affection

Chikashi (ちかし)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

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.

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

Jōji (じょうじ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: jo:-zhee [dʑó̞ò̞.ʑì]
Variant transliterations: Joji, Jouji, Johji

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

jō (じょう) ji (じ)
丈 “height, stature” 二 “two”
譲/讓 “inheritance; transfer; conciliation” 治 “cure; management”
丞 “help” 司 “office”
城 “castle” 志 “will, aim, goal”
穣/穰, part of 豊穣 (hōjō), referring to an abundant grain crop 士°/侍 “man°; samurai”
錠 “lock” 史 “history”
浄 “clean, pure, chaste” 慈 “mercy, affection”
常 “constant” 児 “child, boy”
成 “growth, reach, attainment”

Some of its usage may be influenced by the English name George, which is transcribed as ジョージ.

Popularity:
Overall usage of this name is uncommon with yearly percentages not topping 0.1%. Beginning to see a bit of wider usage in the Meiji period (1868-1912), the name rose above 0.05% from the 1930s to the late 1960s. By the 1980s, usage levels dropped to within the 0.02-3% range.
Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, by the mid-to-late 2010s, the name rose back above 0.05% on average.

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

Juria (じゅりあ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

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%.

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.

Maasa (まあさ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-ah-sah [má.à.sà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as 真麻, individually meaning “pure, true” (also written as 眞) and “hemp, flax.” As a word, it is used, with the reading mao, as an alternative form of 苧 (karamushi) referring to the ramie plant and, with the reading maso, a euphemism for 麻.
The second element can be substituted for 朝 (asa) meaning “morning” or it can be split into two kanji, an a kanji, like 亜 or 愛 meaning “love, affection,” combined with a sa kanji, such as 沙 meaning “sand” or 紗 meaning “gauze.” As for the first element, it can be replaced with 麻 (not to be used twice), 茉, part of 茉莉 (matsuri) referring to the Arabian jasmine, or 万 meaning “ten thousand,” among other ma kanji.

Popularity:
This name is mostly used among those born since the 1980s, first brought to wider attention by the birth of the daughter of actor Takahashi Hideki in late 1981. By 1990, over 0.02% of girls received this name, dropping down below 0.01% by 1996. It rebounded a bit above it in the early-mid 2000s before jumping over 0.02% again in 2007.
Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my own 2014-20 names research, percentages fell below 0.01% again in the mid 2010s and the average percentage from 2017-20 is below 0.005%.

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

Ameri (あめり)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: ah-me-rʸee [á.mè̞.ɾʲì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is usually made up of 天 (ame) meaning “sky; heaven” and a ri kanji, like 莉, part of 茉莉 (matsuri) referring to the Arabian jasmine, 璃, part of 瑠璃 (ruri) meaning “lapis lazuli,” 梨 meaning “pear,” 里 meaning “village,” so on and so forth. The first element can also be split into two kanji, an a kanji like 亜, 愛 meaning “love, affection,” 明 meaning “bright” or 杏 meaning “apricot,” combined with a me kanji, mainly 芽/萌 meaning “bud, sprout.”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is relatively recent, spurred by the release of the well-known French film ‘Amélie’ (transcribed in Japanese like this name) in 2001. By 2002, it rose to around 0.01%, compared to usage levels in the 1990s and the start of the new millennium which was no more than 0.001-2%. Since 2002, percentage levels have stabilised around the 0.01% mark since then.

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

Kanji (かんじ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: kahn-jee [kã́ɲ̟̀.d͡ʑì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
Most of the kanji used for this name are displayed in the table below:

kan (かん) ji (じ)
寛 “broadminded” 治 “cure; management”
勘 “perception, intuition, the sixth sense” 二 “two”
貫 “piercing, penetration” 次 “next”
幹 “(tree) trunk, base” 司 “office”
完 “perfect, complete” 士°/侍 “man°; samurai”
敢 “daring, brave, bold” 仁 “benevolence, compassion, humanity”
莞 “smiling”* 志 “will, aim, goal”
冠 “crown, diadem, coronet” 路 “road, path; way”
観 “look, appearance​” 慈 “mercy, affection”
関 “barrier, gate” 児 “child, boy”
侃 “outspoken” 時 “time”
勧 “recommendation, advice”
歓 “delight, pleasure”

Compounds for this name which are also words are 莞爾* meaning “smiling” and 完治 (more often read as kanchi) which refers to a complete recovery.

Popularity:
Though the separate elements and even the related Kanjirō (mostly 勘次郎/勘治郎) were used in the Edo period (1603-1868), Kanji is nowhere to be seen in either Collazo’s villager data or the merchant data, indicating that, at most, it was a very rarely used name.
Usage of this name increased in the Meiji period (1868-1912) with the percentage throughout the 19th century portion of the period at well over 0.2%, at its best placing within the bottom of the top 100. Throughout the early 20th century, percentages remained within the 0.1% range but fell below it by the 1940s and 1950s, dropping to 0.02% or less throughout the 1990s and 2000s. According to Baby Calendar rankings data combined with my preliminary 2014-20 names research, the average percentage for that time frame had increased a tad bit to over 0.03%.

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

Naru (なる)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Generally unisex
Pronunciation: nah-ruu [ná.ɾɯ̟̀ᵝ]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from the verb 成/為る (naru) meaning “to become, grow, reach, attain” with other related kanji in use include 徳 meaning “virtue” and 愛 meaning “love, affection.” Occasional usage of the single kanji 波, meaning “wave,” is influenced by the Hawaiian word nalu.
These single kanji can also be used in a 2-kanji combination, combining a na kanji like 菜 meaning “greens,” 那, 奈, 夏 meaning “summer,” 南 meaning “south” or 凪 meaning “calm, lull,” with a ru kanji, mostly 瑠/琉, part of 瑠璃/琉璃 (ruri) meaning “lapis lazuli.”

Popularity:
There had been a little bit of usage of the name Nari for females born from the Nara period (710-794) through to the Muromachi period (1336-1573) as enlisted by Tsunoda but none for Naru and the one Naru example found there was born in the late Edo period (1603-1868). There was a bit of feminine usage in the early 20th century but dropped off by the Shōwa period (1926-1989) as per the norm.
By the mid-20th century, masculine usage began to pick up a little bit, though still a rarity. By 1990, less than 0.005% of boys and around 0.001% of girls received this name, slowly and gradually rising to over 0.02% for boys and over 0.015% for girls by 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-9 names research, all-gender percentage levels rose to over 0.06% with more baby boys receiving this name than baby girls.

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

Jirō (じろう)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: jee-ro: [dʑí.ɾò̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Jiro, Jirou, Jiroh

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as either 二郎 or 次郎, combining 二 (ji) meaning “two” or 次 (ji) meaning “next” and 郎 (rō) meaning “son.” In effect, these combinations are typically used for a second (二郎) or next (次郎) son. Other kanji in use for this name include 治 (ji) meaning “cure; management,” 仁 (ji) meaning “benevolence, compassion, humanity,” 慈 (ji) meaning “mercy, affection,” 朗 (rō) meaning “cheerful” and 良 (rō) meaning “good.”

Popularity:
As far as post-Meiji Restoration usage of this name goes, it rose throughout the Meiji period (1868-1912), peaking in the 1910s at the end of that period heading into the Taishō period (1912-1926). By then, percentage levels for that decade were near 1% and since that time, its usage gradually fell. By the end of World War 2, it would have already left the top 100, dropping to less than 0.1% by the 1970s and a fraction of that by the second half of the 1990s.

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

Juna (じゅな)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: juu-nah [dʑɨ́ᵝ.nà]

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

ju (じゅ) na (な)
樹 “tree” 奈 phonetic kanji
珠 “gem, jewel” 菜 “greens”
朱 “vermilion” 那 phonetic kanji
寿 “congratulations; longevity” 愛 “beloved”
純 “pure” 南 “south”
潤 “richness; profit; blessing, grace” 名 “name”

Popularity:
Usage of this name was rare up until around 1993 when usage began to rise. It only rose to within the 0.01% range by 1995 before jumping to over 0.03% in 1996. By 2000, it fell a little bit to below that, staying within the 0.02% range for the rest of the decade. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-9 names research, over 0.05% of baby girls received this name within that time frame.

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