Kagura (かぐら)
Sources | Pronunciation guide |
(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: kah-guu-rah [ká.ɡɯ̟̀ᵝ.ɾà]
Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name comes from the word 神楽 (kagura), referring to ancient Shintō music and dancing, derived via sound shifts from a combination of 神 (kamu), an old compounded form of kami, referring to a spirit or essence, and 座 (kura), referring to a seat or a high place. That compound was used to refer to the place used to call down the kami to earth with a miko acting as its medium.
Other kanji in use for this name include:
1st element | 2nd element |
楽* see above | 羅 “thin silk, gauze” |
華 “flower” | 空 “sky” |
輝 “brightness, brilliance” | 良 “good” |
馨/芳 “fragrance” | 倉 “warehouse, storehouse” |
嘉 “praise, esteem” | 椋 “scabrous aphananthe/muku tree” |
榎 “Japanese hackberry” |
* also used as a 2nd element kanji
Popularity:
Much of its usage is concentrated on people born since the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019). In 1990, it was given to, at most, 0.001% of girls and boys, remaining that way for much of the 1990s. By 2009, over 0.004% of girls and over 0.002% of boys received this name. According to Baby Calendar rankings data and my preliminary 2014-9 names research, usage continued to increase (at least for girls) in that time period, being used by over 0.01% of girls (boy usage is likely stagnant).
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