Discover your name in toki pona
This generator applies standard tokiponisation rules based on English pronunciation. The result is a starting point — you're free to adjust it to better match how your name actually sounds, or choose something entirely different. It's your name, after all.
The rules for converting names to toki pona
Toki pona names are based on how a name sounds, not how it's written. Use the local pronunciation wherever possible — for example, "Toronto" is Towano (matching how locals say it), not Tolonto.
Every syllable in toki pona follows this pattern:
The first syllable of a word can start with a vowel (no consonant needed).
Consonants from other languages are mapped to the nearest toki pona sound:
| Original sound | toki pona | Example |
|---|---|---|
| b, p, f | p | Benjamin → Pensamin |
| d, t | t | David → Tewi |
| g, k | k | Gary → Kali |
| v, w | w | Victoria → Wikola |
| English r | w | Robert → Wopet |
| Trilled/tapped r | l | Roberto → Lopeto |
| French/German r | k | français → Kanse |
| s, z, sh, ch, j (English) | s | Charlotte → Salot |
| th | t (or s) | Thomas → Toma |
| h | (dropped) | Harry → Ali |
| m, n, l | m, n, l | (unchanged) |
Some sound combinations are not allowed in toki pona:
| Forbidden | Becomes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wu | u | Woodrow → Uso |
| wo | o | Wolfgang → Opan |
| ji | i | — |
| ti | si | Timmy → Simi |
When two or more consonants appear together, toki pona prefers to drop consonants rather than add vowels, keeping the syllable count close to the original. The more prominent consonant (usually a plosive like p, t, k) is kept.
The exception is n, which can close a syllable before the next consonant: Andrew → an.si (the n closes the first syllable, and d→t + i → ti → si).
Names in toki pona are always used with a head noun — a word that says what kind of thing you are. About 75% of speakers use jan (person). Others choose animal words like soweli, waso, or kala, or something else entirely like ilo (tool) or kasi (plant).
These rules are guidelines, not laws. Many speakers adjust their tokiponised name for aesthetics, to avoid confusion with toki pona words, or simply because they prefer it. The most important thing is that you like it.