1990s

Mami (まみ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

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%.

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

Sumika (すみか)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: suu-mʸee-kah [sɨ́ᵝ.mʲì.kà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The first element of this name is derived from 澄 (sumi) meaning “lucidity, transparency” with other related kanji including 純 meaning “innocent, chaste” and 済 meaning “completion, finish” (the verb 済む (sumu) is cognate to 澄む). 住, meaning “residence, dwelling” and derived from a different verb 住む, is rarely used here.
The first element can also be split into two-kanji, a su kanji like 寿/壽 meaning “congratulations; longevity,” 須 and 素 meaning “plain” and a mi kanji, such as 美 meaning “beauty,” 実 meaning “seed; fruit,” 未, referring to the sign of the Sheep or part of the word 未来 (mirai) meaning “future” and 心 meaning “heart, mind.” As for the second element, any kanji with the reading ka can be used:

  • 香/郁 meaning “fragrance”
  • 華/花 meaning “flower”
  • 佳 meaning “beautiful, good”
  • 夏 meaning “summer”
  • 加 meaning “addition”
  • 果 meaning “fruit”
  • 可 meaning “acceptable, fair”
  • 歌 meaning “song”
  • 伽 meaning “nursing, attending, entertaining”
  • 和 meaning “harmony, peace; sum”
  • 海 meaning “sea, ocean”
  • 圭 meaning “angle, edge”
  • 風 meaning “wind”
  • 霞 meaning “mist”
  • 嘉 meaning “praise, esteem”
  • 樺 meaning “birch”
  • 茄, part of 茄子 (nasu) meaning “eggplant/aubergine”
  • 楓 meaning “maple”
  • 日 meaning “day; sun”
  • 雅 meaning “elegance, grace”

Popularity:
Much of its uncommon usage is concentrated on those born within the last several decades. By 1989, over 0.02% of girls received this name, peaking later in 1992 at over 0.07%, largely driven by forms of this name that begin with 純. From then on until the mid-2000s, usage levels had gone down and up within the 0.04% to 0.06% range before falling back to over 0.02% by the late 2000s. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-21 names research, the average percentage from 2017-21 is over 0.03%.

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.

Sonoka (そのか)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: so-no-kah [só̞.nò̞.kà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The first element is taken from 園(薗)/苑 (sono) meaning “garden, orchard, park.” It can also be split into two kanji, the second part written as either 乃/之 (no), referring to the possessive particle, or 野 (no) meaning “field.” Most kanji for the first part can be seen in the table below alongside some of the ones used for the second element:

so (そ) ka (か)
素 “plain” 佳 “beautiful, good”
想 “conception, idea, thought” 香/郁/薫/馨 “fragrance”
早 “early” 花/華 “flower”
初 “first, new” 加 “addition”
颯 “sudden, quick” 夏 “summer”
蒼 “blue” 果 “fruit”
奏 “playing music”* 歌 “song”
爽 “fresh”

* also used for the second element

Popularity:
The name started rising in usage in the 1980s, though usage levels at the beginning of the Heisei period (1989-2019) were within the 0.01% range. It rose to over 0.03% in 1994 and 1995, dropping slighty out in 1996 before peaking at around 0.045% in 1997. By 1999, it fell back down below 0.02%, largely remaining within the 0.01% range since then.

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

Serina (せりな)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: se-rʸee-nah [sé̞.ɾʲì.nà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
A couple of the most popular forms of this name use 芹 (seri) as the first element, referring to a plant known by various names like the Java water dropwort, water celery and Japanese (flat leaf) parsley. It can also be split into two kanji, most of which can be seen, along with na kanji, in the table below:

se (せ) ri (り) na (な)
瀬 “shallows, rapids” 里 “village” 奈 phonetic kanji
世 “generation” 莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 菜 “greens”
聖 “sacred, holy” 梨 “pear” 那 phonetic kanji
星 “star” 利 “advantage, benefit” 南 “south”
静 “quiet, calm” 理 “reason, logic” 名 “name”
清 “clean, pure, chaste” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 夏 “summer”
成 “growth, reach, attainment” 李 “Japanese/Chinese plum” 渚 “beach, shore”
勢 “force, vigour, energy” 吏 “officer” 凪 “calm, lull”
青 “blue” 凛/凜 “cold; dignified” 七 “seven”
晴 “clear, fine” 琳 “jewel” 愛 “beloved”
晟 “clear” 倫 “ethics” 波 “wave”
惺 “realise”

This name may be influenced by foreign names like Celina/Selina and Serena.

Popularity:
Similar to Sonoka, this name started rising in usage in the 1980s. By the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019), it was given to 0.025% of baby girls. When 芹 was selected as a jinmeiyō kanji in March 1990, usage levels continued to rise a bit further, to just over 0.05% in 1992. However, there was a jump in usage in 1993 to over 0.075%, peaking at close to 0.1% in 1997.
Since the peak, usage levels made a general gradual decline with a few occassions of little jumps. By 2009, just under 0.04% of girls received this name, stabilising throughout the 2010s onward.

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

Jukiya (じゅきや)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: juu-kʸee-yah [dʑɨ́ᵝ.kʲì.jà]

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

ju (じゅ) ki (き) ya (や)
寿/壽 “congratulations; longevity” 希/稀 “rare;” part of 希望 (kibō) “hope, wish, aspiration” 也 phonetic kanji*
樹 “tree”** 貴 “precious, valuable” 弥/彌 “increase”
珠 “gem, jewel” 輝 “brightness, brilliance” 哉 phonetic kanji
朱 “vermilion” 季 “season” 矢 “arrow”
生 “vitality” 耶 phonetic kanji
喜 “delight, pleasure”
己 6th heavenly stem in Chinese calendar

* can refer to archaic auxiliary verb なり (nari) meaning “to be”
** can also be used as the second kanji

Popularity:
This name (along with similar sounding Jukia) was first made known and popularised by now former WBC world bantamweight champion boxer Tatsuyoshi Jōichirō, whose first son was born in 1992 (the name of his second son, Juiki, rose later on to a smaller degree).
Its period of peak usage occurred from 1995 to 1998 when yearly percentages were above 0.02% with 1995 being the peak year at 0.026% (1997 not far behind at 0.024%). By the mid-2000s, it dropped below 0.01% where it remains today.

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

Manae (まなえ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

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.

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

Aya (あや)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

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.

Shin’ya (しんや)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: sheew̃-ya [ɕɨ̃́ᵝɰ̃̀.jà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
For the second element, it is most commonly used as 也 (ya), which can refer to the archaic auxiliary verb なり (nari) meaning “to be” but is otherwise phonetic. Others include 哉, 弥/彌 meaning “increase” and 矢 meaning “arrow.” As for the first element, any kanji with the reading shin can be used, such as:

  • 真/眞 meaning “truth, reality”
  • 慎/愼 meaning “careful, discreet”
  • 伸 meaning “lengthen, expand”
  • 信 meaning “honesty, sincerity”
  • 進/晋 meaning “advance, progress”
  • 心 meaning “heart, mind”
  • 新 meaning “new”
  • 紳, part of 紳士 (shinshi) meaning “gentleman”
  • 親 meaning “close, familiar, intimate”
  • 臣 meaning “retainer, attendant”
  • 槙/槇, referring to the yew plum tree
  • 芯 meaning “wick, marrow; core, centre”
  • 森 meaning “forest”

Popularity:
In use since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Shin’ya began rising in usage in the Taishō period (1912-1926), though it was still uncommon (percentages below 0.1%) compared to its usage in the time frame starting from the late 1950s.
By the early 1960s, percentages had risen to over 0.2% and though it did drop a little bit in the latter third of the decade, usage had jumped again to over 0.4% by the early 1970s, spurred by the television drama ‘Arigatō’ which featured a main character going by this name in the first season.
Usage peaked in the early 1980s with percentages at well over 0.9% and began dropping in usage soon afterwards, pulling out of the top 100 by the late 1990s. Since the late 2000s, percentages for this name are at below 0.05%.

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

Junpei (じゅんぺい)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: juum–pe: [d͡ʑɨ̃̀ᵝḿ.pé̞ː]
Variant transliteration: Jumpei

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The second element of this name is most commonly used as 平 (hei) meaning “even, flat” with 兵 (hei), meaning “soldier, army,” being one minor alternative. As for the first element, any kanji with the reading jun can be used, such as:

  • 純 meaning “pure, genuine”
  • 淳 meaning “pure”
  • 順 meaning “obedient”
  • 潤 meaning “richness; profit; blessing, grace”
  • 隼 meaning “peregrine falcon”
  • 準/准 meaning “associate”
  • 惇 meaning “kind, considerate”
  • 絢 meaning “gorgeous, brilliant”

Popularity:
The name saw a bit of usage in the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taishō (1912-1926) periods with percentages above 0.05% in the first half of the former of the two periods. From the 1930s to the 1960s, it became rarely used but would rise again from the mid-1970s, markings its first peak in the early 1980s with percentages topping well over 0.2%.
Usage would drop a bit in the mid 1980s but would rise again in the latter portion. By 1989, over 0.27% of boys received this name. Dropping a bit to below 0.25% in 1991, it would peak again to over 0.3% by 1992, thanks to the TV drama ‘Hyakuikkaime no Propose’ (101回目のプロポーズ). By the turn of the millennium, it already dropped out of the top 100 with percentages dropping below 0.1% by the mid-2000s. Usage in the 2010s was uncommon though somewhat steady with percentages mainly above 0.05%.

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