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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%.

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.

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.

Erina (えりな)

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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.

Maasa (まあさ)

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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.

Konami (こなみ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: ko-nah–mʸee [kò̞.ná.mʲí]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 小波 (konami) which refers to wavelets or a ripple on the water (literally meaning “small/little wave”). As a name, 小浪 is also used which have the same meanings for these two kanji. It can also be written with three kanji (as well as こな+mi kanji), as shown in the table below:

ko (こ) na (な) mi (み)
瑚 part of 珊瑚 (sango) “coral” 菜 “greens” 美 “beauty”
湖 “lake” 奈 phonetic kanji 実 “seed; fruit”
胡 “foreign;” part of 胡桃 (kurumi) “walnut” 那 phonetic kanji 海 “sea, ocean”
幸 “good luck, happiness” 南 “south”* 未 sign of the Sheep; part of 未来 (mirai) “future”
虹 “rainbow” 名 “name” 見 “looking, viewing”
心 “heart, mind” 凪 “calm, lull” 巳 sign of the Snake
香 “fragrance” 和 “calm, gentle”  
恋 “(romantic) love”    
琴 koto (the 13-stringed Japanese zither)    
古 “ancient”    

* also used with reading nami as opposed to na combined with a mi kanji

Popularity:
In rare use in the late Edo period (1603-1868) with an average percentage (based on Tsunoda and Collazo) of 0.012%, the name peaked in popularity during the Meiji period (1868-1912) with the average percentage throughout the period at well over 0.1%. Regarding its popularity from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, it hasn’t been as commonly used with percentages ranging from over 0.003% in 2007 to just under 0.02% in the mid-1990s and within the past several years.

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

Koko (ここ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: ko-ko [kó̞.kò̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
For this name, it is usually written with two different ko kanji (or one ko kanji with the addition of a noma (々), a kanji repeating marker). Some of these kanji can be seen below:

  • 心 meaning “heart, mind”*
  • 瑚, part of 珊瑚 (sango) meaning “coral”
  • 來/来/徠 meaning “coming”
  • 幸/倖 meaning “good luck, happiness”
  • 虹 meaning “rainbow”
  • 恋 meaning “(romantic) love”
  • 胡, either meaning “foreign” or part of 胡桃 (kurumi) meaning “walnut”
  • 琴, referring to the 13-stringed Japanese zither
  • 香 meaning “fragrance”
  • 湖 meaning “lake”
  • 紅 meaning “crimson”
  • 鼓 meaning “drum, beat”
  • 子 meaning “child”**

* can also be used on its own, shortened from kokoro
** more often used as the second kanji

Popularity:
Most of the females named Koko were born in the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards. In 1990, it was only given to around 0.002% of girls, remaining stable for several years before rising to around 0.01% by 1996. Usage of this name rose more steeply in the early 2000s and by 2007, just over 0.09% of girls received this name, placing Koko within the bottom section of the top 200.
Based on Baby Calendar rankings data combined with my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is over 0.11%. As of 2020, Koko is ranking outside the top 200 on both datasets.

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

Reona (れおな)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: re-o-nah [ɾé̞.ò̞.nà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is seemingly adopted from the Leo(n)– set of European names, deriving from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn) and borrowed into Latin leō meaning “lion.” Most of the kanji used for this name can be seen in the table below (with gender colour markers):

re (れ) o (お) na (な)
玲 “tinkling” 央 “middle, centre” 奈 phonetic kanji
怜/伶 “clever, smart” 於 phonetic kanji 那 phonetic kanji
礼 “gratitude; manners; gift” 緒 “cord, strap” 名 “name”
令 “command, order; good” 音 “sound” 菜 “greens”
麗 “lovely, beautiful” 生 “grow” 渚 “beach, shore”
鈴 “bell” 旺 “vigorous, prosperous” 南 “south”
恋 “(romantic) love” 男/雄 “male” 夏 “summer”
桜 “cherry (tree, blossom)” 七 “seven”
王 “king, ruler” 成 “growth, reach, attainment”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is uncommon and relatively recent, the earliest example I can find being physicist Esaki Reona (also known as Leo Esaki) who was born in 1925. From then on up to the 1980s, it was a rare, mainly masculine name. By 1989, it was given to around 0.016% of girls and 0.005% of boys.
While masculine usage goes back and forth with percentages ranging from a high of over 0.01% to a low of around 0.001% from that point on, feminine usage grew to its first peak of 0.044% in 1994 and 1995. This particular rise for girls may have been influenced by actress Hirota Reona, especially after the release of films ‘Yumeji’ and ‘Ōte’ in 1991 for which she won the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Yokohama Film Festival.
After feminine usage fell to below 0.02% in the mid-2000s, it rebounded back up to over 0.04% by 2009, helped by the international breakthrough of British singer and songwriter Leona Lewis with the release of her debut album ‘Spirit’ in November 2007 in the UK and Ireland and early 2008 elsewhere (Leona rose at around the same time in a few other countries and territories). Based on Baby Calendar rankings data and my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is around 0.03% for girls and less than 0.005% for boys.

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