| Sources | Pronunciation guide |
(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: suu-suu–muu [sɨ̀ᵝ.sɨ́ᵝ.mɯ̟́ᵝ]
Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from the verb 進む (susumu) meaning “to advance, progress, go forward; to precede; to improve” with other kanji sharing this meaning including 晋, 迪 and 漸. It can also be derived from the cognate verb 勧/奨む (susumu) meaning “to recommend, advise, suggest.” Other kanji which relate in some way to one or both of the verbs include:
- 将 meaning “exact, precise”
- 亨 meaning “smooth progression”
- 丞/侑 meaning “help”
- 益 meaning “increase”
- 範 meaning “example, model”
- 先/前 meaning “point, tip, end; future”
- 二 meaning “two”
Popularity:
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Susumu had been consistently ranking within the top 50 with percentage levels ranging from 0.6% to upwards of over 1%, as was the case in the 1930s. By the 1960s, it was already out of the top 50 with percentages below 0.4% and was already out of the top 100 by the late 1970s. By then, percentage levels decreased to below 0.2% and its usage continued to dwindle. Today, less than 0.01% of baby boys receive this name, based on Baby Calendar rankings data and my preliminary 2014-9 names research.
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Beyond Sakura and Hiroshi 