three

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.

Santa (さんた)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: sahn-tah [sã́ǹ.tà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
For the second element of this name, it is usually written as 太 (ta) meaning “plump, thick” with occasional substitutes including 大 (ta) meaning “large, big,” 多 (ta) meaning “many, much” and 汰 (ta) meaning “wash, scour.”
As for the second element, any kanji with the Sino-Japanese reading san can be used, such as 三/参 meaning “three,” 燦 meaning “brilliant, resplendent​,” 山 meaning “mountain,” 賛/讃 meaning “praise, tribute” or 珊, part of 珊瑚 (sango) meaning “coral.” In more recent times, the first element can also be borrowed from the English word sun with 陽, meaning “day; sun,” being the main kanji used there, though other kanji with connotations to the word can be used, e.g. 晴 meaning “clear, fine.”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is rare to very uncommon. In the first half of the Meiji period (1868-1912), usage levels peaked at less than 0.05%, dropping down after that.
With regards to Heisei period (1989-2019) usage, it was given to around 0.001% of boys at the start of the period, rising a little bit from the mid-1990s to the point of usage levels sometimes rising above 0.005%.

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

Chiezō (ちえぞう)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: chee-e–zo: [tɕì.é̞.zó̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Chiezo, Chiezou

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The second element of this name is mainly written as 蔵/藏 (zō) meaning “possession,” though it can also be written as 三 (zō) meaning “three” and 造 (zō) meaning “structure.”
As for the first element, two commonly used kanji combinations there are 千恵 and 智恵. As a word, the latter refers to wisdom, intelligence or sense and can also be written as 知恵 or 智慧 (individually, 智/知 and 恵/慧 have the same meanings). For the former, the first kanji (千) means “thousand.” 恵 can be substituted with other e kanji, like 栄 meaning “glory, prosperity,” 枝 meaning “branch, bough,” 重 meaning “fold, layer” and 江 meaning “inlet, bay.”

Popularity:
Overall usage of this name is rare to very rare with the overall percentage in telephone book data calculated at around 0.0004%. Most of the bearers of this name were born in the Meiji period (1868-1912) or earlier.

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

Mie (みえ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female
Pronunciation: mʸee-e [mʲí.è̞]
Archaic writing: みゑ (Miwe), みへ (Mihe)

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

mi (み) e (え)
美/深 “beauty” 恵/慧 “wisdom”
三 “three” 絵 “picture, drawing”
実/實 “seed; fruit” 枝 “branch, bough”
未 sign of the Sheep; part of 未来 (mirai) “future” 江 “inlet, bay”
見 “looking, viewing” 栄 “glory, prosperity”
珠 “gem, jewel” 衣 “clothing”
弥 “increase” 重 “fold, layer”
英 “wisdom, brilliance”
瑛 “crystal”
依 “reliance, dependence”
詠 “recitation”
映 “reflection”

This name coincides with the word 三重 (mie; also sanjū) meaning “triple, threefold, three-ply, triplicate” (also used in reference to Mie Prefecture).

Popularity:
Usage of this name in the Edo period (1603-1868) was uncommon with percentages under 0.2% based on data from Tsunoda and Collazo. It did not rise above that mark until the Meiji period (1868-1912) and percentages peaked in the early 1920s, topping just over 0.4% and ranking in the 60s.
Falling in popularity from the 1930s, it did not rise again until the 1950s and 1960s with a second peak occurring in the first half of the 1970s. By then, percentages rose above 0.4%, similar to the first peak, and ranking within the lower half of the top 100 before dropping out again by the 1980s. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data and my 2014-20 names research, current yearly percentages have fallen below 0.01%.

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

Renzō (れんぞう)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: ren–dzo: [ɾẽ̞̀ń.dzó̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Renzo, Renzou

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name combines a ren kanji, like 廉 meaning “pure, upright,” 蓮 meaning “lotus,” 連 meaning “lead, join, connect,” 錬 meaning “practice,” 練/煉 meaning “kneading, gloss” and 漣 meaning “ripple,” and 三 (zō) meaning “three,” 蔵/藏 (zō) meaning “possession” or 造 (zō) meaning “structure.”

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is very uncommon to rare with the total percentage of men with this name, based on telephone book data, nearing 0.002%. Regarding its usage over time, it was most commonly used in the Meiji period (1868-1912) with peak percentages at or near 0.01%. After that period, it became rarely used, even more so since the middle of the 20th century.

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

Miroku (みろく)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male, can be female as well
Pronunciation: mʸee-ro–kuu [mʲì.ɾó̞.kɯ̟́ᵝ]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name consists of a mi+roku combination, the first element including such kanji as 実/實 meaning “seed; fruit,” 美 meaning “beauty,” 弥/彌 meaning “increase” or 三 meaning “three.” For the second element, kanji in use there include 緑 meaning “green,” 禄 meaning “stipend, reward” or 六 meaning “six.”
It can also be written as 弥勒, referring to Maitreya, a bodhisattva who is regarding as a future Buddha. However, this writing is very rarely used for this name.

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is rare with percentages not topping above 0.005% at any given time. As far as gender make-up across time is concerned, it was mainly masculine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, given how Miroku was mainly written at the time (mi + 六). By the Heisei period (1989-2019), it became more or less unisex but with a bit more masculine usage.

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

Sasuke (さすけ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: sah-ske [sà.sɨ̥́ᵝ.ké̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is most commonly written as 佐助, both kanji generally refers to assistance, help or support. Other kanji with this reference can also be used in the second element, such as 介, 輔, 丞, etc. As for the first element, any kanji with the reading sa can be used, such as:

  • 咲 meaning “blossom”
  • 沙 meaning “sand”
  • 桜 meaning “cherry (tree, blossom)”
  • 冴 meaning “clarity; skilfulness”
  • 瑳 meaning “polish, shine”
  • 作 meaning “work, production”
  • 彩 meaning “colouring”
  • 紗 meaning “gauze”
  • 颯 meaning “quick, sudden”
  • 三 meaning “three”

Popularity:
This name was most commonly used before the 20th century. Based on Edo period (1603-1868) villager data from Collazo and merchant data compiled by Issendai + passenger lists from before the Second World War, percentages range from just under 0.1% to just over 0.2%.
Regarding its usage from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, it was rarely used throughout the 1990s and 2000s, though it was used slightly more in the latter decade at more or less 0.005%. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my 2014-20 names research, usage of this name had increased somewhat in the second half of the 2010s with an average percentage of more than 0.02%.

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

Shōzō (しょうぞう)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: sho:–zo: [ɕò̞ó̞.zó̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Shozo, Shouzou, Shohzoh

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The second element of this name is mostly written with one of three kanji, 三 (zō) meaning “three,” 蔵/藏 (zō) meaning “possession” or 造 (zō) meaning “structure.” As for the first element, any kanji with the reading shō can be used, such as:

  • 正 meaning “exact, precise”
  • 昭/照 meaning “shine”
  • 省 meaning “saving, conserving​”
  • 昌 meaning “prosperous”
  • 昇 meaning “ascent, climbing”
  • 庄 meaning “manor, villa”
  • 祥 meaning “blessedness, (good) omen”
  • 章 meaning “chapter”
  • 勝 meaning “victory, win”
  • 尚 meaning “reverence, respect”
  • 将 meaning “commander, general”
  • 聖 meaning “sacred, holy”
  • 彰 meaning “clear”

Popularity:
Villager data from Collazo and merchant data suggest low-moderate usage of this name (below 0.2%) in the latter half of the Edo period (1603-1868), mostly in the form 庄蔵. Usage of Shōzō grew in the Meiji period (1868-1912) to well over 0.5% in the 19th century portion.
Though it dropped to over 0.3% in the 1900s, it did increase to over 0.45% in the 1910s, mainly spurred by the increase of 正 as a first element kanji with the commencement of the Taishō (大正) period (1912-1926). 1914, in particular, was when it shot up with 正三 being the most popular form for this name in that year coinciding with the 3rd year of the Taishō period. The same phenomenon would occur 14 years later in 1928 (after decreasing to over 0.35% in the first half of the 1920s) with 昭三 becoming the most popular form in that particular year (3rd year of the Shōwa (昭和) period (1926-1989).
By the 1950s, the name had fallen below the top 100 with the decadal percentage at just over 0.1%, reducing to less than 0.005% by the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019) and remaining below this current threshold since then.

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

Usaburō (うさぶろう)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: uu-sah-buu-ro: [ɯ̟̀ᵝ.sá.bɯ̟̀ᵝ.ɾò̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Usaburo, Usaburou

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The second element of this name, 三郎 (saburō), refers to a third son. As for the first element, any kanji with the reading u can be used, such as 卯/夘, referring to the sign of the Hare or Rabbit, 宇 meaning “eaves, roof” or 右 meaning “right.”

Popularity:
This name had been used in the Edo period (1603-1868) (two examples here), though its lack of presence in the villager and merchant data despite other names beginning with 卯/宇 showing up suggests that it was very uncommonly used back then. Usage did pick up in the Meiji period (1868-1912) to the point it was slightly common though by the Taishō period (1912-1926), it was already on its way down. Today, it is extremely rare for a baby boy.

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

Narumi (なるみ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: nah-ruu–mʸee [nà.ɾɯ̟́ᵝ.mʲí]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The first element of this name is derived mainly from the verb 成/為る (naru) meaning “to become, grow, reach, attain,” to which 也, 徳 meaning “virtue” and 育 meaning “raise, rear, grow up,” among a fair few more are also used. Less commonly, it is also derived from the verb 鳴る (naru) meaning “to sound, ring, resound, echo.” Other ways of writing the first element include the phonetic なる/ナル and a combination of a na kanji, like 奈, 那, 菜 meaning “greens” or 七 meaning “seven,” with a ru kanji, such as 瑠/琉, part of 琉璃/瑠璃 (ruri) meaning “lapis lazuli,” or 留 meaning “stop.”
As for the second element, it can be written 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”
  • 海 meaning “sea, ocean”
  • 珠 meaning “gem, jewel”
  • 弥 meaning “increase”
  • 望 meaning “desire, wish, hope”
  • 見 meaning “looking, viewing”
  • 巳, referring to the sign of the Snake
  • 己, referring to the 6th heavenly stem in Chinese calendar
  • 味 meaning “flavour, taste”
  • 三 meaning “three”

Popularity:
Throughout much of the 20th century, Narumi had been uncommonly used (and slightly more balanced, for that matter, in terms of usage by gender) and it didn’t begin to see a rise in popularity (particularly as a feminine name) until the latter half of the 1980s. This was around the time when the Shōwa period (1926-1989) was in its final years and the history of modern Japan began another new chapter at the start of the Heisei period (1989-2019). In fact, the peak of Narumi’s popularity as a feminine name occurred in the first year of the latter period (1989) when over 0.67% of girls received this name, which is particularly telling given that 成 makes up the second kanji of Heisei, written as 平成.
By 1992, the percentage for girls dropped to just over 0.3%, placing it within the bottom quarter of the top 100 before briefly bouncing back to over 0.45% by 1994. By 1997, it was already out of the top 100 with percentages dropping to just over 0.05% by 2009, below the top 200, and largely stabilising since then. Regarding usage for boys in that time period, it’s really more of a footnote, as percentages then were most below the 0.01% range with a few years where masculine usage crossed above the threshold.

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