group-level written forms
Canonical reference record
JMnedict-backedKANJIDIC2 character context
Reference coverageDistinct recorded spellings8 Source spelling/reading rows8 Coverage levelExtended
Extended source depth
This reading group has a comparatively broad dictionary footprint across source-recorded spellings or records. The counts describe corpus coverage, not real-world popularity.
records contributing to this reading group
based only on the imported source footprint
Pronunciation & romanization
How to read Kōtō
The kana reading is source-recorded. Romanization and mora segmentation are deterministic reading aids generated from that kana; pitch accent is not inferred.
Normalized to hiragana for comparison.
The same reading converted to katakana.
Macron-style display. Vowel-sequence form: Koutou. Personal spelling and true vowel boundaries can differ.
4 morae in this reading. Small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana join the preceding mora.
Audio note: the play button uses Japanese text-to-speech provided by the visitor’s browser/device. It is a convenience preview, not a recorded native-speaker pronunciation or pitch-accent authority.
Meaning by written form
What can Kōtō mean?
A Japanese name can be written in more than one way, and its meaning can change with the kanji used. Rather than assigning one English meaning to “Kōtō”, this page explains each recorded spelling separately.
character meanings available
no kanji meaning attached
based on the exact written form
Kanji spelling
光藤
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
厚東
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
向当
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
向當
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
向頭
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
甲藤
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
甲頭
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
Kanji spelling
高頭
These are dictionary meanings for the kanji used in this spelling. Together they can suggest associations, but they do not establish one fixed English translation or a particular person’s naming intent.
Characters and loaded glosses
How to read these meanings
The English words shown here are dictionary meanings of individual kanji. They help explain what a spelling can suggest, but they are not a guaranteed translation of the full name and do not establish why a particular person was given that name.
Reading profile
How Kōtō is represented
These counts describe records in the imported name corpus. They are not a ranking of how popular a spelling is among people in Japan.
こうとう
among the forms analyzed on this page
in the primary dictionary reading
small ゃ/ゅ/ょ-type kana combine with the preceding mora
recorded spellings
JMnedict classification evidence
How this reading is classified in the source corpus
This separates dictionary classification from popularity. The same exact kana reading can be recorded as a given name, a surname, or both, and given-name records can carry male, female or unspecified source labels.
こうとう in the imported JMnedict corpus
0 source spelling/reading rows
21 source spelling/reading rows
row counts carrying each JMnedict source label
| Exact reading | Given-name evidence | Given-name labels | Surname evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ごうどうGōdō | 3535 source rows | male 1 · unspecified 34source rows · distinct forms: male 1 · unspecified 34 | 00 source rows |
| こうとうKōtō | 00 source rows | —source rows · distinct forms: — | 1921 source rows |
Classification boundary: male/female/unspecified are labels attached to imported JMnedict name records. They are not population shares, probabilities, identity claims, or evidence that a spelling is currently common in Japan. A source row can also be repeated across different written forms, so row counts and distinct-writing counts are shown separately.
Spelling anatomy
Corpus structure behind Kōtō
This section summarizes the exact source-recorded forms loaded for this reading group. Stroke and character-position statistics are descriptive corpus properties, not popularity or style scores.
12–26 strokes observed span
among forms with complete KANJIDIC2 stroke data
all component kanji loaded as jōyō/jinmeiyō classes
contains at least one character outside that loaded classification
| Reading | Romanization | Morae | Forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| こうとう | Kōtō | 4 | 8 |
Reading ambiguity
Can the same writing be read another way?
4 of 8 displayed written forms have more than one surname reading somewhere in the active JMnedict corpus. This is dictionary-record ambiguity, not a prediction of how a particular person reads the name.
distinct spellings displayed on this page
exact written forms with 2+ source readings
within this active surname corpus
distinct kana readings for one displayed writing
甲藤
高頭
7 source-recorded readings
光藤
5 source-recorded readings
甲頭
3 source-recorded readings
A reading shown without a link is still source-recorded, but its destination group does not yet meet the reference-depth standard used for the main library. Limited records are not promoted merely to create extra internal links.
Kanji role reference
How recurring characters function across Kōtō spellings
Position counts are calculated only from the distinct written forms analyzed for this page. KANJIDIC2 nanori are character-level name-reading references; they are not used here to decompose or assert the reading of a specific multi-kanji name.
| Kanji | Character glosses | Forms | First | Final | Internal | Solo | Strokes | KANJIDIC2 nanori | Loaded class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 向 | yonder, facing, beyond | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | こお, た, な, むか +2 | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 3 |
| 頭 | head, counter for large animals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | かみ, がみ, ちゃん, つむり +1 | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2 |
| 藤 | wisteria | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ぞう, と, ふじゅ | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8 |
| 甲 | armor, high (voice), A grade | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | かぶと, き, まさ, まさる | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 8 |
| 光 | ray, light | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | あき, あきら, こお, てる +3 | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2 |
| 厚 | thick, heavy, rich | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | あ, あっ | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 5 |
| 東 | east | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | あい, あがり, あずま, あづま +7 | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2 |
| 当 | hit, right, appropriate | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | たい | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2 |
| 當 | bear, accept, undertake | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | と | Unclassified in the loaded KANJIDIC grade field |
| 高 | tall, high, expensive | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | か, こ, じょい, た +1 | Jōyō · KANJIDIC grade 2 |
Counts describe this source-recorded spelling set, not population use. A repeated kanji can contribute to more than one position role across different spellings.
Exact writing research map
Move from a spelling to its readings, characters and literal sequence context
These relationships are exact and source-backed. Whole-name readings shown in each card come from JMnedict within the current name class; exact-writing search can surface records from other name classes. Character links open KANJIDIC2-backed kanji pages. Sequence context means the same kanji string occurs contiguously in another recorded written form—it does not prove shared origin or meaning.
Exact written form
光藤
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Exact written form
厚東
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Kōtōこうとう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
向当
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Kōtōこうとう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
向當
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Kōtōこうとう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
向頭
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Kōtōこうとう · this page
Characters in order
Exact written form
甲藤
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Exact written form
甲頭
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Exact written form
高頭
Source-recorded full-name readings in this name class
Characters in order
Corpus pattern
Kanji recurring across Kōtō spellings
Only characters appearing in at least two distinct analyzed spellings are shown here. Frequency describes this source-recorded spelling set, not real-world baby-name popularity.
Same reading, different writing
Explore written forms of Kōtō
8 source-recorded forms use the primary source reading こうとう. Other source readings can appear in this romanized group when the imported records converge on the same index form. Use Compare to inspect exact spellings side by side.
光藤
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
厚東
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
向当
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
向當
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkContains at least one kanji outside the loaded jōyō/jinmeiyō classification
向頭
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
甲藤
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
甲頭
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded reading
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
高頭
こうとう · Kōtō
Character-set checkAll kanji are classified as jōyō/jinmeiyō in KANJIDIC2
Same writing, other recorded readings
Exact written-form relationship inside the imported surname corpus.
Spelling comparator
Compare Kōtō forms side by side
Each exact written spelling appears once in this table even when JMnedict records more than one reading for that writing. Stroke totals and character glosses come from KANJIDIC2 when all component kanji are available.
| Spelling | One source reading | Character-level glosses | Total strokes | Loaded character class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 光藤 | こうとう | 光 — ray, light · 藤 — wisteria | 24 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 厚東 | こうとう | 厚 — thick, heavy · 東 — east | 17 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 向当 | こうとう | 向 — yonder, facing · 当 — hit, right | 12 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 向當 | こうとう | 向 — yonder, facing · 當 — bear, accept | 19 | Includes unclassified/outside loaded jōyō-jinmeiyō class |
| 向頭 | こうとう | 向 — yonder, facing · 頭 — head, counter for large animals | 22 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 甲藤 | こうとう | 甲 — armor, high (voice) · 藤 — wisteria | 23 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 甲頭 | こうとう | 甲 — armor, high (voice) · 頭 — head, counter for large animals | 21 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
| 高頭 | こうとう | 高 — tall, high · 頭 — head, counter for large animals | 26 | All kanji jōyō/jinmeiyō-classified |
What does Kōtō mean?
There is not necessarily one fixed English meaning. The reading identifies the spoken name; different written forms can use different kanji. Character glosses describe individual kanji and should not be treated as proof of the intention behind a particular person’s name.
Related readings
More surnames beginning with こう
Related by the opening kana of the dictionary reading. This is a deterministic browsing relationship, not a claim that the names share the same meaning.
Surname · limited reference
Kōno
50 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōda
45 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKō
41 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōta
29 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōmoto
27 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōchi
26 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōsaka
22 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōzaki
21 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōbe
19 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōra
18 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōji
17 recorded spellings
Explore →Surname · limited referenceKōmura
17 recorded spellings
Explore →Shared-kanji relationships
Other surnames sharing kanji with Kōtō
These links are calculated from exact characters appearing in source-recorded spellings on this page. Sharing a kanji does not mean two names have the same reading, origin, gender or intended meaning.
Surname relationship
Tōkō
光向東藤頭高
6 shared kanji · 8 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipSaitō
当東當藤頭
5 shared kanji · 30 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipKatō
当東甲藤頭
5 shared kanji · 18 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipGotō
当東當藤頭
5 shared kanji · 16 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipKantō
当東甲藤頭
5 shared kanji · 13 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipTōyama
当東當藤頭
5 shared kanji · 5 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipTōma
当東當藤
4 shared kanji · 20 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipTakatō
東藤頭高
4 shared kanji · 14 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipMitō
当當藤頭
4 shared kanji · 12 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipTōdō
当東當藤
4 shared kanji · 11 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipSatō
当東當藤
4 shared kanji · 10 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Surname relationshipTōki
当東當頭
4 shared kanji · 10 matching source-recorded spellings
Inspect name →Evidence on this page
What each source establishes
JMnedict establishes recorded written forms, readings and name classifications; where safely associated, this page can also show JMnedict-supplied trans_det source text without treating it as a whole-name meaning. KANJIDIC2 supplies character readings, nanori, stroke counts, grade classes and English character glosses. The Ministry of Justice remains the official reference for Japanese child-name character rules. The Agency for Cultural Affairs romanization guidance is the reference for generated Latin-script reading aids.
Source boundary
The spelling-frequency and structural counts on this page are calculated from imported JMnedict records. They are corpus counts, not population-frequency claims. KANJIDIC2 supplies the kanji metadata used in character and stroke comparisons.
Review sources →