshi
- Sa Yasuyoshi
- Sa Yukihide
- Sa Yukihiro
- Sadamune Ken
- Sadamune Naginata Naoshi
- Sagami no Kuni Ju Hiromitsu Tanto
- Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa
- Sakuramaru
- Samidare (Early Summer Rain)
- Samonji
- Sanenaga Odachi
- Sanjo Munechika
- Sanjo Yoshiie
- Sarumaru
- Sasanuki
- Satsuma Hoki no Kami Masayoshi
- Satsuma Masafusa
- Satsuma Masayoshi
- Satsuma Motohira
- Satsuma no Kuni Ju Masayoshi Katana
- Satsuma Yasuyo
- Sayo Samonji
- Sazareishi Tomonari
- Sengo Muramasa
- Settsu no Kuni Ju Sukehiro Katana
- Shiguremaru
- Shimada Hirosuke
- Shimada Sukemune
- Shimada Yoshisuke
- Shimazu Masamune
- Shimotsuki Kanemoto
- Shinano Toshiro
- Shinotsuku Ame (Driving Rain)
- Shintogo Kunihiro
- Shintogo Kunimitsu
S, continued
- Shirafuji (White Wisteria)
- Shiraito (White Thread)
- Shirakumo (White Cloud)
- Shiranami-maru
- Shirasagi (White Heron)
- Shiratama Tadayoshi
- Shiratsuyu (White Dew)
- Shirayuki (White Snow)
- Shirogane-maru
- Shiroyamaru
- Shochu Ichimonji Yoshiuji
- Shokudaikiri Mitsutada
- Sohayanotsurugi
- Soshu Akihiro
- Soshu Hiromitsu
- Soshu Ju Akihiro Tanto
- Soshu Masahiro
- Soshu Sadamune
- Soshu Tsunahiro
- Soshu Yukimitsu
- Soza Samonji
- Sue-Bizen Harumitsu
- Sue-Bizen Katsumitsu
- Sue-Bizen Kiyomitsu
- Sue-Bizen Norimitsu
- Sue-Bizen Sukesada
- Sue-Bizen Tadamitsu
- Sue-Bizen Yukimitsu
- Sue-Seki Kanehisa
- Sue-Seki Kanemichi
- Sue-Seki Kanesada
- Sue-Seki Kanetoshi
- Sue-Seki Kanetsugu
- Suishinshi Masahide
- Sukesada Odachi
- Sumitani Masamine
- Suruga no Kuni Shimada Ju Sukemune Tanto
T: 30 names
- Taikei Naotane
- Taikogane Sadamune
- Taka no Me (Hawk's Eye)
- Takemata Kanemitsu
- Tamaboko (Jeweled Spear)
- Tamagushi (Jeweled Branch)
- Tamahagane-maru
- Tamakaze Tsunetsugu
- Tamakazura (Jeweled Vine)
- Tamamaru
- Tatsumaru
- Tenkamaru
- Tomonari Kogarasu-zukuri Tachi
- Tomonari Odachi
- Tonbo no Hane (Dragonfly's Wing)
- Tonbokiri
- Tora no O (Tiger's Tail)
- Totsuka-no-Tsurugi
- Tsubakimaru
- Tsubame no Kaeshi (Swallow's Return)
- Tsukikage-no-Tachi (Moon Shadow Tachi)
- Tsukinomaru
- Tsukiwa (Moon Ring)
- Tsukiyo (Moonlit Night)
- Tsukiyomi Kunitoshi
- Tsuru no Ongaeshi (Crane's Return)
- Tsurugimaru
- Tsurumaru Kuninaga
- Tsuyu (Plum Rain)
- Tsuyukusa Sukezane
U: 8 names
- Uda Kunifusa
- Uda Kunimitsu
- Uda Kunimune
- Uda Tomotsugu
- Uguisumaru
- Umetada Myoju
- Urashima Kotetsu
- Usugumo (Thin Clouds)
W: 2 names
- Wakakusa (Young Grass)
- Wakamaru