Clive in Japanese

Clive is written クライブ in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Clive would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag.

Our top pick is 久来歩 (Kuraibu). 久 means “everlasting”, 来 means “coming” and 歩 means “step”. Other good options are 玖礼歩 (Kuraibu) and 空来歩 (Kuuraibu).

Not as a traditional name. Japanese people write foreign names in katakana, so 久来歩 is a creative kanji spelling (called ateji), chosen for its sounds and meanings. Japanese readers will understand what each character means, and many will enjoy the idea behind it.

久来歩 has 18 strokes in total (久: 3, 来: 7, 歩: 8). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.

Each character in 久来歩 has a positive meaning, so it is a reasonable choice. Keep in mind that Japanese people will read it as the meaning of the characters, not instantly as “Clive”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (クライブ) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.