What does Minato mean?
Minato is the Japanese word for “harbour,” a recently very popular boys’ name.
What does Asahi mean?
Asahi joins the kanji for “morning” and “sun.”
Minato vs Asahi
Which is more popular?
Asahi is more popular than Minato today: about 13 US babies were given the name Asahi in 2025, compared with 12 named Minato.
| Minato | Asahi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Harbor | Morning sun |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | mee-NAH-toh | ah-SAH-hee |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 2013 | 2005 |
| Peak year | 2016 (18) | 2023 (15) |
| In 2025 | 12 | 13 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Minato
Asahi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Minato | Asahi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 61 | 71 |
| 2010s | 67 | 45 |
| 2000s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Minato or Asahi more popular?
Asahi is more popular than Minato today: about 13 US babies were given the name Asahi in 2025, compared with 12 named Minato.
What is the difference between Minato and Asahi?
Minato means Harbor (Japanese origin), while Asahi means Morning sun (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Minato or Asahi?
In US records, Minato first appears in 2013 and Asahi in 2005, so Asahi has the longer recorded history.