コーディ
Your name
Cody
in Japanese
The default way to write Cody in Japanese is コーディ — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Cody actually means at the root — From the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, meaning 'descendant of Cuidightheach' — a helpful, considerate one. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Cody is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Cody" means: From the Irish surname Ó Cuidighthigh, meaning 'descendant of Cuidightheach' — a helpful, considerate one. Also linked to Old French 'coussin' (cushion) and Gaelic 'cuidiú' (helper/assistant).
助仁
Sukehito
助 (suke) = help, assist, rescue; 仁 (hito/jin) = benevolence, humanity, compassion — 'the benevolent helper'
援大
Endai
援 (en) = aid, support, assistance; 大 (dai) = great, large — 'great supporter,' one whose help is vast
扶優
Fuyu
扶 (fu) = to support, prop up, lend a hand; 優 (yu) = gentle, kind, excellent — 'the gentle helper,' kindness made visible
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
光道偉
Koodii
光 (ko) = light, radiance; 道 (do/dou) = path, way; 偉 (i) = greatness — 'a great one who walks the radiant path' (cool/heroic)
小桃苺
Komoii → Koodii
小 (ko) = small, little; 桃 (mo→o) = peach blossom; 苺 (i) = strawberry — 'little peach-strawberry,' a sweet fruity charm (cute)
幸仰夷
Koodii
幸 (ko) = fortune, blessing; 仰 (ou→o) = to look up, revere the heavens; 夷 (i) = the distant horizon, the far east — 'one blessed who gazes toward distant horizons' (mystical/wandering)
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
Seven, drawn