mai

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.

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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Haruma (はるま)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: hah-ruu-mah [há.ɾɯ̟̀ᵝ.mà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is a combination of the element haru and a ma kanji, most of them included in the list below:

  • 真/眞 meaning “truth”
  • 馬 meaning “horse”
  • 磨/摩 meaning “polish, shine”
  • 慎/愼 meaning “careful, discreet”
  • 誠 meaning “truth, reality”
  • 翔 meaning “fly, soar”
  • 雅 meaning “refinement, elegance”
  • 麻 meaning “hemp, flax”
  • 守 meaning “protection”
  • 万 meaning “ten thousand”
  • 舞 meaning “dance”
  • 茉, part of 茉莉 (matsuri) referring to the Arabian jasmine
  • 希/稀 meaning “rare”
  • 将 meaning “exact, precise”
  • 大 meaning “big, large”
  • 満 meaning “full, whole”
  • 優 meaning “excellence, superiority”
  • 天 meaning “sky”

Popularity:
Usage of this name was somewhat rare up until the 1990s when it began to slowly rise in popularity, from over 0.01% in 1990 to over 0.04% by 2000. The rise steepened throughout the 2000s, rising to over 0.15% by 2007 before entering the top 100 for the first time by 2008. By 2009, it was given to well over 0.45% of baby boys, no doubt influenced by the now late actor Miura Haruma.
Based on my preliminary 2014-20 names research combined with survey data from Meiji Yasuda Life and Tamahiyo (+ Baby Calendar in later years), the name peaked in popularity in 2014 with the percentage averaging at well over 1.1%, placing it within the top 10. As of 2020, based on the aforementioned sources, the calculated percentage sits at well over 0.5%, ranking within the bottom half of the top 50.

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

Marin (まりん)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-rʸeen [má.ɾʲĩ̀ɴ̀]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
At first glance, it looks like it might have been borrowed from English/French marine (the latter being the feminine singular form of marin), usually an adjective that pertains to the sea. This can be true given the usage of 海 (normally read as umi) either as part of a multi-kanji combination, e.g. 青海/碧海, literally meaning “blue sea,” 愛海 or 海鈴, or, occasionally, on its own.
More often though, the name is written with a combination of a ma kanji and a rin kanji (with the occasionally inclusion of a kanji whose reading can be reduced to a moraic nasal N, e.g. 音 meaning “sound”). Most of the kanji used can be seen in the table below:

ma (ま) rin (りん)
真/眞 “truth” 凛/凜 “cold; dignified”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 鈴 “bell”
麻 “hemp, flax” 琳 “jewel”
愛 “beloved” 梨 “pear”
舞 “dance” 倫 “ethics”
万 “ten thousand” 林 “forest”
優 “excellence, superiority” 綾 “figure, design”
美 “beauty”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is relatively recent, having been in use for at least the last several decades. It grew in usage in the 1990s, rising from under 0.02% in 1990 to over 0.08% by the mid-1990s and well over 0.17% by 2000. However, throughout the 2000s, its usage had gradually reduced, falling to under 0.07% by 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-20 names research, it has started rising back up a bit in the middle and latter parts of the 2010s, averaging a percentage of over 0.11% from 2017 to 2020.

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

Rima (りま)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

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

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

ri (り) ma (ま)
莉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 真 “truth”
里 “village” 茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri)
梨 “pear” 麻 “hemp, flax”
理 “reason, logic” 舞 “dance”
璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 万 “ten thousand”
李 “Japanese/Chinese plum” 希/稀 “rare”
利 “advantage, benefit” 磨 “polish, shine”
俐 “clever” 愛 “beloved”

Popularity:
In use since the Meiji period (1868-1912) (for which Rima was written phonetically in katakana), the name was very rarely used for much of its time since then. In 1990, it was given to only around 0.003% of girls, rising steadily to just over 0.01% in 2000 and well over 0.025% in 2009.
Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-9 names research, average percentage range from 0.04% to 0.05%. What’s interesting about the BC data is that Rima’s ranking jumped from 308th in 2019 to 191st in 2020, implying that the percentage last year rose to over 0.1% for the first time. This is seemingly influenced by Yokoi Rima, one of the members of the Japanese girl group NiziU, formed through the reality-survival programme ‘Nizi Project’ which was shown first on Hulu Japan from January to June of 2020.

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Tenma (てんま)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: tem-mah [tẽ̞́m̀.mà]
Variant transliteration: Temma

Etymology and/or ways to write:
For the first element, any kanji with the reading ten can be used, like 天 meaning “sky,” 典 meaning “rule, law,” 槙, referring to the yew plum tree, or 辿 meaning “following, pursuing.” As for the second element, the list below shows some of the ma kanji that can be used there:

  • 馬 meaning “horse”
  • 真/眞 meaning “truth”
  • 麻 meaning “hemp, flax”
  • 磨/摩 meaning “polish, shine”
  • 舞 meaning “dance”
  • 満 meaning “full, whole”
  • 茉, part of 茉莉 (matsuri) referring to the Arabian jasmine
  • 優 meaning “excellence, superiority”
  • 稀/希 meaning “rare”

The compound 天馬 (which is usually read as tenba, though tenma is also in use) also refers to a flying horse, though it can also refer specifically to Pegasus.

Popularity:
In use since at least the 1980s, the general trend for its usage in the 1990s was a steady rise, giving way to 0.02%+ percentage levels from the late 1990s onward compared to a fraction of that at the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019). By 2004, it was given to over 0.04% of baby boys, though it dropped back to over 0.02% by 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-9 names research, usage levels rose back up a bit in that time frame with an average of over 0.05% of baby boys receiving this name.

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

Maharo (まはろ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Generally unisex
Pronunciation: mah-hah–ro [mà.há.ɾó̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from the Hawaiian word mahalo, used as a ‘thank you’ interjection and a noun expressing thanks and gratitude or admiration and praise.
As for how its written in kanji, a ma kanji would be inserted first, like 真 meaning “pure, true,” 麻 meaning “hemp, flax,” 茉, part of 茉莉 (matsuri) which refers to the Arabian jasmine, 舞 meaning “dance” or 愛 meaning “beloved.” As for the second element, a kanji that can otherwise be read as haru is usually prefered, such as 晴 meaning “clear, fine,” 陽 meaning “sun,” 春, referring to the season of spring, or 悠 meaning “far off, distant.” However, it can also be written with a combination of a ha kanji, like 羽 meaning “feather” or 波 meaning “wave,” and a ro kanji, such as 呂 or 良 meaning “good.”

Popularity:
In use since at least the 1980s, the name has always been rarely used with percentage levels not exceeding 0.003% for both genders at any given year. From my other research utilising search results for examples and Baby Calendar data, gender usage of this name is relatively even, though erring slightly towards being feminine.

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

Marie (まりえ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

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

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

mari (まり) e (え)
真/眞 “pure, true” 理 “reason, cause” 恵 “wisdom”
麻 “hemp, flax” 里 “village” 絵/画 “picture, drawing”
万 “ten thousand” 梨 “pear” 江 “inlet, bay”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 莉 ← 衣 “clothing”
満 “full, whole” 利 “advantage, benefit” 枝 “branch, bough”
舞 “dance” 璃 part of 瑠璃 (ruri) “lapis lazuli” 英 “wisdom, brilliance”
磨/摩 “polish, shine” 李 “Japanese/Chinese plum” 瑛 “crystal”
毬/鞠 “ball” 依 “reliance, dependence”
まり (phonetic)

Popularity:
Used since the Meiji period (1868-1912), it has been a somewhat uncommon feminine name throughout its history. It did not see an uptick in usage until the mid-20th century and even then, it was still fairly uncommon, not going above 0.1%. It wasn’t until around the mid-1980s that Marie rose in popularity, rising above 0.2% and likely entering the top 100 at that point. However, it was short-lived and by 1990, it was given to over 0.19% and it was already out of the top 100. The decrease in usage continued well into the Heisei period (1989-2019) and by 2004, it was given to less than 0.01% of girls with percentage levels stabilising since then.

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

Maiko (まいこ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-ee-ko [má.ì.kò̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The most commonly used form of this name is 舞子, made up of 舞 (mai) meaning “dance” and 子 (ko) meaning “child.” The name coincides with the term for an apprentice geisha, though the word is written in kanji as 舞妓. Kanji in use for the 2-kanji first element of this name include:

ma (ま) i (い)
麻 “hemp, flax” 衣 “clothing”
真 “pure, true” 依 “reliance, dependence”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 以 phonetic kanji
万 “ten thousand” 唯/惟 “only”
磨/摩 “polish, shine” 伊 phonetic kanji
満 “full, whole” 井 phonetic kanji
雅 “refinement, elegance”

Popularity:
Maiko started to be used among the general population in the 1900s amidst an explosion of -ko names, though it was uncommonly used until the 1970s when it started to rise in popularity. In that decade, over 0.3% of girls were given this name, peaking in the 1980s with the percentage of over 0.8%.
By 1990, it was already past its peak with around 0.307% of girls receiving this name, rising slightly to around 0.377% in 1992 before dropping out of the top 100 by 1994 with around 0.204% of girls being given this name in that year. By 2009, the percentage fell to less than 0.03%, remaining this way ever since.

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

Mai (まい)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mah-ee [má.ì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name can be written on its own as 舞 meaning “dance,” 苺 meaning “strawberry” or 毎, which may have been used because of its similarity with 苺, but is usually used as a prefix for “every.”
They can also be used as a first element kanji, which brings us to a table of most two-kanji combinations for Mai:

ma (ま) i (い)
麻 “hemp, flax” 衣 “clothing”
真/眞 “pure, true” 依 “reliance, dependence”
茉 part of 茉莉 (matsuri) “Arabian jasmine” 唯/惟 “only”
万 “ten thousand” 生 “live, exist”
摩 “polish, shine” 伊 phonetic kanji
維 “tie, rope”
以 phonetic kanji
意 “feeling, thought”

Popularity:
The earliest example I can find for this name would be that of a woman born in the last years of the Edo period, in 1865 (Tsunoda did not list Mai in any sections regarding names in pre-modern Japan). The name was very uncommon throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The second half, more specifically, the 1970s onward, would see Mai increase in popularity, reaching the top 5 by the mid-1980s.
By the early years of the Heisei period (1989-2019), in 1990, it was in 4th place with around 1.52% of girls being given this name, peaking in 1992 at around 1.64% (in 2nd). The name continued to rank in the top 10 (or at least continued to be used by more than 1% of girls) throughout the 1990s, being used by around 1.18% of girls (in 5th) in 2000, before dropping down in popularity starting in the early-2000s. By 2004, the percentage dropped by around half and five years later, in 2009, it was only given to around 0.39%, at the bottom section of the top 50.
Right now, based on research from names shown in town magazines and according to Baby Calendar, Mai is outside the top 100.

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