Katana Name Generator

The Honjo Masamune, lost after 1945, is the most famous single blade. The Tenka-Goken (Five Swords Under Heaven) are Dojigiri Yasutsuna, Onimaru Kunitsuna, Mikazuki Munechika, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu and Odenta Mitsuyo. Kogarasu-maru, Higekiri, Hizamaru, Heshikiri Hasebe and the mythical Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi are also widely known, along with swords by Muramasa and Kotetsu.

Most were known by their smith's signature (Masamune, Kanesada, Kiyomitsu) and only a minority received personal names. Those names came from deeds (Dojigiri, the ogre cutter), owners (Honjo, Shimazu), physical traits (Mikazuki, for its crescent temper pattern), or the affectionate suffix -maru. Named swords were treated as heirlooms and their histories were recorded.

Use Japanese if the setting is Japanese and your readers will see the name often enough to learn it; keep it short and give the meaning once. Use English if the sword is a plot object readers need to grasp instantly, or if the setting is a fantasy world inspired by Japan rather than Japan itself. This generator lists both, plus romaji names with their meanings so you can choose either form.

A tachi is the older, more curved sword worn edge-down and slung from the belt; a katana is worn edge-up thrust through the sash; a wakizashi is the shorter companion blade, and a tanto is a dagger. Many legendary 'katana' are technically tachi, and the names in this generator work for any of them.