咲

Sachi (さち)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: sah-chee [sá.tɕì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 幸/倖 (sachi) meaning “good luck, happiness.” The word itself (also applying to its bound/original form satsu) was originally used with relation to hunting (thus it is speculated to have a possible relation to Korean 살 (sal) meaning “arrow”) and the current meanings may have been adopted from the Chinese source.
Other single kanji used in relation to the ideas of good luck and happiness include 祥 meaning “blessedness, (good) omen” and 福 meaning “good fortune, happiness, blessing, good luck.” The aforementioned kanji can also be used as part of a 2-kanji combination on either element. The second element is mainly written as either 智/知 (chi) meaning “wisdom” or 千 (chi) meaning “thousand,” but can also be written as 茅, from chigaya which refers to cogon grass, or 稚 (chi) meaning “young, new.” As for the first element, it can be written as:

  • 紗 meaning “gauze”
  • 沙/砂 meaning “sand”
  • 早 meaning “early”
  • 佐 meaning “help”
  • 咲 meaning “blossom”
  • 彩/采 meaning “colouring”
  • 桜/櫻 meaning “cherry (tree, blossom)”
  • 嵯, part of 嵯峨 (saga) meaning “high and steep, precipitous”
  • 瑳 meaning “polish, shine”
  • 左 meaning “left”
  • 小 meaning “small”
  • 冴 meaning “clarity; skilfulness”
  • 裟, part of 袈裟 (kesa), referring to robes of fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns
  • 爽 meaning “fresh”
  • 才 meaning “ability, gift, talent”

Popularity:
Usage of this name since the latter part of the Edo period (1603-1868) is uncommon. Percentage wise, it generally stayed within the 0.1% range, from the late Edo period through to the 1930s and then from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s.
Regarding current popularity, it has fallen to below 0.1% since the mid-1990s, though it only occasionally drops below 0.05%. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-21 names research, the average percentage from 2017-21 is just over 0.075%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Moe (もえ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mo-e [mó̞.è̞]
Archaic writing: もゑ (Mowe)

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 萌え/萠え (moe) meaning “sprouting, budding​.” This kanji, along with other kanji with the (partial) reading mo like 望, shortened from the first part of 望月 (mochidzuki), referring to the 15th day of the lunar month and the full moon, 百 meaning “hundred” or 茂 meaning “luxuriant,” can be combined with an e kanji, much of which can be seen below:

  • 恵/慧 “wisdom”
  • 絵 “picture, drawing”
  • 衣 “clothing”
  • 笑/咲 “smile”
  • 瑛 “crystal”
  • 愛 “beloved”
  • 映 “reflection”
  • 永 “eternity”
  • 江 “inlet, bay”
  • 枝 “branch, bough”
  • 依 “reliance, dependence”
  • 英 “wisdom, brilliance”
  • 詠 “recitation”
  • 栄/榮 “glory, prosperity”

Popularity:
Before 萌 was added as a Jinmeiyō (personal name) kanji in October 1981, usage of this name was rare to very uncommon, much of it occurring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019), it was ranking outside the top 100 with usage levels near 0.2%, though it would rise throughout the 1990s and peak at the turn of the millennium within the 0.6% range.
Though it would remain relatively popular in the first half of the 2000s, the name would experience a noticeable drop in 2005, leaving the top 100 for good by 2006 with percentages dropping to over 0.1% and going further to below 0.1% from the 2010s onward. This sudden drop in usage in 2005-6 seems to be influenced by the usage of 萌え/萠え as an anime and manga slang term, referring to feelings of affection, adoration and devotion towards a fictional character, that became increasingly known at the time.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Kasane (かさね)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: kah-sah–ne [kà.sá.né̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 重ね (kasane) meaning “pile, heap,” from the imperfective/continuative form of the verb 重ねる (kasaneru) meaning “to pile up, stack up, add layers.” Nowadays, it is far more common for this name to be written with multiple kanji, often 3 with the final kanji mostly written as 音 meaning “sound.” For the first 2, most of them used can be seen below:

ka (か) sa (さ)
花/華 “flower” 沙 “sand”
佳 “beautiful, good” 紗 “gauze”
香 “fragrance” 咲 “blossom”
加 “addition” 彩/采 “colouring”
果 “fruit” 早 “early”
風 “wind”

Occassionally, it can be written with 2 kanji, a ka kanji combined with the element 実/實 (sane) meaning “seed (of a fruit), pit, pip, stone; substance, essence, entity.” Other kanji for the second element include 真 meaning “pure, true” and 心 meaning “heart, mind.”

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is rare, more so especially before the 1980s where only a few bearers of this name can be found, the majority of which being male. Since that decade however, it has become almost exclusively a feminine name, peaking at around 0.006% in 1994.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Sarii (さりい)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: sah-rʸee: [sá.ɾʲìː]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is borrowed from the English name Sally, a diminutive of Sarah that is often used as an independent first name. As for how this name can be written, most of the kanji used can be seen in the table below:

sa (さ) ri (り) i (い)*
紗 “gauze” 里 “village” 衣 “clothing”
沙/砂 “sand” 梨 “pear” 依 “reliance, dependence”
彩 “colouring” 莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 伊 phonetic kanji
咲 “blossom” 理 “reason, logic” 生 “live, exist”
早 “early” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 維 “tie, rope”
冴 “clarity; skilfulness” 吏 “officer” 以 phonetic kanji
利 “advantage, benefit”
俐 “clever”
李 “Japanese/Chinese plum”
麗 “lovely, beautiful”
鈴 “bell”
凛 “cold; dignified”

* can be elided

Popularity:
Much of its usage is concentrated on those born from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards. However, compared to the shorted form Sari, percentages never top 0.01% (they range from 0.002-0.007%).

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Erina (えりな)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: e-rʸee-nah [é̞.ɾʲì.nà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
Here are most of the kanji used for this name:

e (え) ri (り) na (な)
絵 “picture, drawing” 里 “village” 奈 phonetic kanji
恵/慧 “wisdom” 梨 “pear” 菜 “greens”
英 “wisdom, brilliance” 理 “reason, logic” 那 phonetic kanji
江 “inlet, bay” 利 “advantage, benefit” 名 “name”
瑛 “crystal” 莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 南 “south”
愛 “beloved” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 捺 phonetic kanji
衣 “clothing” 吏 “officer”
枝 “branch, bough” 李 “Japanese/Chinese plum”
栄 “glory, prosperity”
依 “reliance, dependence”
笑/咲 “smile”
映 “reflection”
永 “eternity”
衿/襟 “collar, neck(band)”
えり (phonetic)

This name may also have hints of foreign influence, being that エリナ transcribes the name Elina (+ variants) and エリナー (with a longer final vowel) is one way to transcribe the name Eleanor.

Popularity:
Erina first grew in usage in the 1970s, though it was still uncommon back then with a decadal percentage of over 0.04%. Usage jumped by the mid-1980s and by 1990, over 0.4% of girls received this name, placing it within the bottom half of the top 100.
However, this peak of popularity was short lived as it already dropped out of the top 100 by the turn of the millennium. Since the mid-2000s, percentages remain below the 0.1% threshold. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data and my own 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-20 is around 0.05%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Sasuke (さすけ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: sah-ske [sà.sɨ̥́ᵝ.ké̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as 佐助, both kanji generally refers to assistance, help or support. Other kanji with this reference can also be used in the second element, such as 介, 輔, 丞, etc. As for the first element, any kanji with the reading sa can be used, such as:

  • 咲 meaning “blossom”
  • 沙 meaning “sand”
  • 桜 meaning “cherry (tree, blossom)”
  • 冴 meaning “clarity; skilfulness”
  • 瑳 meaning “polish, shine”
  • 作 meaning “work, production”
  • 彩 meaning “colouring”
  • 紗 meaning “gauze”
  • 颯 meaning “quick, sudden”
  • 三 meaning “three”

Popularity:
This name was most commonly used before the 20th century. Based on Edo period (1603-1868) villager data from Collazo and merchant data compiled by Issendai + passenger lists from before the Second World War, percentages range from just under 0.1% to just over 0.2%.
Regarding its usage from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, it was rarely used throughout the 1990s and 2000s, though it was used slightly more in the latter decade at more or less 0.005%. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, usage of this name had increased somewhat in the second half of the 2010s with an average percentage of more than 0.02%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Musashi (むさし)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: muu-sah-shee [mɯ̟́ᵝ.sà.ɕì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as 武蔵/武藏, taken from Musashi Province which corresponds to today’s Tōkyō Metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture (the place name is a shift from Old Japanese Muzashi (spelled as 无耶志, 牟射志, etc.). Individually, 武 and 蔵/藏 mean “valour, bravery” and “possession” respectively. Written this way, it was originally a ‘hyakkanna’ (see Yohē for more) taken from that province (one case of usage being Miyamoto Musashi).
It is not known exactly where and how the placename originated but this Wiktionary page (first expanded upon in 2017) provides two theories to its etymology:

  • Shortening of 身狭下 (Musa-shimo), referring to the lower (northern) portion of earlier, larger 身狭 (Musa)
    • the page mentions that this theory may be that of a folk etymology
  • Borrowed from Ainu, from hypothetical ムンサリ (mun-sar-i)/ムンサリヒ (mun-sar-ihi) referring to marsh/wetland of weeds or useless plants, or possibly ムンサシㇼ (mun sa shir) with individual meanings of “grass, weeds,” “plain” and “land”
    • the two hypothetical forms were proposed by linguist Alexander Vovin, noting the province’s location in the middle of the Kantō Plain, though John Batchelor’s 1905 Ainu dictionary and grammar, used for the third form, makes no mention of a possessive suffix –i/ihi
    • the Ainu derivation for Musashi can also be backed up by how some sounds had shifted from Proto-Japonic to Old Japanese, particularly the voiced consonants b, d, z and g which occurred as a shift from nasal-obstruent clusters in Proto-Japonic (*mp, *nt, *ns, *nk)

With modern-day usage, other forms of this name are used, though rare/very uncommon compared to the main form. Some of the kanji in use can be seen in the table below:

mu (む) sa (さ)* shi (し)
夢 “dream” 冴 “clarity; skilfulness” 士°/侍 “man°; samurai”
結 “join, union, connecting; knot” 咲 “blossom” 志 “will, aim, goal”
沙 “sand” 心 “heart, mind”
宰 “chief, head, manager” 司 “office”

* can be elided

Popularity:
Post-Meiji restoration, the name was rarely used among the wider population from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Regarding usage from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, in 1990, it was given to less than 0.015%, remaining stable until 1998 when it began rising. After peaking at over 0.05% in 2002, it dropped back below 0.02% by 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data and my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is around 0.015%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Kaera (かえら)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: kah-e-rah [ká.è̞.ɾà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
At the moment, the most popular forms of this name contain 楓/椛, shortened from kaede which refers to a maple tree, combined with a ra kanji, like 來/徠/来 meaning “arrival,” 蘭 meaning “orchid” or 良 meaning “good.” The first element can also be split into two kanji, a ka kanji like 夏 meaning “summer”, 華/花 meaning “flower” or 香 meaning “fragrance,” and an e kanji, such as 笑/咲 meaning “smile,” 瑛 meaning “crystal” or 絵 meaning “picture, drawing.”

Popularity:
Popularised by pop rock singer, lyricist, fashion model and television presenter Kimura Kaela from 2004, the name first peaked at over 0.004% in 2007, when the name was mainly written in hiragana and katakana. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is well over 0.01%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Yae (やえ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: yah-e [já.è̞]
Archaic writing: やへ (Yahe), やゑ (Yawe)

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 八重 (yae), literally meaning “octuple” from 八 (ya) meaning “eight” and 重 (e) meaning “fold, layer” but can also be used to refer to a thing that is multi-layered or doubled. Other kanji can be used for this name, such as:

ya (や) e (え)
弥/彌 “increase” 恵 “wisdom”
耶 phonetic kanji 栄 “glory, prosperity”
椰 “(coconut) palm” 枝 “branch, bough”
矢 “arrow” 笑/咲 “smile”
也 phonetic kanji* 依 “reliance, dependence”
優 “gentle, elegant” 絵 “picture, drawing”
陽 “day; sun” 衣 “clothing”
夜 “night” 生 “growth”**
野/埜 “field” 江 “inlet, bay”
英 “wisdom, brilliance”
瑛 “crystal”

* can refer to archaic auxiliary verb なり (nari) meaning “to be”
** mainly used in the form 弥生, usually read as Yayoi

Popularity:
In the late Edo period (1603-1868), based on data from Tsunoda and Collazo, an average of over 0.2% of females bore this name (at the time, mainly written phonetically), putting it outside the top 100 but inside the top 200. Usage grew in the Meiji period (1868-1912), peaking at well over 0.8% in the 1890s, inside the top 50. Like other names in use pre-20th century, it declined in popularity in the first half and by the late Shōwa period (1926-1989), the percentage fell to less than 0.05%.
By the mid-1990s, Yae was at its lowest point with percentages certainly not topping above 0.01% and sometimes not getting above 0.005%. This lasted into the early 2010s but, with the broadcast of the taiga drama ‘Yae no Sakura’ in 2013, its fortunes has somewhat changed. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is somewhere over 0.05%.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.

Hisaki (ひさき)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Generally unisex
Pronunciation: khsah-kʸee~khsah–kʸee [çì̥.sá.kʲì]~[çì̥.sá.kʲí]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The way this name is written is usually dependent on the gender of the bearer. For males, the first element is derived from the stem 久 (hisa), referring to a long time that has passed (can also written as 寿, referring to longevity, 永 meaning “eternity” or 弥 meaning “increase”). The second element can be written as 樹 meaning “tree,” 輝/暉 meaning “brightness, brilliance,” 喜 meaning “delight, pleasure,” among other ki kanji.
For females, it is mainly written as a combination of a hi kanji, like 陽/日 meaning “day, sun,” or 柊, referring to the false holly,” and 咲 (saki) meaning “blossom.”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is rather uncommon for both genders. Throughout the late 19th century and stretching into the 20th century, it was mostly used as a masculine name. Percentages peaked near or at around the 0.02% mark at some point from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Since the mid-2000s, this name has been given to more girls than boys. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the average percentages for that time frame are around or over 0.045% for girls and around 0.01% for boys.

If you would like to add in your thoughts about this name, please share them in the comments below.