Originating as elite warriors in Japan, samurai have long been the subject of legends and folk stories. Sometimes being portrayed like superheroes, vindictive murders, or morally gray wanderers, they are a popular archetype.
Since their names are in Japanese, a samurai’s name begins with the name of their clan, followed by their given name. Many of these clans have long histories filled with many mythical samurai that inspire their descendants.
Good Samurai Names
Samurai are often named after venerated ancestors, or their name comes from a word like “soldier” or “bravery”. One quirk is that samurai are often referred to by their full name, so the whole thing has to sound good.
- Ouchi Yoshitaka
- Reizei Takatoyo
- Fujishiro Gozen
- Kato Tsune
- Nakazawa Koto
- Hojo Masako
- Niijima Yae
- Ashikaga Ujinohime
Numata Jako
The undisputed master of the nagito during his lifetime, who wrote many treatises on how to best wield the weapon.
- Yuki no Kata
- Jinbo Yukiko
- Yamamoto Yaeko
- Matsudaira Teru
- Yamakawa Futaba
- Sakaki Rui
Maeda Matsu
The world lost a talented poet when this samurai was called to war and died to a surprise black powder trap.
- Rokkaku Sadayori
- Rusu Masakage
- Ii Naotora
Female Samurai Names
Woman warriors were called “onna-musha” in Japanese, often fighting in military units filled with female samurai commanded by women.
- Hangaku Taira
- Ichikawa no Tsubone
- Yodo Dono
- Kai Hime
- Nakano Takeko
- Mochizuki Chiyome
- Ona Mihime
- Yoshioka Myorinni
Akai Teruko
Held off the besieging army of the Oka Clan for three years behind the walls of her ancestral castle.
- Ohori Tsuruhime
- Jukei Ni
- Akamatsu Toshoin
- Ikeda Sen
- Hino Tomiko
- Komatsu Hime
- Otazu no Kata
Ueno Tsuruhime
An early adopter of musket tactics who used Chinese-style volley fire to destroy an army which outnumbered hers ten-to-one.
- Tachibana Ginchiyo
- Chiba Sanako
- Sasaki Rui
Male Samurai Names
As a traditionalist society with strict rules about who could become samurai, the role was usually limited to sons of existing samurai or exceptional soldiers.
- Hirate Masahide
- Fuma Kotaro
- Okada Izo
- Hojo Tokimune
- Kawakami Gensai
- Era Fusahide
- Fuwa Mitsuharu
- Kido Takayoshi
Fukushima Masanori
This samurai’s green thumb helped him cultivate intricately-groomed bonsai trees that took him decades to grow.
- Niiro Tadamoto
- Gamo Ujisato
- Kimotsuki Kanetsugu
- Ogasawara Shosai
- Harada Naomasa
- Niimi Nishiki
- Kikkawa Hiroie
Niiro Tadamoto
A former Buddhist monk who led a rebellion against the local clan lord, and who was promoted to samurai for his tenacity.
- Oishi Kuranosuke
- Niwa Nagahide
- Hitotsubashi Keiki
Famous Samurai Names
More than just characters in stories, samurai were integral to the fracturing, unification, and reorganization of Japan as a country. Many became famous historical figures.
- Tomoe Gozen
- Kusunoki Masashige
- Takeda Shingen
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune
- Sanada Yukimara
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Oda Nobunaga
- Honda Tadakatsu
Yoritomo Minamoto
The shogun who transformed the samurai caste from simple soldiers into the dominant political power with heaps of privileges.
- Uesugi Kenshin
- Miyamoto Musashi
- Date Masamune
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Hattori Hanzo
- Sakamoto Ryomo
- Ito Hirobumi
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Mopped up a civil war by seizing power and crushing his rivals, then spent his years implementing strict laws to keep his family in power.
- Hazouen Kenji
- Ishida Mitsunari
- Kato Kiyomasa
A samurai’s name reflects their ancestry, ambitions, and skills. Picking the right name can complement a samurai perfectly. If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comments below and share it with your friends!
