Girl name · Japanese
Sakura
“cherry blossom”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Sakura.
Explore Sakura further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Sakura — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Sakura is the cherry blossom, 桜 — and in Japan the word carries the whole idea attached to it: beauty that is worth more because it does not last. Hanami, the practice of sitting under the trees for the ten days they hold, is built into the calendar.
Sakura has been a steady top-100 girls' name in Japan for decades and is one of the few Japanese names Western parents recognise on sight, though it stays outside the US top 1,000.
Saku shortens it. Three syllables ending in a vowel pair best with a consonant middle (Sakura Jane, Sakura Beth). On our vibe map it is Nature-Inspired at full strength with Soft & Dreamy underneath.
More Japanese names
Sakura sits in our Japanese set — these share its roots.
All Japanese names →Sakura — common questions
Is Sakura a boy or girl name?
Sakura is traditionally a girl name of Japanese origin.
What does the name Sakura mean?
Sakura means “cherry blossom” of Japanese origin. Sakura is the cherry blossom, 桜 — and in Japan the word carries the whole idea attached to it: beauty that is worth more because it does not last. Hanami, the practice of sitting under the trees for the ten days they hold, is built into the calendar.
Where does the name Sakura come from?
Sakura is Japanese in origin. Sakura has been a steady top-100 girls' name in Japan for decades and is one of the few Japanese names Western parents recognise on sight, though it stays outside the US top 1,000.
What are common nicknames for Sakura?
Saku — the short-forms parents most often use for Sakura.
How popular is Sakura?
Sakura did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Sakura you might want for the nursery.