Convert any English to katakana.

What is katakana?

Katakana is one of three scripts in modern Japanese, used primarily for foreign loanwords, names of foreign people and places, scientific terms, and emphasis. When a Japanese person sees a name written in katakana, they immediately know it's foreign in origin.

How does this converter work?

Our converter uses a phonetic mapping that follows modern Japanese conventions for transliterating English. It handles common patterns like double consonants (Anna → アンナ), long vowels (Lee → リー), and sound clusters (Christopher → クリストファー).

When should you use katakana?

• Business cards & resumes when working in Japan
• Travel documents like hotel reservations
• Online accounts requiring a Japanese name field
• Casual contexts like introducing yourself in Japanese class

What about kanji?

If you want kanji forms — either based on the meaning of your name or as playful ateji — try our main converter which shows all three forms at once.