Nils in Japanese

Nils is written ニルス in katakana. Katakana is the script Japanese people use for foreign names, so this is how Nils 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 ニル (as written in Japan) and ニルズ (English).

Our top pick is 新瑠寿 (Nirusu). 新 means “new”, 瑠 means “lapis lazuli” and 寿 means “long life”. Other good options are 新琉澄 (Nirusu) and 新留透 (Nirusu).

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

新瑠寿 has 34 strokes in total (新: 13, 瑠: 14, 寿: 7). It takes some practice to write neatly, so look up the stroke order before trying it with a brush.

Each character in 新瑠寿 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 “Nils”. If you want your name to be recognized, katakana (ニルス) is clearer. Either way, ask a native speaker to check the final design.