Minako is a Japanese feminine given name. It is most often written with the kanji 美 (mi, meaning "beautiful"), 奈 (na, a phonetic character), and 子 (ko, meaning "child"), but many other kanji combinations exist. The element ko (子) is a common suffix in Japanese female names, and na (奈) is often used purely for its sound. Thus the name often carries the core meaning of "beautiful child," though variant writings can add nuances such as "apple tree" (奈 is sometimes interpreted as that) or avoid the beauty component entirely (e.g., 皆子 meaning "everybody's child"). Etymology and Variations Japanese given names are highly flexible in their kanji representation. The Wikipedia extract lists numerous possible kanji spellings for Minako, including 美奈子 (beautiful, apple tree, child), 美菜子 (beautiful, vegetable, child), 聖名子 (holy, name, child), and 水奈子 (water, apple tree, child or water child). The name can also be written purely in hiragana (みなこ) or katakana (ミナコ), which are phonetic scripts used when the kanji reading is unknown or for stylistic reasons. Notable Bearers Several famous Japanese individuals bear the name Minako: Minako Honda (本田 美奈子, 1967–2005) – a popular singer and actress known for her powerful voice and active career in both Japanese and international music scenes. Minako (a geisha) – a well-known geisha of the 20th century, though her full identity and specific kanji are less documented. Minako Inoue (井上 美奈子, born 1977) – a Japanese pop singer and former member of the duo Mikuru. Minako Iwasaki (岩崎 美奈子, born 1975) – an illustrator active in video game and television media. Another Minako (美奈子) was a member of the Japanese musical group Kome Kome Club in the 1980s. Cultural Context Names with -ko were widespread among Japanese females for much of the 20th century, though they have declined in popularity since the 1980s. Minako combines a positive meaning with a classic ending, evoking traditional femininity. The name also appears in fiction, most notably Minako Aino from the manga/anime Sailor Moon, whose full kanji name is written as 愛野美奈子, using the same 美奈子 combination. Key Facts Meaning: "beautiful child" (typical kanji) or variations depending on kanji choice Origin: Japanese Type: Given name (feminine) Usage regions: Japan