愛

Mami (まみ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-mʸee [má.mʲì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
Most of the kanji used for this name can be seen in the table below:

ma (ま) mi (み)
真/眞 “pure, true” 美/深 “beauty”
麻 “hemp, flax” 実 “seed; fruit”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 未 sign of the Sheep; part of 未来 (mirai) “future”
磨/摩 “polish, shine” 海 “sea, ocean”
舞 “dance” 珠 “gem, jewel”
万 “ten thousand” 巳 sign of the Snake
満 “full, whole”* 弥 “increase”
愛 “beloved” 望 “desire, wish, hope”
稀/希 “rare” 見 “looking, viewing”
己 6th heavenly stem in Chinese calendar
水 “water”
心 “heart, mind”
三 “three”

* can also be used as a second element kanji

Popularity:
Mami started rising in usage after the Second World War (before, it was very uncommon to rare), entering the top 100 by the second half of the 1950s. However, it ranked at the bottom half (largely staying within the upper 0.2% range) and would exit the top 100 by the mid-1960s before re-entering in the mid-1970s.
Its general peak of popularity occurred in the 1980s and early 1990s when it ranked up to just outside the top 25 and usage levels generally ranged between 0.7% and 0.8%. From then on, it gradually fell in popularity, leaving the top 100 by the turn of the millennium. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-21 names research, the average percentage from 2017-21 fell to below 0.03%.

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Mayuri (まゆり)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-yuu–rʸee [mà.jɯ̟́ᵝ.ɾʲí]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
Most of the kanji used for this name can be seen in the table below:

ma (ま) yu (ゆ) ri (り)
真/眞 “pure, true” 百合 “lily”
麻 “hemp, flax” 由 “reason, cause” 里 “village”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 優 “gentle, elegant; excellence, superiority” 莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri)
万 “ten thousand” 友 “friend” 理 “reason, logic”
満 “full, whole” 佑/祐/佑/侑 “help” 梨 “pear”
摩/磨 “polish, shine” 有 “existence” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli”
舞 “dance” 悠 “quiet, calm; far off, distant” 利 “advantage, benefit”
愛 “beloved” 結 “tie, bond” 李 “Japanese/Chinese plum”
雅 “refinement, elegance” 夕 “evening” 吏 “officer”
柚 “yuzu fruit” 凛/凜 “cold; dignified”
唯 “only” 栞 “bookmark”
裕 “abundant, rich”
遊 “play”
夢 “dream”

Popularity:
Overall usage of this name is uncommon, only starting to rise in the middle of the Shōwa period (1926-1989). In any given year in the 1990s and 2000s, usage levels generally rise above 0.01%. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-21 names research, by that time frame, percentages usually tend to go above 0.02%.

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Moe (もえ)

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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.

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Chikashi (ちかし)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: chkah-shee [tɕì̥.ká.ɕì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from the classical adjective 近し/親し (chikashi; modern chikashii) meaning “intimate, close.” Other kanji in use which relate to the meanings include 愛 meaning “love,” 睦 meaning “intimate, friendly, harmonious” and 慈 “mercy, affection.”
These kanji, along with other unrelated ones that share the chika– reading, e.g. 力 (chikara) meaning “strength, power,” can be suffixed with a shi kanji, like 志 meaning “will, aim, goal” and 士 meaning “warrior; samurai.”

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is uncommon with percentages generally not topping 0.05%. Much of its usage is concentrated on those born before the 1970s. By that decade, percentages dropped to below 0.01% which is still the case today.

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Juria (じゅりあ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: juu-rʸee-ah [dʑɨ́ᵝ.ɾʲì.à]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is borrowed from the pan-European name Julia, the feminine form of Latin Iūlius. Most of the kanji used for this name can be seen in the table below:

ju (じゅ) ri (り) a (あ)
樹 “tree” 里 “village” 亜/亞 phonetic kanji
珠 “gem, jewel” 莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 愛 “love, affection”
寿 “congratulations; longevity” 利 “advantage, benefit” 杏 “apricot”
朱 “vermilion” 梨 “pear” 彩/采 “colour”
純 “pure, genuine” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 安 “quiet, peaceful”
雛 “doll” 理 “reason, logic” 阿 phonetic kanji
李 “Japanese/Chinese plum” 明 “bright”
吏 “officer” 有 “existing”
凛 “cold; dignified” 藍 “indigo”
鈴 “bell” 葵 “hollyhock; wild ginger;” part of 向日葵 (himawari) “sunflower”

Popularity:
Much of its usage is concentrated on those born in the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards. In 1989, only 0.003% of girls received this name, gradually rising to 0.011% by 1992 before jumping to 0.017% in 1993 and over 0.032% in 1994. The cause of this jump was singer Mazda Julia, whose first solo single was released in August of 1993.
Percentages remained above 0.025% throughout the rest of the 1990s and much of the 2000s before dropping to below 0.02% by 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-20 is around 0.012% with yearly percentages in that time frame sometimes dropping below 0.01%.

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Kiito (きいと)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male, can be female as well
Pronunciation: kʸee-ee-to [kʲí.ì.tò̞]~kʸee:-to [kʲíì.tò̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
How this name is written is mainly gender-dependent. For males, it mainly revolves around combining a ki kanji, like 希/稀, either meaning “rare” or part of 希望 (kibō) meaning “hope, wish, aspiration,” 季 meaning “season,” 葵, referring to a mallow (e.g. hollyhock) or a wild ginger or part of 向日葵 (himawari) meaning “sunflower,” or 輝 meaning “brightness, brilliance,” and a to kanji, such as 斗, referring to the Chinese constellation known as the Dipper, 叶 meaning “grant, answer,” 人 meaning “person” or 翔 meaning “fly, soar.” An i kanji can sometimes be added in the middle and they include 唯 meaning “only,” 依 meaning “reliance, dependence” and 偉 meaning “greatness.”
The second element of this name can also be written as 糸 (ito) meaning “thread, yarn, string” (mainly feminine) along with other related kanji, e.g. 絃/弦 meaning “(bow)string,” (mainly masculine) or it can be written as 愛, from the stem of adjective 愛しい (itoshii) meaning “lovely, dear, beloved.”
The single kanji 純, meaning “pure, genuine,” is also used for both genders, taken from the word 生糸 (kiito), referring to a raw silk thread.

Popularity:
This name is mostly used on those born in the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, especially those born since the early 2010s. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, average percentages for boys and girls from 2017-20 are just over 0.020% and under 0.005% respectively.

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

Chikage (ちかげ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: chkah–ge [tɕì̥.ká.ɡé̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as 千景, individually meaning “thousand” and “shadow, figure; reflection” (also written as 影). The first kanji can be substituted with 智/知 meaning “wisdom.”
On rare occasions, it can also be written with a chika+ge combination. For the first element, kanji which have the nanori reading chika include 愛 meaning “love” and 和 meaning “harmony, peace.” As for the second element, any kanji with the reading ge can be used, such as 夏 meaning “summer” and 芽 meaning “bud, sprout.”

Popularity:
This name was rarely used before the 1950s and 1960s. By the time it began rising, there were two actresses, first Awashima and then Oogi, who made screen debuts in the first half of the 1950s (and both happened to be members of the Takarazuka Revue at some point of their career).
Percentages for Chikage as a feminine name throughout the 1960s and 1970s were between 0.03% and 0.05% before declining to 0.01% or below by the 1990s and 2000s. At that same time, usage as a masculine usage began to increase, albeit in a snailish pace. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the gender split had narrowed significantly (as is the case with such names as Chiaki and Chihiro) with average percentages around or near 0.02% for both genders.

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

Manae (まなえ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-nah–e [mà.ná.é̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The first element of this name is most commonly written as 愛 (mana) meaning “beloved,” originally stemming from a compound of 真/眞 (ma) meaning “pure, true” and the Old Japanese possessive particle な (na). These kanji can combined with 苗 (nae) meaning “(rice) seedling, young plant” (though it’s rarely used) and can also be used in a three-kanji combination, which can be seen below:

ma (ま) na (な) e (え)
麻 “hemp, flax” 奈 phonetic kanji 恵/慧 “wisdom”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 菜 “greens” 永 “eternity”
万 “ten thousand” 那 phonetic kanji 絵 “picture, drawing”
満 “full, whole” 江 “inlet, bay”
希 “rare” 枝 “branch, bough”
栄 “glory, prosperity”
瑛 “crystal”
英 “wisdom, brilliance”

Popularity:
Rarely used in the early 20th century, Manae began to see a little bit of a pick-up in usage in the late Shōwa period (1926-1989). By 1990, percentages amount to over 0.02%, remaining that way until late 1995 when the dorama ‘Koibito yo’ aired which featured a character with this name, written as 愛永.
By 1996, the name peaked at well over 0.1% by which point 愛永 briefly became its most popular form. However, it would revert to its pre-dorama levels within a few years and based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, percentages fell below 0.01% by the late 2010s.

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Atae (あたえ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male, can be female as well
Pronunciation: ah-tah–e [à.tá.é̞]
Archaic writing: あたゑ (Atawe), あたへ (Atahe)

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from the word 与え (atae) meaning “gift, godsend,” from the continuative form of the verb 与える (ataeru) meaning “to give something, bestow, grant.”
与, along with its old variant 與, can also be combined with an e kanji, such as 恵 meaning “wisdom,” 絵 meaning “picture, drawing” or 愛 meaning “beloved” (this way of writing is, in this case, mainly used on females).

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is very uncommon to rare with 694 people recorded in telephone book data with the writing 与 (along with 58 with 與). If treated as a masculine name with Atae as its only reading, the overall percentage would be just over 0.0025%.
It was most often used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with FamilySearch results counting around 27 males and 3 females bearing this name. Regarding Heisei period (1989-2019) usage, the gender split is narrower and percentages max out at 0.001% at any given year for both genders.

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Aya (あや)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: ah-yah [á.jà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name stems from 綾/文/紋 (aya), referring to a pattern, figure or design but also a style (of writing) or a figure of speech. Other kanji in use which shares themes and connotations with this term include:

  • 彩/采 meaning “colouring”
  • 絢 meaning “gorgeous, brilliant”
  • 礼/禮 meaning “gratitude; manners; gift”
  • 綺 meaning “thin silk” or part of 綺麗 (kirei) meaning “pretty; clean”
  • 郁 meaning “cultural progress”
  • 純 meaning “pure, genuine”
  • 理 meaning “reason, logic”
  • 紗 meaning “gauze”

It can also be written with two kanji, an a kanji like 亜/亞, 愛 meaning “love, affection” or 安 meaning “quiet, peaceful” combined with a ya kanji, such as 矢 meaning “arrow,” 弥 meaning “increase” or 耶. The single kanji shown above can also be used in this combination in any position.

Popularity:
This name has been in use since at least the Nara period (710-794) when it was suffixed with 賣/女 (me) (also occurring in a couple of subsequent periods). Regarding usage in the late Edo period (1603-1868), it is a somewhat uncommon name with the percentaged averaged (based on Tsunoda and Collazo) at just below 0.05%. Usage increased in the Meiji period (1868-1912), particularly in the latter half with percentages in that time at over 0.2%, though not touching the top 100.
Usage decreased a bit to below 0.1% by the 1930s and would, for the most part, remain that way until the late 1960s and early 1970s when it would start entering its golden era. By the mid-1970s, percentages rose to well over 0.6%, crossing over the 1% boundary by the end of the decade.
Usage would remain above this level and, to that effect, within the top 10 throughout the 1980s and early 1990s (levels in the 1980s above 1.2%), though it would end up falling in usage afterwards, dropping out of the top 100 by the late 2000s. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-20 is above 0.13%, which would place Aya in the bottom section of the top 200.

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