Japanese names do not always have only one possible kanji spelling, even when the pronunciation is the same.
For example, the name Haruka can be written in several ways, such as 「遥」, 「春香」, or 「晴香」. To Japanese speakers, these usually feel less like completely different names and more like different kanji spellings of the same name, Haruka.
However, even when the pronunciation is the same, changing the kanji can slightly change the meaning or impression of the name. This is because kanji do more than represent sound. Each character also carries its own meaning and associations. 「春」, for example, suggests spring and a bright seasonal feeling, while 「香」 brings to mind fragrance.
When choosing a child’s name, some parents first decide on a sound they like and then look for kanji that match it. Others begin with a particular kanji they want to use and build the name around that. The meaning of the characters, hopes for the child, family connections, and the overall look of the name can all affect the choice.
Some families also pay attention to the number of strokes in the kanji. They may check the total stroke count of the family name and given name and change a candidate name based on seimei handan, or name fortune-telling. But not every family places importance on this. Some care much more about the sound or meaning and barely consider stroke count at all.
Because of this, hearing a Japanese name does not always tell you how it is written. It is perfectly natural to ask, “Which kanji do you use?” Someone named Haruka written as 「春香」 might explain it as, “The ‘haru’ is the character for the season spring, and the ‘ka’ is the character for fragrance.”
There are limits, however. Parents cannot freely combine any character with any pronunciation they like. There are rules about which kanji can be used in children’s names. The registered reading also has to have a reasonable connection to the kanji, so parents cannot simply assign any pronunciation they want.
In other words, Japanese names allow families to choose which meanings and hopes they want to attach to the same sound through kanji. That is why two people can both be called Haruka while having their names written with completely different characters.
References
- Ministry of Justice, “Kanji That Can Be Used in Children’s Names”
- Ministry of Justice, “Furigana Will Be Recorded in the Family Register”
