Samurai Name Generator
Authentic Japanese samurai names, clan first
Tap a name to copy itPress Space for a new batch500 names in this generator
Generate samurai names in proper Japanese order, family name then given name: Sengoku daimyo and retainers like Takeda Shingen and Shima Sakon, Heian and Kamakura warriors with the old 'no' particle, Edo-period swordsmen and Bakumatsu Shinsengumi, plus original names built from real clan surnames and warrior given names.
About samurai names
Samurai names follow a fixed shape: the family or clan name comes first and the personal name second, so Oda Nobunaga is Nobunaga of the Oda. Family names are usually place names or branch names of the great houses (Minamoto, Taira, Fujiwara, Tachibana), which is why so many of them are two kanji for landscape features: Takeda, Matsudaira, Hosokawa, Yamanaka. Between the Heian and Kamakura periods a possessive particle sits between the two, giving Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Taira no Kiyomori; by the Sengoku era that particle had dropped out of everyday use.
The given name, or nanori, is nearly always two kanji with a reading in two or three beats, and one element was often inherited or granted by a lord: Takeda Shingen's sons and retainers carry Nobu-, the Tokugawa line carries Ie-, the Hojo carry Uji-, the Mori carry -moto. Common endings include -naga, -masa, -hide, -yoshi, -tsuna, -kage, -tada, -katsu and -mune. Alongside the formal nanori, most warriors went by an everyday name such as Sakon, Jubei, Kanbei, Shinzaemon or Gengoemon, which is why the same man can appear under two names in the records.
This list mixes famous historical figures with original names built from genuine clan surnames and period given names, written without macrons for easy reading and searching.
Tips for choosing a name
- Keep the family name first in narration and dialogue (Date Masamune, never Masamune Date) unless your story is explicitly told from a Western point of view.
- Share a name element across a family or between lord and retainer: if the daimyo is Nobutaka, a favoured vassal might be granted Nobu- and become Nobumasa.
- Give a character an everyday name (Sakon, Jubei, Hanbei, Kuranosuke) for friends and comrades and save the formal two-kanji nanori for documents and formal address.
- Match the era: use the 'no' particle (Taira no Tomomori) only for Heian and Kamakura settings, and use Shinsengumi-style names like Hijikata Toshizo or Okita Soji for the 1860s.
- Avoid reusing a famous name wholesale for an original character; instead borrow the surname of a minor clan (Amago, Ryuzoji, Kikkawa, Nabeshima) and pair it with a new given name.
Frequently asked questions
Do samurai names put the surname first?
Yes. Japanese names are written family name first, then given name, and English-language histories keep that order for pre-modern figures: Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Miyamoto Musashi. The surname identifies the clan or household, and the given name (nanori) was the formal adult name a warrior received at his coming-of-age ceremony.
What does 'no' mean in names like Minamoto no Yoshitsune?
It is a possessive particle meaning 'of', so Minamoto no Yoshitsune is Yoshitsune of the Minamoto. It was used with the ancient clan names (Minamoto, Taira, Fujiwara, Tachibana, Abe) during the Heian and Kamakura periods and fell out of use as warriors adopted surnames taken from their home estates.
Were there female samurai names?
Women of the samurai class carried the family name and a short given name, often with the honorific Gozen in chronicles: Tomoe Gozen and Hangaku Gozen are the best known. Historical women such as Hojo Masako, Tachibana Ginchiyo and Ii Naotora led clans or fought, and their names follow the same family-first pattern as the men.
How do I make an original samurai name that sounds authentic?
Take a genuine but lesser-known clan surname, such as Amago, Ryuzoji, Kikkawa, Ashina or Nabeshima, and pair it with a two-part given name built from period elements: Nobu, Masa, Hide, Yoshi, Taka, Tada, Kage, Tsuna, Mune or Katsu. Kikkawa Masatsuna or Ashina Hidekage read as plausible Sengoku warriors without copying a real person.
All 500 samurai names
Browse the full list
- Oda Nobunaga
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Takeda Shingen
- Uesugi Kenshin
- Date Masamune
- Sanada Yukimura
- Miyamoto Musashi
- Sasaki Kojiro
- Honda Tadakatsu
- Hattori Hanzo
- Ii Naomasa
- Sakakibara Yasumasa
- Sakai Tadatsugu
- Shibata Katsuie
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Maeda Toshiie
- Mori Motonari
- Shimazu Yoshihiro
- Chosokabe Motochika
- Hojo Ujiyasu
- Imagawa Yoshimoto
- Asakura Yoshikage
- Azai Nagamasa
- Saito Dosan
- Matsunaga Hisahide
- Kuroda Kanbei
- Takenaka Hanbei
- Ishida Mitsunari
- Kato Kiyomasa
- Fukushima Masanori
- Otani Yoshitsugu
- Shima Sakon
- Tachibana Muneshige
- Tachibana Dosetsu
- Ukita Hideie
- Kobayakawa Takakage
- Kikkawa Motoharu
- Otomo Sorin
- Ryuzoji Takanobu
- Nabeshima Naoshige
- Amago Haruhisa
- Yamanaka Shikanosuke
- Naoe Kanetsugu
- Uesugi Kagekatsu
- Takeda Katsuyori
- Yamamoto Kansuke
- Baba Nobuharu
- Yamagata Masakage
- Naito Masatoyo
- Sanada Masayuki
- Sanada Nobuyuki
- Mogami Yoshiaki
- Satake Yoshishige
- Ashina Moriuji
- Nanbu Nobunao
- Tsugaru Tamenobu
- Hosokawa Tadaoki
- Hosokawa Fujitaka
- Gamo Ujisato
- Niwa Nagahide
- Takigawa Kazumasu
- Ikeda Tsuneoki
- Mori Ranmaru
- Hori Hidemasa
- Horio Yoshiharu
- Kyogoku Takatsugu
- Todo Takatora
- Kikkawa Hiroie
- Katagiri Katsumoto
- Wakisaka Yasuharu
- Kuki Yoshitaka
- Murakami Takeyoshi
- Suzuki Magoichi
- Yagyu Munenori
- Yagyu Muneyoshi
- Yagyu Jubei
- Tsukahara Bokuden
- Kamiizumi Nobutsuna
- Ito Ittosai
- Ono Tadaaki
- Araki Murashige
- Bessho Nagaharu
- Hatano Hideharu
- Rokkaku Yoshikata
- Tsutsui Junkei
- Miyoshi Nagayoshi
- Hatakeyama Yoshitsugu
- Ouchi Yoshitaka
- Sue Harukata
- Ashikaga Yoshiteru
- Ashikaga Takauji
- Nitta Yoshisada
- Kusunoki Masashige
- Kusunoki Masatsura
- Minamoto no Yoritomo
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune
- Minamoto no Yoshinaka
- Minamoto no Yoshiie
- Taira no Kiyomori
- Taira no Masakado
- Taira no Shigemori
- Hojo Tokimune
- Hojo Yoshitoki
- Hojo Masako
- Tomoe Gozen
- Hangaku Gozen
- Tachibana Ginchiyo
- Ii Naotora
- Kumagai Naozane
- Nasu no Yoichi
- Sato Tadanobu
- Musashibo Benkei
- Wada Yoshimori
- Hatakeyama Shigetada
- Kajiwara Kagetoki
- Chiba Tsunetane
- Miura Yoshizumi
- Hiki Yoshikazu
- Adachi Morinaga
- Akamatsu Norimura
- Kitabatake Akiie
- Ashikaga Tadayoshi
- Ko no Moronao
- Yamana Sozen
- Ota Dokan
- Hojo Soun
- Hojo Ujitsuna
- Hojo Ujimasa
- Satomi Yoshitaka
- Yuki Harutomo
- Utsunomiya Hirotsuna
- Nasu Sukemasa
- Date Terumune
- Date Tanemune
- Katakura Kojuro
- Oniniwa Tsunamoto
- Harada Munetoki
- Ashikaga Yoshiaki
- Hosokawa Katsumoto
- Akamatsu Masanori
- Shoni Sukeyoshi
- Kono Michinao
- Ichijo Kanesada
- Saionji Kinhiro
- Ito Yoshisuke
- Sagara Yoshihi
- Akizuki Tanezane
- Arima Harunobu
- Omura Sumitada
- Matsura Takanobu
- Shimazu Takahisa
- Shimazu Yoshihisa
- Shimazu Toshihisa
- Shimazu Iehisa
- Niiro Tadamoto
- Ijuin Tadamune
- Kimotsuki Kanetsugu
- Hongo Tokihisa
- Soma Moritane
- Iwaki Tsunetaka
- Nikaido Moriyoshi
- Hatakeyama Yoshitsuna
- Onodera Yoshimichi
- Akita Sanesue
- Tozawa Moriyasu
- Daihoji Yoshiuji
- Kasai Harunobu
- Osaki Yoshitaka
- Kokubun Morishige
- Tamura Kiyoaki
- Nihonmatsu Yoshitsugu
- Ashina Moritaka
- Shirakawa Yoshichika
- Oda Nobuhide
- Oda Nobutada
- Oda Nobukatsu
- Oda Nobutaka
- Shibata Katsutoyo
- Sassa Narimasa
- Maeda Toshinaga
- Maeda Keiji
- Fuwa Mitsuharu
- Kanamori Nagachika
- Hachisuka Masakatsu
- Ikoma Chikamasa
- Nakagawa Kiyohide
- Takayama Ukon
- Ukita Naoie
- Kato Yoshiaki
- Kato Mitsuyasu
- Hirate Masahide
- Hayashi Hidesada
- Sakuma Nobumori
- Sakuma Morimasa
- Mizuno Nobumoto
- Okudaira Sadamasa
- Torii Mototada
- Hiraiwa Chikayoshi
- Ishikawa Kazumasa
- Okubo Tadayo
- Okubo Tadachika
- Naito Ienaga
- Watanabe Moritsuna
- Hattori Masanari
- Natsume Yoshinobu
- Koriki Kiyonaga
- Amano Yasukage
- Matsudaira Hirotada
- Matsudaira Nobuyasu
- Matsudaira Tadayoshi
- Honda Masanobu
- Honda Masazumi
- Suganuma Sadamitsu
- Okudaira Nobumasa
- Anayama Nobutada
- Oyamada Nobushige
- Itagaki Nobukata
- Amari Torayasu
- Obu Toramasa
- Hara Toratane
- Sanada Yukitaka
- Sanada Nobutsuna
- Yokota Takatoshi
- Komai Masatake
- Kosaka Masanobu
- Kiso Yoshimasa
- Suwa Yorishige
- Murakami Yoshikiyo
- Ogasawara Nagatoki
- Kakizaki Kageie
- Saito Tomonobu
- Amakasu Kagemochi
- Honjo Shigenaga
- Irobe Katsunaga
- Usami Sadamitsu
- Nagao Masakage
- Shibata Shigeie
- Kitajo Takahiro
- Jinbo Nagamoto
- Hatakeyama Yoshitsura
- Asakura Norikage
- Asakura Kageakira
- Magara Naotaka
- Azai Hisamasa
- Azai Sukemasa
- Endo Naotsune
- Isono Kazumasa
- Akao Kiyotsuna
- Saito Yoshitatsu
- Saito Tatsuoki
- Ando Morinari
- Inaba Ittetsu
- Ujiie Bokuzen
- Kuroda Nagamasa
- Goto Mototsugu
- Mori Tomonobu
- Kani Saizo
- Kuriyama Toshiyasu
- Inoue Yukifusa
- Mori Tahei
- Ogawa Suketada
- Ankokuji Ekei
- Natsuka Masaie
- Masuda Nagamori
- Maeda Gen'i
- Asano Nagamasa
- Asano Yoshinaga
- Terazawa Hirotaka
- Konishi Yukinaga
- Shimazu Toyohisa
- Gamo Hideyuki
- Kimura Shigenari
- Susukida Kanesuke
- Mori Katsunaga
- Akashi Takenori
- Chosokabe Morichika
- Ono Harunaga
- Oda Yuraku
- Yodo no Kata
- Hosokawa Gracia
- Sakuma Yasumasa
- Tokugawa Hidetada
- Tokugawa Iemitsu
- Tokugawa Yoshinobu
- Matsudaira Sadanobu
- Tanuma Okitsugu
- Ii Naosuke
- Sakai Tadakiyo
- Hotta Masatoshi
- Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
- Okubo Tadatomo
- Ooka Tadasuke
- Asano Naganori
- Kira Yoshinaka
- Oishi Kuranosuke
- Oishi Chikara
- Horibe Yasubei
- Horibe Yahei
- Kataoka Gengoemon
- Hara Soemon
- Okano Kin'emon
- Onodera Junai
- Hazama Kihei
- Yoshida Chuzaemon
- Takebayashi Tadashichi
- Fuwa Kazuemon
- Maebara Isuke
- Kanzaki Yogoro
- Chikamatsu Kanroku
- Okuda Magodayu
- Terasaka Kichiemon
- Araki Mataemon
- Saigo Takamori
- Okubo Toshimichi
- Kido Takayoshi
- Sakamoto Ryoma
- Takasugi Shinsaku
- Yoshida Shoin
- Kusaka Genzui
- Nakaoka Shintaro
- Katsu Kaishu
- Enomoto Takeaki
- Hijikata Toshizo
- Kondo Isami
- Okita Soji
- Saito Hajime
- Nagakura Shinpachi
- Harada Sanosuke
- Serizawa Kamo
- Yamanami Keisuke
- Ito Kashitaro
- Todo Heisuke
- Inoue Genzaburo
- Shimada Kai
- Matsudaira Katamori
- Yamakawa Hiroshi
- Saigo Tanomo
- Kawakami Gensai
- Okada Izo
- Tanaka Shinbei
- Nakamura Hanjiro
- Kirino Toshiaki
- Shinohara Kunimoto
- Murata Shinpachi
- Beppu Shinsuke
- Kasuga Toratsuna
- Ishikawa Goemon
- Fuma Kotaro
- Momochi Sandayu
- Ishikawa Jozan
- Chiba Shusaku
- Momonoi Shunzo
- Saito Yakuro
- Oishi Susumu
- Yamaoka Tesshu
- Sakakibara Kenkichi
- Shirai Toru
- Terada Gorouemon
- Nakanishi Chubei
- Okada Yoshitoshi
- Kuwabara Tadamasa
- Kagehisa Senjuro
- Nishina Sakae
- Hirasawa Genshiro
- Yasumura Hanzaburo
- Amagai Rokuro
- Tobita Hyogo
- Iwasaki Sanzaemon
- Kanda Tatewaki
- Yamazaki Shimpei
- Tobe Kurando
- Sugiyama Kinnojo
- Kusaka Tobei
- Shimizu Kazunosuke
- Ogata Jirozaemon
- Tsukishima Hayato
- Orui Kojiro
- Mikogami Tenzen
- Nakazato Banshiro
- Iwamura Yaichiro
- Shiraishi Tokuemon
- Hosoi Saemon
- Kurihara Kinbei
- Tsuchida Tamon
- Fujiwara no Hidesato
- Fujiwara no Kiyohira
- Fujiwara no Yasuhira
- Sakanoue no Tamuramaro
- Abe no Sadato
- Abe no Muneto
- Kiyohara no Takenori
- Minamoto no Tametomo
- Minamoto no Yorimasa
- Minamoto no Yoshitomo
- Minamoto no Yorimitsu
- Taira no Tomomori
- Taira no Noritsune
- Taira no Atsumori
- Taira no Tadamori
- Watanabe no Tsuna
- Sakata no Kintoki
- Urabe no Suetake
- Usui no Sadamitsu
- Kumagai Naoie
- Shibuya Kon'nomaru
- Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
- Ashikaga Yoshimasa
- Hosokawa Yoriyuki
- Shiba Yoshimasa
- Yamana Mochitoyo
- Hatakeyama Masanaga
- Isshiki Yoshinao
- Toki Yasuyuki
- Akamatsu Mitsusuke
- Ouchi Masahiro
- Asakura Takakage
- Ouchi Yoshioki
- Hosokawa Masamoto
- Miyoshi Motonaga
- Takeda Nobutora
- Imagawa Ujichika
- Imagawa Ujizane
- Okabe Motonobu
- Asahina Yasutomo
- Matsui Munenobu
- Sena Ujitoshi
- Udono Nagateru
- Ihara Tadamune
- Amano Kagetsura
- Mimura Iechika
- Ukita Tadaie
- Urakami Munekage
- Bessho Harusada
- Kodera Masamoto
- Akamatsu Masahide
- Hatano Harumichi
- Miyoshi Nagayasu
- Sogo Kazumasa
- Atagi Fuyuyasu
- Kosai Motonaga
- Shinohara Nagafusa
- Yusa Nobunori
- Naito Sadakatsu
- Tamba Kageshige
- Kitabatake Tomonori
- Tsugaru Nobuhira
- Togashi Masachika
- Hatakeyama Yoshitaka
- Jimbo Nagazumi
- Sakuma Moritsugu
- Ishiguro Narishige
- Kanamori Yoshishige
- Anekoji Yoritsuna
- Ema Terumori
- Mitsuki Yoritsuna
- Kiso Yoshiyasu
- Hineno Hironari
- Kuwayama Shigeharu
- Ikoma Kazumasa
- Kato Sadayasu
- Kinoshita Iesada
- Miyabe Keijun
- Kawashima Hirotsune
- Hanabusa Shigeyuki
- Suganuma Sadatoshi
- Sakai Ietsugu
- Abe Masakatsu
- Ishida Masazumi
- Shima Kiyooki
- Gamo Satoie
- Kuki Moritaka
- Wakisaka Yasumoto
- Suzuki Shigeoki
- Tsuchiya Masatsugu
- Yamada Nagamasa
- Itakura Katsushige
- Itakura Shigemune
- Kasuya Takenori
- Hirano Nagayasu
- Hachisuka Iemasa
- Kitsuki Tadashige
- Torii Tadamasa
- Nonaka Kenzan
- Nakane Masamori
- Sakai Tadatoshi
- Mizuno Katsunari
- Abe Tadaaki
- Matsudaira Nobutsuna
- Hoshina Masayuki
- Tsuchiya Kazunao
- Kikkawa Masatsuna
- Ashina Hidekage
- Amago Tsunehisa
- Ryuzoji Masaie
- Nabeshima Katsushige
- Hojo Ujinao
- Shimazu Tadayoshi
- Mori Terumoto
- Kobayakawa Hideaki
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