This article explores the various names for Japan, their origins, and the meanings behind them. Nihon or Nippon (日本) are the most commonly used names domestically and internationally, both derived from Chinese characters meaning “origin of the sun”. There are also many other regional variants such as Jipangu (in Korean), Yaban (in Arabic), Japón (in Spanish), etc. Japanese people generally refer to their country as Nihon or simply “Japan” without any additional qualifiers. The two most common names for Japan –Nihon and Nippon– have deep cultural significance reflecting a sense of national pride amongst Japanese people.