Subaru
/S-UH-B-AA-R-UH/
The Pleiades star cluster — Subaru (Japanese 昴) is the classical Japanese name for the Pleiades, mentioned in the 8th-century Manyoshu poetry collection. Also the name of the automobile manufacturer whose six-star logo depicts the cluster. A name binding ancient poetry to modern visibility.
See Subaru scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Subaru:
Yes — Subaru is a Buddhist boy name of Japanese origin, meaning “The Pleiades star cluster — Subaru (Japanese 昴) is the classical Japanese name for the Pleiades, mentioned in the 8th-century Manyoshu poetry collection. Also the name of the automobile manufacturer whose six-star logo depicts the cluster. A name binding ancient poetry to modern visibility.”. It also appears in Shinto tradition.
How well does Subaru fit your family?
This page tells you what Subaru means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Subaru's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Subaru is a boy's name of Japanese origin, traditionally used in Buddhist families. The name means "The Pleiades star cluster — Subaru (Japanese 昴) is the classical Japanese name for the Pleiades, mentioned in the 8th-century Manyoshu poetry collection. Also the name of the automobile manufacturer whose six-star logo depicts the cluster. A name binding ancient poetry to modern visibility." and belongs to the Light cluster — names meaning radiance, illumination, and hope.
Beyond its Buddhist heritage, Subaru is also used in Shinto traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among Japanese families, Subaru carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What's Subaru's birth star?
In Vedic tradition, a baby's name is matched to their nakshatra (birth star) and rashi (moon sign) — usually through its first syllable. Subaru opens with “Su.” But whether that's auspicious depends on your baby's exact date, time, and place of birth.
NameRoot works it out for you. Enter your baby's birth details and see exactly which nakshatra and rashi Subaru aligns with — and how strongly it scores.
See Subaru's birth-star reading →What does Subaru's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Subaru resonates in either tradition.
Subaru's destiny number is 1 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Subaru's full reading →
Does Subaru go with your family's names?
Subaru breaks into 6 sounds: /S-UH-B-AA-R-UH/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Subaru sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Subaru beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Subaru — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Subaru
If Subaru resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Buddhist boy names, common in Japanese families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Buddhist boy names from the Light cluster
Names that sound similar
Buddhist boy names that open with the same syllables as Subaru
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Subaru — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Subaru
What does the name Subaru mean?
Subaru means "The Pleiades star cluster — Subaru (Japanese 昴) is the classical Japanese name for the Pleiades, mentioned in the 8th-century Manyoshu poetry collection. Also the name of the automobile manufacturer whose six-star logo depicts the cluster. A name binding ancient poetry to modern visibility.." It is a boy name of Japanese origin, traditionally used in Buddhist families.
Is Subaru a boy or girl name?
Subaru is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Subaru?
Subaru is of Japanese origin, used in Buddhist, Shinto traditions, commonly among Japanese families.
Is Subaru a Buddhist name?
Yes. Subaru is a boy name traditionally used in Buddhist families, of Japanese origin. It also appears in Shinto tradition.
What does Subaru mean in Japanese?
Subaru originates from Japanese, where it means "The Pleiades star cluster — Subaru (Japanese 昴) is the classical Japanese name for the Pleiades, mentioned in the 8th-century Manyoshu poetry collection. Also the name of the automobile manufacturer whose six-star logo depicts the cluster. A name binding ancient poetry to modern visibility.."
What are common nicknames for Subaru?
Common short forms of Subaru include Subi.
What is the numerology of Subaru?
Subaru has a Pythagorean destiny number of 1 — leadership and pioneering spirit.
See how Subaru scores for your family
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