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Yosuga (よすが)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Generally unisex
Pronunciation: yo-suu-gah~yo-suu–gah [jó̞.sɨ̀ᵝ.ɡà]~[jò̞.sɨ́ᵝ.ɡá]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 縁 (yosuga) meaning “clue, way, means; relative; reminder, memento.” It is a shift from earlier yosuka, from a combination of archaic verb 寄す (yosu) meaning “to bring near, put close, let come near” and 処 (ka) meaning “place, spot.”
It can also be written as 頼 meaning “reliance, dependence” (from the word tayori) and it can be suffixed with a ga kanji, e.g. 芽 meaning “bud, sprout.”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is very to extremely rare, much of it occurring from the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards.

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

Iro (いろ)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Female, can be male as well
Pronunciation: ee-ro [í.ɾò̞]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
This name is derived from 色 (iro) meaning “colour” with connected kanji including 彩 meaning “colouring,” (shortened from irodori, from 色 + 取り (tori) meaning “taking, collecting”) and 紅, referring to the colour crimson (normally read as kurenai or beni).
Other ways of writing this name involve combining 色 and 彩 together, going both ways, inserting an i or ro kanji to these single kanji (the former before and the latter after) or writing with an i+ro combination. Some of them include:

i (い) ro (ろ)
依 “reliance, dependence” 呂 phonetic kanji
唯/惟 “only” 路 “road, path; way”
衣 “clothing” 蕗 “(giant) butterbur”
伊 phonetic kanji 心 “heart, mind”

Popularity:
Iro was used as a feminine name in the late Edo period (1603-1868), though it was uncommon with an average percentage of around 0.08% based on data from Tsunoda (data from Collazo did not record a single Iro but does count towards the average percentage). It became a rarity from the Meiji period (1868-1912) through to much of the Heisei period (1989-2019) with telephone book data recording 32 people with the phonetic version of Iro (63% in Kyūshū in which 70% live(d) in Kagoshima prefecture).
The name has seen an uptick in usage for both genders starting in the mid-2010s. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data combined with my 2014-20 names research, the average percentage from 2017-2020 is just under 0.03% for girls and over 0.005% for boys.

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

Kanji (かんじ)

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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.

Masayuki (まさゆき)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: mah-sah-yuu-kʸee [mà.sá.jɯ̟̀ᵝ.kʲì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The first element of this name is derived from either 正 (masa) meaning “exact, precise” or the stem of the verb 勝る/優る (masaru) meaning “to excel, surpass, exceed; to outweigh” while the second is mainly written as either 之/行 meaning “way, travel” or 幸 meaning “good luck, happiness.” Other kanji in use for the first element include:

  • 雅 meaning “refinement, elegance”
  • 昌 meaning “prosperous”
  • 政 meaning “rule”
  • 真/眞 meaning “pure, true”
  • 将, see 正
  • 晶 meaning “sparkle, crystal” (may be used for similarity to 昌)
  • 理 meaning “reason, logic”
  • 誠 meaning “truth, reality”

Popularity:
The name saw some usage as an adult name among the upper class before the Meiji period (1603-1868), counting over 25 examples from the Kamakura (1185–1333) to the Edo (1603-1868) periods on the Japanese Wikipedia, two of which also included on the English version (Hoshina and Sanada).
Heading into the latter half of the Meiji period, the name was already within the top 100 among the wider population. This would last well into the early 1990s with a general peak in popularity from the 1950s to the 1970s with percentages at 0.6% or over. By 2000, less than 0.1% of boys received this name and usage of Masayuki slowly fell over the years and decades. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data as well as my preliminary 2014-9 names research, the average percentage for that time frame is calculated at only over 0.03%.

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

Osamu (おさむ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: o-sah–muu [ò̞.sá.mɯ̟́ᵝ]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
The origin of Osamu stems from a combination of the noun 長 (osa) meaning “head, chief, leader” and the verbalising suffix む (mu). Three classical verbs, evolved into modern osameru/osamaru, are all cognates with differing meanings, as shown below along with other kanji used for this name that relate in some form to these verbs (kanji marked with ** can relate to one other verb):

  • 修む (脩む) meaning “to study, cultivate, master”
    • 磨 meaning “polish, shine”
    • 耕 meaning “tilling, cultivation”
    • 為 meaning “growth, reach, attainment”
    • 道 meaning “road, path; way”**
  • 治む meaning “to govern, manage; to subdue”
    • 統 meaning “rule, reign, government”
    • 宰 meaning “chief, head, manager”
    • 司 meaning “office”
    • 吏 meaning “officer”
    • 督/監 meaning “command, supervise”
    • 京 meaning “capital”
    • 税 meaning “tax, duty”**
  • 収む (收む)*/納む meaning “to dedicate; to supply; to store; to finish; to achieve”
    • 道 meaning “road, path; way”**
    • 税 meaning “tax, duty”**

* 攻 is also used for this name, being similar to 収/收, but has a meaning of “attack, assault”

These kanji, though mainly 長, can also be combined with a mu kanji, like 武 meaning “valour, bravery” or 務 meaning “service, duty, task.”

Popularity:
Starting to gain traction in the Meiji period (1868-1912), by the latter half, it was already within the top 100, percentages in the 1900s and 1910s at well over 0.2-3%. From the 1920s to the 1960s, the name maintained its overall usage levels above 0.5% with rankings below or just within the top 50. However, by the 1980s, it fell off below the top 100 and today, it is a rarely used name for baby boys.

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

Kakuya (かくや)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: kah-kuu-yah [ká.kɯ̟̀ᵝ.jà]

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

kaku (かく) ya (や)
覚 “memorising; learning” 也 phonetic kanji*
格 “method, way, style; rule, regulation” 弥/彌 “increase”
角 “angle; square, cube” 哉 phonetic kanji
確 “certain, definite​” 矢 “arrow”
赫 “brightness, brilliance” 耶 phonetic kanji
革 “change; reform”
核 “core, nucleus”
嘉 “praise, esteem” 久 “long time”
可 “acceptable, fair” 九 “nine”
賀 “congratulation”
佳 “beautiful, good”

* can refer to archaic auxiliary verb なり (nari) meaning “to be”

Popularity:
Usage of this name is rare. Telephone book data (with my own calculations) places the overall percentage to be somewhere between 0.0009% and 0.0010%. Examples of this name from FamilySearch and general search results number at less than 30. As far as usage goes for the Heisei period (1989-2019) onwards, it ranges from very rare to nearly non-existent in some years.

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

Anji (あんじ)

Posted on by maybeitisdaijirou

Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male, can be female as well
Pronunciation: ahnʸ-jee [ã́ɲ̟̀.dʑì]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
As a preface to the usual talking points here, female usage of this name seems to be influenced by Angie, the diminutive of Angela (Female Anji as 天使 is found on the ENAMDICT, though no evidence of it being used as such can be found).
For the most part, kanji which can be used for the first element on both genders are 晏 meaning “calm, tranquil,” 杏 meaning “apricot” and 安 meaning “quiet, peaceful” (庵, meaning “hermitage, retreat,” seems to be used exclusively for boys). The second element includes a number of kanji used mainly for either males or females or can be used on either gender:

  • Both genders:
    • 慈 meaning “mercy, affection”
    • 詩 meaning “poem”
    • 路 meaning “road, path; way”
    • 時 meaning “time”
  • Mainly female usage:
    • 蒔 meaning “sowing, planting”
    • 樹 meaning “tree”
    • 紫 meaning “purple, violet”
    • 心 meaning “heart, mind”
  • Mainly male usage:
    • 士°/侍, referring, in this case, to a man° or samurai
    • 滋 meaning “nourishment​”
    • 志 meaning “will, aim, goal”
    • 嗣 meaning “heir, successor”
    • 詞 meaning “words, writing”
    • 司 meaning “office”
    • 獅 meaning “lion”
    • 次 meaning “next”
    • 二 meaning “two”
    • 治 meaning “cure; management”
    • 史 meaning “history”

Popularity:
The name had been in use as a rare masculine name in the Meiji period (1868-1912), though by the Heisei period (1989-2019), it began seeing use among females as well. Initially rare among both genders in the first half of the 1990s, by the mid-2010s, usage of this name increased with over 0.02% of boys and over 0.01% of girls receiving this name from 2014-8 according to my preliminary names research for that time period.

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

Michiya (みちや)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: mʸee-chee-yah [mʲí.tɕì.jà]

Etymology and/or ways to write:
For the first element, the main kanji is 道 (michi) meaning “road, path; way” (also written as 路, 途 and 径 + 迪). Other single kanji in use include 通 meaning “avenue, street, way, road,” 理 meaning “reason, logic,” 満/充, from the verb michiru meaning “to be full; to mature” and 導, from michibiki meaning “guidance,” itself likely derived from 道 combined with 引き (hiki) meaning “pull, patronage, influence.”
The first element can also be split into two kanji, with a mi kanji like 美 meaning “beauty,” 三 meaning “three” and 実 meaning “seed; fruit” and a chi kanji such as 智/知 meaning “wisdom” and 千 meaning “thousand.” As for the second element, it can be written as:

  • 也, a phonetic kanji but can refer to the archaic auxiliary verb なり (nari) meaning “to be”
  • 哉, a phonetic kanji
  • 弥/彌 meaning “increase”
  • 矢 meaning “arrow”
  • 陽 meaning “day; sun”
  • 八 meaning “eight”

Popularity:
Overall usage for this name is uncommon. When comparing levels of usage by decade, it peaked in the 1960s with over 0.02% of boys receiving this name in that decade. Regarding Heisei period (1989-2019), no less than 0.01% of boys were given this name in any year of that period.

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

Shidō (しどう)

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Sources Pronunciation guide

(Main) gender: Male
Pronunciation: shee-do: [ɕí.dò̞ː]
Variant transliterations: Shido, Shidou

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

shi (し) dō (どう)
志 “will, aim, goal” 道 “road, path; way”
獅 “lion” 童 “child”
士°/侍 “man°; samurai” 堂 “hall”
史 “history” 瞳 “pupil (of eye)”
詩 “poem” 桐 “paulownia tree”
師 “teacher, master” 憧 “longing, yearning”
紫 “purple, violet” 導 “guid(anc)e”
司 “office” 登 “ascent”
嗣 “heir, successor” 冬 “winter”
時 “time”
思 “thought”
蒔 “sowing, planting”
示 “lesson, example”
資 “fund, capital”
治 “cure; management”

Popularity:
Although this name was used before the 21st century, it didn’t gain any prominent usage until 2002 when kabuki actor Nakamura Shidō II appeared in the film ‘Ping Pong’ as ‘Dragon’. From there, the name would be given to 0.02% of boys or more for most years.
The name seemed to have peaked in 2004 with around 0.04% of boys being given this name before dropping to around 0.025% by 2008. The name jumped back up to just under 0.04% in 2009. Based on Baby Calendar rankings data along with my preliminary 2014-9 names research, average percentage levels for that time time frame fell a bit to over 0.02%.

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

Old school -ko names still in use today

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Sources Pronunciation guide

This list post is kind of like the feminine equivalent to the previous list post I’ve done, which was about the top masculine names of the 1960s derived from a “word” which is still being used today. The -ko names given to baby girls today are usually 2 moras altogether (such as Riko, Ako and Mako) as opposed to those containing 3 (or 4 smooshed into 3*) moras used for most of the 20th century (like Yoshiko, Keiko and Junko*), so no, the -ko trend did not “disappear.” It evolved.
For a -ko name to appear on this list, it needs to be given to 0.2% of girls or more in the 1920s AND 1930s, based on research conducted via FamilySearch, and that it needs to appear on my preliminary research into names given to babies born from 2014-8. All of the 10 names shown here are ranked from most popular downward, though it’s worth noting that they are all given to less than 0.05% of babies born within that time period.
Starting things off is:

  1. Haruko – the first element of this name is most commonly written as 春, referring to the spring season, with other common kanji including 治 meaning “govern, manage” and 晴 meaning “clear, fine.”
  2. Aiko – by far, the most common kanji for the first element of this name is 愛 meaning “love, affection,” though it can also be written as 藍 (having a native reading as opposed to Sino-Japanese 愛) meaning “indigo.”
  3. Yuriko – for this next name, 百合 is the most commonly used writing for the first element and it refers to the lily. The name can also be written with a variety of kanji read as yu and ri for which, go to the ‘List of names’ page and find names containing these readings for more options.
  4. Ayako – the most common kanji for the first element of this name is 綾 meaning “figure, design,” though other kanji with similar meanings or connotations can be used, such as 文, 絢, 斐 and 彩, the last one meaning “colouring.”
  5. Kyōko – most commonly written as 京 meaning “capital,” it can also be written with other kanji having the Sino-Japanese reading kyō, like 恭 meaning “respect, revere,” 教 meaning “teaching, doctrine” and 香 meaning “fragrance.”
  6. Akiko – this name is most commonly written with kanji which have meanings related to brightness and clarity with extensions to other concepts, such as 明, 昭 and 彰. 秋, which means “autumn” is also used, as well as kanji containing the readings a and ki.
  7. Keiko – the first element of this name is most commonly written as 恵 meaning “wisdom.” Other kanji having the Sino-Japanese reading kei include 慶 meaning “delight, pleasure,” 敬 meaning “reverence, respect” and 桂, which refers to the katsura tree.
  8. Kimiko – the most common kanji for this name are 公 and 君, referring to a monarch or ruler. It can also be written with kanji containing the readings ki and mi.
  9. Michiko – this name is most commonly written as either 美智 or 美知 with 美 meaning “beauty” and 智/知 meaning “wisdom.” It can also be written as 道 meaning “road, path; way,” as well as other kanji with similar meanings to this or, in multiple combinations, containing the readings mi and chi.
  10. Noriko – the final name of this list is commonly written as 紀 meaning “account, chronicle,” 典 meaning “rule, law,” 徳 meaning “virtue” or 法 meaning “law, act.”

What do you think? If you would like to add in your thoughts or other suggestions for this list, please share them in the comments below.