Ema絵麻

/EH-mah/

JapaneseGirl

Ema is a Japanese girl's name pronounced /EH-mah/. A beautiful name often representing a combination of flax and painting or favor.

Meaning of Ema

A beautiful name often representing a combination of flax and painting or favor.

The name Ema is commonly formed using kanji like 江 (e) meaning 'inlet' or 依 (e) meaning 'reliance,' combined with 麻 (ma) meaning 'flax' or 真 (ma) meaning 'truth.' Another significant cultural association is with 'ema' (絵馬), the wooden votive tablets used in Shinto shrines to write prayers and wishes, where the characters represent 'picture' and 'horse.'

Origin
Japanese
Pronunciation
/EH-mah/

Cultural background

Ema is a highly popular contemporary name in Japan due to its short, cross-cultural sound that translates well internationally. It is frequently chosen by modern parents for its phonological similarity to the Western name Emma.

Variations & nicknames

  • Emma
  • Ema-chan
  • 依麻
  • 絵真
  • 恵麻
  • 咲麻

Frequently asked about Ema

What does Ema mean?
In Japanese, the meaning varies by kanji; common combinations include 'flax', 'truth', or 'reliance'. It also shares a name with Shinto prayer tablets.
How do you pronounce Ema?
It is pronounced as two syllables: eh-mah, with a short 'e' sound as in 'egg' and a soft 'ma' as in 'mama'.
Is Ema a boy or girl name?
Ema is almost exclusively used as a feminine name in Japan.
Is Ema a popular name in Japan?
Yes, it has consistently ranked among the top names for girls in Japan over the last decade due to its modern and international appeal.
Are Ema and Emma the same?
While they sound identical, the Japanese Ema has distinct linguistic origins based on kanji, whereas the Western Emma is of Germanic origin meaning 'universal'.

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