Des in Japanese

Des is written デス in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Des would appear on a Japanese ID card, a café cup or a name tag. Depending on the origin of the name, it can also be written デ (as written in Japan).

Our top pick is 照寿 (Tesu). 照 means “shine” and 寿 means “long life”. Other good options are 照澄 (Tesu) and 照透 (Tesu).

Not as a traditional name. Japanese people write foreign names in katakana, so 照寿 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.

照寿 has 20 strokes in total (照: 13, 寿: 7). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.

Each character in 照寿 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 “Des”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (デス) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.