Foreign names in Kanji. On'yomi, Kun'yomi or a mix of readings?


It is known that Japanese names often have multiple readings depending on what
reading (on'yomi, kun'yomi, nanori ...) is applied to each kanji.

But my question is about foreign names written in kanji phonetically.

When someone gains Japanese citizenship, they usually change their name from
katakana to kanji (at least the given name or the surname).

Examples:

  * Alessandro Santos 三都主 アレサンドロ _（Santosu Aresandoro)_

  * Sergio Escudero エスクデロ 競飛王 _（Esukudero Seruhio)_

  * Brendan Neilson ニールソン武蓮伝 _（ニールソン ぶれんでん)_

  * Wagner Lopes 呂比須 ワグナー _（Ropesu Wagunā)_

  * Martti Turunen 弦念 丸呈 _（Tsurunen Marutei)_

Seeing this, my question is if it is possible to mix the on'yomi and kun'yomi
readings. I mean, can you choose the most suitable reading of a kanji (on'yomi
or kun'yomi) to build each part of your name in kanji?

By example, Spanish footballer Sergio Escudero has this name: **競飛王**
(Seruhio).

The first kanji **競** has Kun'yomi reading **_SERU_** But the second and the
third kanji have the On'yomi readings **_HI_** and **_O_** respectively.

It makes me think that it is possible to choose the most convenient reading to
write our foreign names in Kanji.

However, in the past, I read things like this..

<https://thejapanesepage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15189#p169635> (see the
last post) ...stating that **you can't** mix the readings to write your
foreign name in Kanji.

What do you know about this? Do you think it is possible to mix the readings?




You can, but avoiding it might have an advantage.

I couldn't find documents of the Japanese government about names of foreign
names, but in [this Q&A (See the top answer)](https://www.quora.com/Do-
foreigners-need-to-change-their-name-to-a-Japanese-name-when-they-become-
Japanese-citizens), there are no such rules.

宇柳貝 is an ateji of Uruguay (though I have never seen it used). 宇(u) and 柳(ryu)
are On'yomi while 貝(gai) is Kun'yomi. Also, 型録 is an ateji of catalog (I have
seen this used) and 型(kata) is Kun'yomi while 録(roku) is On'yomi. I don't
think the mixture of On'yomi and Kun'yomi in foreign words is wrong.

In Japanese names, it is natural to mix On'yomi and Kun'yomi. 涼子 (ryou-ko) is
a common given name and 涼(ryou) is On'yomi while 子(ko) is Kun'yomi. So, such
mixture in names isn't wrong either.

So, you can mix the readings to write your foreign name.

However, such mixture might cause confusion when you read the name. As you
know, many kanjis have multiple readings, so the reader has to guess which
reading is appropriate for the name. Maybe using only On'yomi or only Kun'yomi
reduces such confusion.




You can, but avoiding it might have an advantage.

I couldn't find documents of the Japanese government about names of foreign
names, but in [this Q&A (See the top answer)](https://www.quora.com/Do-
foreigners-need-to-change-their-name-to-a-Japanese-name-when-they-become-
Japanese-citizens), there are no such rules.

宇柳貝 is an ateji of Uruguay (though I have never seen it used). 宇(u) and 柳(ryu)
are On'yomi while 貝(gai) is Kun'yomi. Also, 型録 is an ateji of catalog (I have
seen this used) and 型(kata) is Kun'yomi while 録(roku) is On'yomi. I don't
think the mixture of On'yomi and Kun'yomi in foreign words is wrong.

In Japanese names, it is natural to mix On'yomi and Kun'yomi. 涼子 (ryou-ko) is
a common given name and 涼(ryou) is On'yomi while 子(ko) is Kun'yomi. So, such
mixture in names isn't wrong either.

So, you can mix the readings to write your foreign name.

However, such mixture might cause confusion when you read the name. As you
know, many kanjis have multiple readings, so the reader has to guess which
reading is appropriate for the name. Maybe using only On'yomi or only Kun'yomi
reduces such confusion.

