Natsuki

Natsuki is a Japanese given name used for both males and females, though its gender association can vary with the chosen kanji. The meaning of the name depends on the characters used to spell it, and many possible combinations exist. Common elements include summer (夏), moon or month (月), tree (樹), and hope (希), among others, leading to forms such as 夏樹 (summer tree) or 夏希 (summer hope). The name is used in Japan and among Japanese communities abroad, and it has appeared in international media tied to Japanese culture.

Notable people with the given name include Natsuki Hanae (花江 夏樹), a Japanese voice actor and singer born in 1991. Hanae is known for roles in popular anime such as Zenitsu Agatsuma in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, among others, making him one of the more recognized contemporary bearers of the name.

In popular culture, Natsuki is a fictional character in the visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club!, released in 2017. The character is one of the four main female protagonists, around whom the game’s narrative and interactions revolve.

As a given name, Natsuki reflects the broader pattern in Japanese naming of choosing kanji with personal or nature-related meanings. The name’s flexibility in kanji and pronunciation contributes to its continued use in Japan and its visibility in global media through anime, games, and related works.