Japanese Female Names

SHADOWINGS
BY LAFCADIO HEARN
LECTURER ON ENGLISH LITERATURE IN
THE IMPERIAL UNIVERSITY. TOKYO. JAPAN
AUTHOR OF "EXOTICS AND RETROSPECTIVES," "IN GHOSTLY JAPAN." ETC., ETC.
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER &
Dry Jen House, 43 Gerrard Street
1905
CO., LTD.
Japanese Female
Names
i
the
BY
Japanese a certain kind of
haps
"
my
queen-rose of
girl
is
Bara-Musume. Per-
called a Rose-Girl,
reader will think of Tennyson's
the rosebud -garden of girls,"
and imagine some analogy between the Japanese
and the English idea of femininity symbolized
by the rose. But there is no analogy whatever.
The Bara-Musume is not so called because she
is
delicate
and sweet, nor because she blushes,
nor because she
is
rosy
;
indeed, a rosy face
is
not admired in Japan.
No she is compared to
a rose chiefly for the reason that a rose has
;
thorns.
rose
is
The man who
tries to pull
likely to hurt his fingers.
win a Bara-Musume
much more seriously,
tries to
self
105
is
a Japanese
The man who
apt to hurt him-
even unto death.
106
Shadowings
It were better, alone and unarmed, to meet a tiger
than to invite the caress of a Rose-Girl.
Now
Bara-Musume
the appellation of
more
rational as a simile than
floral
comparisons
cause
it is
can seem strange only beaccord with our poetical usages
not in
and emotional
of
many
much
our own
habits.
It
is
one
in a
thousand
possible examples of the fact that Japanese sim-
and metaphors are not of the
iles
who
runs
may
And
read.
sort that he
this fact is particularly
well exemplified in iheyobina, or personal
names
women.
Because a yobina happens
to be identical with the name of some tree, or
of Japanese
bird, or flower,
does not follow that the per-
it
sonal appellation conveys to Japanese imagination
ideas resembling those
English
which the corresponding
word would convey, under
stances, to English imagination.
seem to us
that
Of
circum-
like
the yobina
especially beautiful in translation,
only a small number are bestowed for aesthetic
reasons.
persons
named
Nor
still
is
it
;
Some
many
after flowers, or graceful shrubs, or other
beautiful objects.
use
correct to suppose, as
do, that Japanese girls are usually
/Esthetic
appellations
but the majority of yobina are not
years ago a
young
are in
aesthetic.
Japanese scholar pub-
Japanese Female Names
lished
an interesting essay upon
107
this subject.
He
had collected the personal names of about four
hundred students of the Higher Normal School
for Females,
pire
fifty
from every
girls
and he found on
;
part of the
his list
and sixty names possessing
Em-
only between
aesthetic quality.
But concerning even these he was careful to
" caused an
observe only that they
aesthetic sennot that they had
sation,"
aesthetic reasons.
as
Among
been given for
them were such names
Saki (Cape), Mine (Peak), Kisbi (Beach),
Hama
Kuni
(Shore),
(Capital),
Tsuru (Stork), Ta%u
place-names;
Stork) and Chi^u (Thousand
such appellations as Yosbino
Field),
Few
Masago (Sand).
(Ricefield
Storks)
,
Orino (Weavers'
originally
;
also
Field),
(Fertile
ShirusU (Proof), and
of these could seem
Western mind and probably no
one of them was originally given for aesthetic
aesthetic to a
reasons.
"
"
Stork
;
Names
are
containing the character for
names having
reference to longev-
and a large number of names
ity, not to beauty
"
with the termination " no
(field or plain) are
;
names
referring
whether even
really aesthetic.
to
fifteen
A
moral
per
very
qualities.
cent
much
I
doubt
of yobina are
larger proportion
108
are
Shadowings
names expressing moral or mental
qualities.
Tenderness, kindness, deftness, cleverness, are fre-
quently represented by yobina ; but appellations
implying physical charm, or suggesting aesthetic
ideas only, are comparatively
reason for the fact
names
One
uncommon.
be that very aesthetic
may
are given to geisha and to joro, and conse-
But the chief reason cer-
quently vulgarized.
that the domestic virtues
still occupy in
moral
not
less imporestimate
a
Japanese
place
tant than that accorded to religious faith in the
tainly
is
own
Middle Ages. Not in theory only,
but in every-day practice, moral beauty is placed
life
of our
far above physical beauty
;
and
selected as wives, not for their
their
domestic
sidered
classes,
in
it
the
best
would
good looks, but for
Among
qualities.
classes a very aesthetic
girls are usually
name would
the
middle
not be con-
among the poorer
be
scarcely
thought respectable.
taste
;
Ladies of rank, on the other hand, are privileged
names ; yet the majority
of the aristocratic yobina also are moral rather
to bear very poetical
than
aesthetic.
But the
first
study of yobina
great difficulty in the
is
way
of a
the difficulty of translating
Japanese Female Names
them.
A
knowledge of spoken Japanese can
A
you very little indeed.
Chinese also is indispensable.
help
name
109
written in
kana only,
cannot
characters,
be,
in
knowledge of
The meaning of a
in the
most
Japanese
even
cases,
guessed at. The Chinese characters of the name
can alone explain it. The Japanese essayist, al-
ready referred to, found himself obliged to throw
out no less than thirty-six names out of a list
of two hundred
and
simply because
been recorded only in
thirteen,
these thirty-six, having
Kana give only
and the pronunciation of a
kana, could not be interpreted.
the pronunciation
woman's name
cases.
;
explains nothing in a majority of
Transliterated into Romaji, a
yobina may
signify two, three, or even half-a-dozen different
things.
list
One
(the plant)
it
names thrown out of the
Banha might signify "Mint"
which would be a pretty name but
of the
was Banka.
,
might also
;
mean " Evening-haze."
Yuka,
another rejected name, might be an abbreviation
of Yukabutsu, " precious " but it might just as
" a floor."
well mean
Nochi, a third example,
"
"
future
might signify
yet it could also mean
" a
and
various
other things.
descendant,"
My
;
;
reader will be able to find
many other homonyms
110
Shadowings
names given further on. Ai in
"
"
for
love
instance, may signify either
Romaji,
"
"
"
or " indigo-blue ;
suCbo, a butterfly," or
in the lists of
"
"
"
or
sagacious
"
"
"
either
or
revKei,
blooming
rapture
"
"
"
erence
native home
or
;
Sato, either
"
"
"
"
"
or
arrowTosbi, either
sugar ;
year
"
"
"
" falhead ;
Taka,
tall,"
honorable," or
"
perior," or
long
Ei, either
;
"
"
;
con."
The
chief, and, for the present, insuperable
obstacle to the use of
Japanese,
is
Roman
letters in writing
number of homonyms
You need only glance into any
the prodigious
in the language.
good Japanese- English dictionary to understand
the gravity of this obstacle.
Not to multiply
examples,
shall
I
merely observe that there are
nineteen words spelled cho
hi;
;
twenty-one spelled
and no less
twenty-five spelled to or to;
than forty-nine spelled ko or ho.
Yet, as
I
have already suggested, the real signiwoman's name cannot be ascertained
fication of a
even from a
literal
translation
help of the Chinese characters.
made with
the
Such a name,
for instance, as
Kagami (Mirror) really signifies
the Pure-Minded, and this not in the Occidental,
but in the Confucian sense of the term.
Ume
Japanese Female Names
111
(Plum-blossom) is a name referring to wifely
devotion and virtue. Matsu (Pine) does not
refer, as
an appellation, to the beauty of the
but to the fact that
its
evergreen foliage
tree,
is
the
age. The name Take (Bama child only because the bamboo
emblem of vigorous
boo) is given to
has been for centuries a symbol of good -fortune.
The name Sen (Wood-fairy) sounds charmingly to
Western fancy yet
;
it
expresses nothing
the parents' hope of long
for their daughter
life
wood -fairies
and her offspring,
to live for thousands of years.
names
.
.
being supposed
.
are of so strange a sort that
ble to discover their
more than
Again,
it is
many
impossi-
meaning without questioning
and sometimes all
either the bearer or the giver
;
inquiry proves vain, because the original meaning
has been long forgotten.
Before attempting to go further into the subject, I shall here offer a translation of the Tokyo
essayist's
list
of names,
rearranged in alpha-
betical order, without honorific prefixes or suffixes.
Although some
classes of
are not represented, the
the character of
also to
I
many
list
still
illustrate several
common names
will serve to
show
popular yobina, and
of the facts to which
have already called attention.
112
Shadowings
SELECTED NAMES OF STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
OF THE HIGHER NORMAL SCHOOL FOR
FEMALES (1880-1895):-
...
...
Ai
Ai
Akasuki
Asa
Asa
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Au
.
.
.
Bun
.
.
.
.
.
Cbika
Cbitosi
.
.
Cbiyo
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Cbipt
CbS
CbS
...
...
Ei
Ei
Etsu
.
.
.
Fudi
.
.
.
Fuji
.
.
.
Fuji
.
.
.
Fuki
.
.
.
Fuku
.
.
.
so named.
.....
..........
Helper") ......
the color)
("Indigo,"
1
(" Shallow ")"i
2
2
.........
.........
("Meeting") .........
("Composition"
("Near")* ..........
("A Thousand Years") ......
("A Thousand Generations")
("Thousand Storks") ......
.........
("Superior") .........
.........
("Clever")
........
("Blooming")
.........
.......
mountain) .....
.......
name
Nardosmia
.........
.......
Good-fortune
("Letter")* .........
........
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
("Butterfly")
("Delight")
("
Writing-brush ")
("Fuji,"
the
("Wistaria-flower")
of a plant,
("Fuki,"
")
("
("Letter-field")
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
5
1
Probably a place-name originally.
"
"
Might we not quaintly say. A Fair Writing ?
"
"
but not
Probably in the sense of near and dear
4
1
in the literary sense) a
Japonica)
Fumi.
Fumino
1
("Love")
("The Bright
("Morning")
Fumi
signifies here
a
letter written
certainly so.
by a woman only
written according to the rules of feminine epistolary style.
a
letter
Japanese Female Names
..........
..........
Hama
("Shore") ..........
Hana
("Blossom") .........
HaruS
Bay") ......
Hatsu
.......
("The
Hide
.........
Hide.
.........
........
Long
.........
("Market")
("Nourishing") ........
.......
("Stone") ..........
Ho ... ("Thread") .........
Iwa
("Rock") ..........
.......
/... ("The Obedient")
.........
("Mirror")
Kagami
ATama
..........
Kame
.........
Fusa
.
.
.
("Tassel")
3
Gin
.
.
.
("Silver")
2
.
.
3
.
.
3
.
.
("Spring-time
First-born")
.
.
.
.
(" Excellent ")
.
.
("Fruitful")
Hisano
.
.
("
lebi
.
.
.
.
Iku
.
.
.
Ine
.
.
.
Isbi
.
.
.
.
.
Plain ")
("Springing Rice")
.
1
.
Kameyo
Kan
Kana
.
.
3
3
1
4
1
1
3
.
.
("Sickle")
1
.
.
("Tortoise")
2
.
.
(" Generations-of-the-Tortoise")
.
.
("The Forbearing")
.
.
("Character"
character)
Kane.
1
2
4
2
2
4
.
.
("Bronze")
2
.
.
......
........
3
1
11
in the sense of written
4
.........
2
3
to be obedient unto death.
The word fun has a
stronger signification than that which attaches to our word
"
obedience in these modern times.
i
Jun suru means
much
"
*
The tortoise is supposed to live for a thousand years.
"
"
3 Abbreviation of
kannin,
self-control," etc.
forbearance,"
The
name might equally well be translated " Patience."
* Kana
the characters with
signifies the Japanese syllabary,
which the language is written. The reader may imagine, if he wishes,
that the name signifies the Alpha and Omega of all feminine charm
;
but
I
confess that
nation of it
8
I
have not been able
to find
any satisfactory expla-
Shadow! ngs
114
Katsu
2
("Victorious")
.
.
Ka^asbi
.
.
Ka{u
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
("Humility")
1
.
.
.
("
Chrysanthemum ")
("Chrysanthemum-branch").
6
Ka
'
Ken
Kiku
Kiku*
.
.
Kikuno
.
.
Kimi
Kin
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kinu
.
Kisbi
or any ornament
("Hair-pin,"
in the hair)
i.e.,"
("Number,"
("The Respectful")
.
.
.
1
("Gold")
4
I
.
.
("Cloth-of-Silk")
1
.
.
("Beach")
(" Happy Generations ")
2
5
.
.
.
.
.
(" Pure ")
Ko
.
.
.
("
.
.
.
("Filial
.
.
.
("The Fine")
.
.
("Filly")
.
.
("
.
.
.
.
("Koto,"
("Bear")
Kumt
.
.
("Braid")
Kiuri.
.
.
r Capital,"
.
.
("Province")
Kunf.
Kura.
Kurano
Kuri .
1
3
1
.
Koto .
Kitma
.
Chrysanthemum-field ")
("Sovereign")
Kiyo
Koma
Komi
1
number")
("
Kiyo
K5
KO
great
worn
the
Chime,"
sound of a
1
bell)
.
.
1
11
Piety")
1
1
1
Cleaned Rice ")
the Japanese harp)
...
4
1
1
chief city)
1
3
.
.
("Treasure-house")
1
.
.
("Storehouse-field")
1
.
.
("Chestnut")
1
Kima
.
.
("Mulberry-tree")
1
Masa
.
.
(" Straightforward,"
upright)
...
3
Masago
.
.
("Sand")
1
Masu
.
.
("Increase")
3
.
.
("
.
.
("Pine")
Masui
Matsu
Branch-oMncrease ")
1
2
Japanese Female Names
11
Matsu'i
.
.
("Pine-branch")
1
Micbi
.
.
("The Way,"
4
Mi8
.
Miki'i
doctrine)
Branch ")
1
.
.
(" Triple
.
.
("Main-branch")
("Peak")
2
S
1
Mini.
.
.
Mitsu
.
.
("Light")
Mitsui!
.
.
("Shining Branch")
Moris
.
.
("Service-Bay")
The Midmost
1
Naka
.
.
("
Nami
.
.
("Wave")
.
.
("Fidelity")
.
.
("TheProlonger")
.
.
("Lengthening-branch")
Nobu.
Nobu.
NobuV
Nut .
Orino
Raku.
Ren
Riku .
Roku .
.
6
.
("Tapestry,"
.
("Weaving-Field")
or,
.
.
("Pleasure")
.
.
("The Arranger")
2
Embroidery)
1
.
.
.
ground)
.
.
("
.
.
("Emolument")
("Dragon")
1
("Lofty")
3
.
.
.
RyU
.
.
.
Soda
.
.
.
Saki
.
.
.
Saku
.
.
.
Sato
.
.
.
8
("The Chaste")
promontory)
8
("Composition")
native place)
(" Home,"
("Marsh")
Sawa.
.
.
.
.
.
("Force")
Seki
.
.
.
("Barrier,"
The word
1
1
("Cape,"
Set
1
1
.
Rj>5
time,
2
4
")
.
Land,"
i
1
"
service
"
3
2
1
1
city-gate, toll-gate, etc.)
.
3
here refers especially to attendance at meal-
to the serving of rice, etc.
Perhaps in the hopeful meaning of extending the family-line ; but
more probably in the signification that a daughter's care prolongs the
life
of her parents, or of her husband's parents.
3 Abbreviation of
a
sahubun,
literary composition.
116
Shadowings
("Fairy")'
.
tender and true)
("True,"
....
1
("The Calmer")
("Peace")
("Two-fold")
("Deer")
2
2
2
("Deer-Inlet")
("The Clasp,"
("Truth")
3
2
fastening)
....
("Goods")
("Virtue")
("Slender
Bamboo")
The Proof,"
evidence)
(" The Excellent ")
("The Last")
("
("Cedar,"
cryptomeria)
("Forsaken,"
foundling)
1
Little Bells")
1
("Honor")
2
9
Bamboo
1
")
("For-the-Sake-of
of
all
"
1
("Exquisite")
1
1
("Ring")
As a matter
1
1
8
("
1
....
....
("Little Bell")
("Jewel")
sen." or
1
2
("Tin")
("Branch of
("Lofty")
"
....
")
3
("Valley")
1
("Ricefield-Stork")
1
we have no English equivalent for the word
signifying a being possessing magical powers
of fact,
sennin."
kinds and living for thousands of years. Some authorities conunnin of Indian origin, and probably derived from old
sider the belief in
traditions of the Rishi.
Japanese Female Names
Tetsu
.
.
Toku
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tomt
Tomi
Tomju
Tomo
117
4
("Iron")
("Virtue")
cease)
("Stop,"
("Riches")
2
1
1
3
Wealth-and-Longevity")
....
1
.
.
("
.
.
("The Friend")
4
Tora.
.
.
("Tiger")
1
Tosbi
.
.
.
.
("Arrowhead")
("Abundance")
3
.
.
Toyo
.
Tsugf
(" Next,"
1
second
i. e.,
in
order
of
2
birth)
....
Tsuna
.
.
("
Bond,"
Tsune
.
.
("
The Constant,"
say, Constance)
10
Tsuru
.
.
4
Ume
.
.
("Stork")
("Plum-blossom")
.
rope, or fetter)
Plumtree-spray
or, as
.
.
("
Umeno
.
.
(" Plumtree-field ")
Urano
.
Usbi
.
.
Ufa
.
.
Wakana
.
.
.
1
.
.
1
)
2
("Shore-field")
1
("Cow," -or Ox) 2
or Song)
(" Poem,"
1
Young Na,"
probably the
1
.
("
.
("Eight-fold")
1
("The Tranquil")
1
plant
Yaf .
Yasu.
1
"
Umega'i
1
we should
.
is
referred to)
rape1
Such a name may signify that the parents resolved, after the birth
have no more children.
extraordinary name is probably to be explained as a refer-
of the girl, to
2 This
ence to date of
birth.
According to the old Chinese astrology, years,
months, days, and hours were all named after the Signs of the Zodiac,
and were supposed to have some mystic relation to those signs. I surmise that Miss Ushi was born at the Hour of the Ox, on the Day of the
"
Usbi no Tosbi
Ox, in the Month of the Ox and the Year of the Ox
HO Usbi no Tsuki no Usbi no Hi no Usbi no Koku."
118
YS
Shadowings
.
.
.
("
The
Positive,"
as
opposed to Neg-
ative or Feminine in the old Chinese
philosophy
Yoni
.
.
.
("
.
.
("The Good")
Yosbino.
.
("
Good
Yff
.
.
("
The
.
.
("Lily")
Yosbi
.
Yuri
It
therefore,
perhaps,
1
.
4
1
1
Field")
Valiant ")
1
1
.
will be observed that in the
above
list
the
referring to Constancy, Forbearance, and
names
Filial
;
Masculine)
in the old sense of wealth)
Rice,"
Piety have the
highest
numbers attached
to them.
II
A FEW
more important rules in regard to
Japanese female names must now be mentioned.
The great majority of these yobina are words
Personal names of respectof two syllables.
able
of the
women, belonging
to the middle and lower
classes,
are
in cases
where the name
nearly always
curious suffixes which
on.
Formerly a
name
I
is
dissyllables
except
lengthened by
certain
shall
speak of further
of three or
more
syllables
indicated that the bearer belonged to a superior
But, even among the upper classes to-day,
female names of only two syllables are in fashion.
class.
Japanese Female Names
the
Among
female
name
it
people
119
customary that a
is
of two syllables should be
pre-
ceded by the honorific " O," and followed by the
"
" the Honorable
title
as O-Matsu San,
San,"
Miss [or Mrs.] Pine"; O-Ume San, "the Hon1
orable Miss Plum-blossom."
But if the name
happen to
"O"
is
have three
not
syllables,
the
honorific
A woman named Kikue
used.
Chrysanthemum -Branch ") is not addressed
as
O-Kikue San," but only as " Kikue San."
"
Before the names of ladies, the honorific
O"
("
"
is
no longer used
name
consists of
Instead of
syllable only.
the prefix, an honorific suffix
yobina,
even when the
as formerly,
one
the suffix ho.
A
is
appended to the
named
peasant girl
Tomi would be addressed by her equals as
O- Tomi San. But a lady of the same name
would be addressed
as
Tomiko.
Mrs. Shimoda,
head-teacher of the Peeresses' School, for ex-
ample, has the beautiful name Uta. She would
be addressed by letter as " Shimoda Utako," and
would so sign
herself in replying
;
the family-
1
Under certain conditions of intimacy, both prefix and
They are dropped also by the superior
for example, a lady would not
addressing an inferior;
title
in
are dropped.
address her maid as "
O-Yone San," but merely
as
"
Yoiie."
120
Shadowings
name, by Japanese custom, always preceding the
name, instead of being,
personal
placed after
it.
This suffix ho
character
with us,
as
is
with
written
meaning "child,"
and
the
Chinese
must not be
confused with the word ko, written with a different Chinese
character,
which so often appears
1
girls.
and meaning
"little,"
names of dancing
in the
should venture to say that this genteel
has the value of a caressing diminutive,
and that the name Aiko might be fairly well
"
"
Amoretta of Spenser's Faerie
rendered by the
suffix
Be
Queene.
this
as
it
may, a Japanese lady
named Setsu or Soda would
not be addressed
O-Setsu or O-Sada, but as
days
Setsuko or Sadako. On the other hand, if a
these
in
woman
Setsuko
as
of the people were to sign herself as
or Sadako, she would certainly be
would give to her
appellation the meaning of "the Lady Setsu,"
or "the Lady Sada."
laughed
I
since the suffix
at,
"
have said that the honorific
before the yobina of
lower
classes.
women
O"
is placed
of the middle and
Even the wife of a kurumaya
"
Honorreferred to as the
would probably be
able
Mrs.
Such-a-one."
But
there
are
very
Names
Japanese Female
121
remarkable exceptions to this general rule regard"
O." In some country -districts
the common yobina of two syllables is made a
ing the prefix
by the addition of a peculiar suffix
and before such trisyllabic names the "O" is
trisyllable
;
never placed. For example, the girls of Wakayama, in the Province of Kii, usually have
added to their yobina the
"
"bay,"
"inlet,"
Thus we
Bay
"),
SUfue
(" Jewel-Bay ").
is
names
as
Namie
"
Wave-
Again there
no" meaning
certain
districts.
Tamae
("Quiet-Bay"),
"
field
"
or
a provincial
is
"
plain,"
attached to the majority of female
Umeno
("
Tomie (" Riches-Bay "), Sumi'e (" Dwell-
ing-Bay"),
suffix
"e," signifying
sometimes "river."
frith,"
find such
J
suffix
Yosbino
("Fertile
which
names
in
Field"),
(" Plumflower Field "), Sbi^uno (" Quiet
Urano (" Coast Field "), Utano (" Song
A girl
Field"), are typical names of this class.
called Namie or Kikuno is not addressed as
Field "),
"O-Namie" San" or "O-Kikuno San," but
Namie San," " Kikuno San."
as
"
1
This suffix must not be confused with the suffix "
signifying
ular
"
names.
cannot
branch," which
is
Without seeing the
decide whether
the
g,"
also attached to
many popChinese character, you
name Tama2,
means "Jewel-branch" or "Jewel
Inlet."
for example,
122
Shadowings
"San"
(abbreviation of
Sama,
a
word
origi-
meaning "form," "appearance"), when
placed after a female name, corresponds to either
"
" Mrs."
our " Miss
or
Placed after a man's
nally
name
it
"
has at least the value of our
Mr. ",
perhaps even more.
Sama
is
placed
after
The unabbreviated form
the names of high per-
sonages of either sex, and after the names of
the Shinto Gods are styled the Kamidivinities
"
which
Sama,
might be translated as the Lords
:
"
the Bodhisattva Jizo is called Ji^oSupreme
" the Lord Jizo." A
Sama,
lady may also be
A
called
"Sama."
Ayako, for inlady
styled
;
might
Ayako Sama.
stance,
very properly be addressed as
But when a lady's name, inde-
pendently of the suffix, consists of more than
three syllables,
is
it
customary to drop either
Thus " the Lady Ayamd "
would not be spoken of as " Ayameko Sama,"
"
l
but more euphoniously as
Ayame Sama," or
the ko or the
as
title.
"
Ayameko."
So much having been
said
1
"
Ayam Sama,"
however,
is
regards the
as
etiquette of prefixes and suffixes,
I
shall
now
rather familiar; and this
form cannot be used by a stranger in verbal
though a letter may be directed with the name so
As a rule, the ko is the more respectful form.
address,
written.
Japanese Female Names
beattempt a classification of female names,
These
will
with
be
yobina.
popular
ginning
found particularly
because they reflect something of race-feeling in the matter of
ethics and aesthetics, and because they serve to
curious facts relating to Japanese cus-
illustrate
The
tom.
interesting,
first
place
purely moral meaning,
I
have given to names of
usually bestowed in the
hope that the children will grow up worthy of
But the lists should in no case be re-
them.
they are only representative.
must confess my inability to ex-
garded as complete
Furthermore,
I
:
plain the reason of
as
much
many names, which proved
of riddles to Japanese friends as to
myself.
NAMES OF VIRTUES AND PROPRIETIES
O-Ai
"Love."
O-Cbis
"Intelligence."
O-Cbu
"
O-Jin
"Tenderness,"
O-Jun
O-Kaiy5
"Faithful-to-death."
....
O-Ken
Loyalty."
humanity.
"Forgiveness,"
pardon.
in the sense of
"Wise,"
discernment.
"
O-Ko
O-Masa
.
O-Miclri
....
Misao
"
.
.
.
Filial
Piety."
Righteous."
"The Way,"
"Honor,"
just.
doctrine.
wifely fidelity.
moral
Shado wings
124
"The
O-Nao
O-Nobu
....
"
"
O-Rei
The
honest
Upright,"
Faithful."
in the old
Propriety,"
Chinese
sense.
O-Retsu
....
"
O-Sada
Chaste and True."
" The
Generous,"
magnanimous.
"
The Chaste."
O-Sei
"Truth."
O-Sbin
"Faith,"
O-RyO
in the
sense of
fidelity,
trust.
O-Sbiyt
O-Setsu
O-TanU
....
....
.
.
.
"
The Tranquil,"
"
.
Fidelity,"
"
calm-souled.
wifely virtue.
name sug-
a
For-the-sake-of,"
gesting unselfishness.
"The
O-Tei
meaning of
in the
Docile,"
virtuous obedience.
O-Toku
O-Tomo
O-Tsuni
O-Yasu
O-Yosbi
O-Yosbi
....
....
....
....
....
....
The next
list
"Virtue."
"The
Friend,"
especially
in
the
meaning of mate, companion.
"Constancy."
" The
Amiable,"
gentle.
"The Good"
" The
Respectful"
will
heterogeneous than
appear at
it
really
first
is.
It
sight
more
contains a
larger variety of appellations than the previous
all of the yobina refer to some
the parents trust that the
which
good quality
list
;
child
but nearly
will display, or to
some
future happiness
which they hope that she will deserve.
To
the
Names
Japanese Female
latter
category belong such names of felicitation
Miyo and Masayo.
as
MISCELLANEOUS NAMES EXPRESSING PERSONAL
QUALITIES, OR PARENTAL HOPES
O-Atsu
O-Cbika
O-Cbika
....
.
.
.
"
The Generous,"
"
Closely Dear."
"
Thousand Rejoicings."
.
"The Long,"
O-Cbd
ence to
O-Dai
O-Den
liberal.
probably in refer-
life.
"Great."
"
Transmission,"
bequest
from
ancestors, tradition.
O-E
"Fortunate."
O-Ei
"Prosperity."
O-En
O-En
"Charm."
O-Etsu
"Surpassing."
"
O-Etsit
O-Fuku
O-Gen
O-Haya
.
.
.
....
O-Hiro
O-Hisa
Isamu
spring, fountain.
The Quick,"
light,
The Long. "(?)
"The Vigorous,"
"
nimble.
.
.
.
.
....
"
"
spirited, robust.
Superexcellent."
Generations-of-the-Tortoise."
The Doubly-Accomplished."
From the strange verb kaneru,
time.
Luck."
"Source,"
"
merry, joyous.
Playful,"
"
O-Jin
1
Good
Superior."
"
Superior Generations."
"
The Broad."
Hideyo
same
The
"
life.
"
O-Hidi
Kameyo
O-Kane 1
"
.
of
Prolongation,"
signifying-, to
do two things at the
126
Shadowings
"
Kaoru
O-Kata
O-Katsu
O-Kei
O-Kei
O-Ken
.
.
.
....
"Delight."
O-Kiebi
....
O-Ktmt
O-Kiwa
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
O-Kiyo
)
)
O-Kuru
"
.
.
.
Masayo
....
....
....
O-Masu
.
O-Maru
O-Masa
O-Mii
O-Miki
O-Mio
O-Mttsu
O-Miwa
O-Miva
O-Moto
The Clear,"
the
in
sense
of
bright, beautiful
(
.
peerless.
" The
Distinguished."
|
'
Miyuki*
"The Respectful"
"The Humble."
"
The Fortunate."
"
The Sovereign,"
"
Kiyosbi
O-Mtyo
The Fragrant."
Worthy Person."
"
The Victorious."
"
.
.
.
.
"
She-who-Comes
( ?).
"The Round,"
"The Genteel."
plump.
"
Generations-of-the-Just"
" Increase."
"Triple Branch."
"Stem."
"
Cord."
Triple
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"
Abundance."
"
The
"
Three Spokes "
( ?).
"
Beautiful Generations."
"
Deep Snow."
.
....
Far-seeing."
"Origin."
1
One Is reminded of, " whistle, and I "II come to you, my lad "
but no Japanese female name could have the Implied signification.
More probably the reference Is to household obedience.
O
2
Such Is the meaning of the characters. I cannot understand the
name. A Buddhist explanation suggests Itself but there are few, If
any, Buddhist jrobina.
3 This beautiful name refers to the silence and calm
following a
heavy snowfall. But, even for the Japanese, It Is an (esthetic name
also
suggesting both tranquillity and beauty.
;
Japanese Female Names
O-Naka
O-Rai
O-Raku l
O-Sacbi
....
....
....
"Friendship."
"Trust."
"Pleasure."
"Bliss."
The Talented."
O-Sai
Sakas
O-Saku
"Prosperity."
"
.
.
.
.
"
O-Sei
The Blooming."
The Refined,"
"
O-Sen
O-Sbitne
.
.
....
O-Sbin
Sbtrusbi
O-Sbipt
O-5*o
O-Sbun
O-Suki
O-Suke
O-Sumi
Exuberant"
"The
"The
summum
Total,"
bonum.
Fresh."
"Truth."
O-Sbin
O-Sbina,
of
wood-fairy.
Sennin,"
"
.
.
the sense
in
clear."
"Force."
"
O-Sei
O-Sbige
127
....
....
....
....
....
"Goods,"
"Truth."
"Excellence."
"
The Beloved,"
Aimee.
"The
"The
in
"
"The
O-Sute
possessions.
evidence.
"Proof,"
"The Humble."
Helper."
Refined,"
the sense of
sifted."
Forsaken,"
2
foundling.
The name seems curious, in view of the common proverb, Rahu
"
ku no tone,
Pleasure is the seed of pain."
1 Not
necessarily a real foundling. Sometimes the name may be
a
curious old custom. In a certain family several children
explained by
1
via
succession die shortly after birth. It is decided, according to traborn must be exposed. A girl is the
next child born
she is carried by a servant to some lonely place in
in
ditional usage, that the next child
;
the fields, or elsewhere, and left there. Then a peasant, or other person,
hired for the occasion (it is necessary that he should be of no kin to the
128
Shadowings
"The
O-Taa
O-Taka
O-Taka
....
....
....
....
Takara
O-Tama
Tamaf
Tokiwa
"
Exquisite."
The Honorable."
"The Ta^"
"Treasure,"
precious object
"Jewel"
"Jewel-branch."
1
"
.
O-Tomi
O-Tosbi
O-Tsuma
O-Yori
O-H/aka
.
.
.
....
....
....
....
Eternally
Constant"
"Riches."
"
The
Deft,"
"The
skitfuL
Wife."
"
The Trustworthy."
"The Young."
or geographical names, are
but they are particularly difficult to
Place-names,
common
;
explain.
A
because
born
home was
ing
to the
child
may
or
there,
there, or
old
be called after a place
because the parental
because
of beliefs belong-
Chinese
philosophy regarding
direction and position, or because of traditional
family), promptly appears, pretends to find the babe, and carries It back
"
to the parental home.
See this pretty foundling," he says to the
"
"
will you not take care of it?
father of the girl,
The child Is re"
Sute," the foundling. By this Innocent artifice, it
ceived, and named
was formerly (and perhaps in some places Is still) supposed that those
unseen Influences, which had caused the death of the other children,
might be thwarted.
1
Lit.
"
Everlasting- Rock.
"
stancy-everlasting-as-the-Rocks."
"
Conbut the ethical meaning is
" Tokiwa " Is a name famous both
and tradition for it was the name of the mother of Yoshitand especially the episode of her flight
Her touching story,
has been a source of inspirthrough the deep snow with her boys,
in history
;
sun^.
ation to generations of artists.
Japanese Female Names
129
custom, or because of ideas connected with the
religion of Shinto.
PLACE-NAMES
"
[Mount]
O-Fuji
O-Hama
.
.
"
.
.
O-lcU
"Market,"
O-Iyo
"lyo,"
O-Kawa
"
(rare)
O-Kisbi
.
.
....
O-Kita
O-Kiwa
O-Kuni
O-Ky5
O-Macbi
Matsu'6
O-Mina l
O-Mine
O-Miya
O-Mon*
O-Mura
O-Nami*
Naniwa
O-Nisbi
1
.
.
.
.
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
Fuji."
Coast."
fair.
province of lyo, in Shikoku.
River."
shore.
"Beach,"
" North."
" Border."
"Province."
"
Kyoto.
metropolis,
Capital,"
"Town."
"
chief city of Izumo.
Matsug,"
"South."
"Peak."
"Temple"
[Stints}?
"Gate."
"Village."
"Wave."
ancient
"Naniwa,"
"
.
name
of Osaka.
West."
Abbreviation of Minami.
must confess that in classing this name as a place-name, I am
only making a guess. It seems to me that the name probably refers to
the icbi no miya, or chief Shinto temple of some province.
* I
8
like that of O-Seki, must have originated
custom of naming children after the place, or neighborhood,
where the family lived. But here again, I am guessing.
This classification also is a guess. I could learn nothing about
I
fancy that this name,
In the
the name, except the curious fact that
9
it
is
said to be unlucky.
1
30
Shadowings
O-Rin
"Park."
OSaki
"Cape."
O-Sato
" Native
O-Satoa
home.
"Marsh."
....
O-Seki
Place,"
"Toll-Gate,"
"
Sbigekt
O-Sbima
O-Sono
O-Taki
O-Tam
O-Tsuka
O-Yanta
....
list is
barrier.
forest
Thickwood,"
Flower-garden."
"Cataract,"
The next
also,
"Island."
"
....
....
village,
or Waterfall
"Valley."
"Milestone."
"Mountain."
a curious medley, so far as re-
gards the quality of the yobina comprised in
Some
are really aesthetic and pleasing
dustrial
only
;
it.
others in-
while a few might be taken for
;
nicknames of the most disagreeable kind.
NAMES OF OBJECTS AND OF OCCUPATIONS
ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO WOMEN
Ayakoor\
O-Aya^
O-Fumi
"Damask-pattern."
I
u
.
.
.
.
O-Kama*
1
1
Letter."
"Thread."
O-Ito
Jjra-Nitbtki,
probably referred
Woman's
"Tassel."
O-Fusa
.
.
"Rice-Sickle."
the famous figured
damask brocade
of Kyoto,
Is
to.
O-Kama (Sickle) Is a familiar peasant-name. O-Kama (caldron,
or Iron cooking-pot), anJ several other ugly names In this list are ser-
Japanese Female Names
....
....
....
O-Kama
Ka^asbi
O-Kinu
O-Koto
O-Nabe
O-Nui
O-Sbime
O-Some
O-Taru
"Caldron."
"Hair-pin."
"
Cloth-of-Silk."
"Harp."
"Pot,"
or cooking-vessel
"
.
.
.
.
....
....
The following
Embroidery."
"
ornamental fastening.
Clasp,"
"The Dyer."
consists entirely of material
list
nouns used as names.
among them
barrel.
"Cask,"
of which
There are several yobina
I
cannot find the emblem-
meaning. Generally speaking, the yobina
which signify precious substances, such as silver
and gold, are aesthetic names and those which
atical
;
common
hard substances, such as stone,
rock, iron, are intended to suggest firmness or
"
But the name " Rock
strength of character.
signify
is
also
sometimes used as a symbol of the wish
for long
line.
life,
do with individual "
ever, to
moral
or long continuance of the family
The curious name Suna has nothing, howand half -aesthetic.
colored sand
vants' names.
is
Servants
much
future labors.
Fine sand
:
it
is
half-
especially
prized in this fairy-land
in old time not
become servants, but gave them
"
grit
only trained their children to
particular
names
referring to their
Shadowings
of landscape-gardening, where it is used to cover
spaces that must always be kept spotless and
and never trodden,
beautiful,
by the
except
gardener.
MATERIAL NOUNS USED AS NAMES
.....
.....
O-lwa .....
O-Kani
....
....
O-Katf
O-Kin .....
O-Gin
O-lsbi
1
O-Ruri*l
Ruriko
"Silver."
"Stone."
"Rock."
"Bronze."
"
Air,"
perhaps
Wind
"Gold."
"Emerald,"
emeraldine?
>
" Fine Metal."
.....
O-Seki .....
O-Sbiwo
....
O-Sana .....
O-Supi .....
O-Sato
O-Tani
O-Tetsu
....
....
The following
although
to
intellectual
1 I
five
literally
work.
"Sugar."
"Stone."
"Salt."
"Sand."
"Tin."
"Seed."
"Iron."
yobina
are aesthetic names,
signifying things belonging
Four of them,
at
least,
cannot find any explanation of this curious name.
8
The Japanese name does not give the same quality of aesthetic
sensation as the name Esmeralda. The ruri is not usually green, but
"
ruri-iro" (emerald color) commonly signifies a
blue; and the term
dark
violet.
refer
133
matchless
calligra-
the
to calligraphy,
rather than to anything
the Far East,
phy of
that
Japanese Female Names
we
should
call
"literary beauty."
LITERARY NAMES
O-Bun
"
O-Fude
"Writing-Brush."
....
....
O-Fumi
O-Kaku
O-Uta
Names
Composition."
"Letter."
"Writing."
"Poem."
relating to
number
are very
common,
They may be loosely
names indicating
divided into two sub-classes,
the order or the time of birth, and names of
but also very interesting.
Such yobina as Icbi, San, Roku,
Hachi usually refer to the order of birth; but
sometimes they record the date of birth. For
felicitation.
a person called O-Roku, who
received this name, not because she was the sixth
example,
child
I
born
know
in the
family,
but because she entered
world upon the sixth day of the sixth month
of the sixth Meiji.
It will be observed that the
this
numbers Two,
in the list
O-Go, or
:
Five,
and Nine are not represented
the mere idea of such
O-Ku seems
names
as
O-Ni,
to a Japanese absurd.
do not know exactly why,
unless
it
I
be that they
134
Shadowings
suggest unpleasant puns.
well supplied, however,
("
Next
list.
"),
which
Names
will
The
by
O-Ni is
name O-Tsugi
place of
the
be found in a subsequent
signifying
numbers ranging from
names of
eighty to a thousand, and upward, are
felicitation.
bearer
They express
the
wish
that
the
live to a prodigious age, or that her
may
may
flourish
posterity
through the centuries.
NUMERALS AND WORDS RELATING TO NUMBER
O-lcbi
.
.
Japanese Female
....
O-Cbiyo
"
"
Yacbtyo
.
.
.
.
....
O-SbtgS
O-Yae
Names
Thousand Generations."
Eight Thousand Generations."
"Two-fold."
"Eight-fold."
"
O-Kapt
.
.
.
.
....
O-Mina.
Great Number."
"All."
" Half." *
O-Han
"
O-lku
How Many ?"(?)
OTHER NAMES RELATING TO ORDER OF BIRTH
O-Hatsu
O-Tsugi
O-Naka
O-Tome
....
....
....
....
"Beginning,"
"Next,"
"Midmost."
"
Stop,"
"Last."
O-Sue
Some few of
first-born.
the second.
.;
cease.
the next group of
names
are prob-
But such names are sometimes
ably aesthetic.
given only in reference to the time or season of
birth; and the reason for any particular yobina
of this class
is difficult
to decide without personal
inquiry.
NAMES RELATING TO TIME AND SEASON
O-Haru
....
...
O-Natsu
"Spring."
"Summer."
"
"
the reader may query. But I believe that this
Better half?
originated in the old custom of taking a single character of the
to
sometimes also a character of the mother's name
father's name
1
name
name
with.
compose the
child's
girl's father
was HANyemon, or HANbei.
Perhaps
In this
case the name of the
136
Shadowings
OAK
"Autumn."
....
O-Fuyu
"Winter."
OAsa
"Morning."
O-Cbd
O-Yoi
"Dawn."
O-Sayo
"Night."
O-Ima
O-Toki
O-Tosbi
"Time,"
Names
"Evening."
"Now."
.
.
.
opportunity.
" Year
[of Plenty]."
.
of animals
real or
another class of yobina.
form
mythical
of this kind
A name
generally represents the hope that the child will
develop some quality or capacity symbolized by
creature after which it has been called.
Names such as " Dragon," " Tiger," " Bear," etc.,
the
most cases to represent moral
rather than other qualities.
The moral symbolare
intended
in
ism of the Koi (Carp)
is
quire explanation here.
Tsuru
fact
Koma,
refer to longevity.
may
seem,
NAMES OF
is
a
name
O-Kami
O-Koi
Cjfprinus rarpio.
curious as the
of endearment.
BIRDS, FISHES, ANIMALS, ETC.
"
Cbidori
1
too well-known to re-
The names Kame and
....
Sanderling."
"Tortoise."
"Carp."i
Japanese Female
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
O-Koma
O-Kuma
O-Ry5
O-Sbtka
O-Tai
O-Taka
O-Tako
O-Tatsu
O-Tora
O-Tori
O-Tsuru
O-Wasbi
Evtnyobina which
fruits, plants
moral or
or
ing.
or pony.
Filly,"
"Dragon."
"Deer."
"Bream."
1
"Hawk."
"
Cuttlefish." (?)
"Dragon."
"Tiger."
"Bird."
"Stork."
a
"Eagle."
are the
trees, are in
is
137
"Bear."
felicitous, rather
The plumflower
Names
"
names of flowers or
most
than of
names of
cases
aesthetic
mean-
an emblem of feminine
virtue ; the
chrysanthemum, of longevity the pine,
both of longevity and constancy the bamboo, of
;
;
fidelity
;
the cedar, of moral rectitude
;
the willow,
of docility and gentleness, as well as of physical
The symbolism of the lotos and of the
grace.
cherryflower
names
as
are
Hana
(" Blossom ") and
1
Cbrysopbris cardinal^.
2
Sometimes
this
name
But such
probably familiar.
is
Ben
shortened into O-Tsu.
In
"
(" Petal")
Tokyo
at the
O"
the custom to drop the honorific
before such
"
as in the
abbreviations, and to add to the name the suffix
chan,"
present time
it
is
case of children's names. Thus a young woman may be caressingly
"
"
"
"
Ya-chan (for O-Yasu),
addressed as Tsu-chan
(for O-Tsuru),
etc.
138
Shadowings
are aesthetic in the true sense
mains
in
as
Japan,
;
and the Lily rean emblem of
elsewhere,
feminine grace.
FLOWER-NAMES
"Iris."
A^ami
"Thistle-Flower."
O-Ben
"Petal"
"Wistaria."*
O-Fuji
....
O-Hana
"Blossom."
"
O-Kiku
O-Ran
O-Ren
"Lotos."
"
.
.
.
.
Cherryblossom."
O-Ume
"
O-Yuri
"Lily."
NAMES OF PLANTS,
Plumflower."
FRUITS,
AND TREES
O-M
"
Kaifdt
"Maple-leaf."
O-Kaya
O-Kaya
O-Kuri
O-Kuwa
O-MaU
O-Mami
1 frit
sttosa,
*
Chrysanthemum."
"Orchid"
Sakurako
*
*
Ayamt
Rice-in-the-blade."
"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rush."
" Yew." 4
"Chestnut"
....
....
.
or frit tibrisia.
Wistaria cbinemit.
Imptrata arundinacea.
Torrtya nufifera.
Podocarpiu cbincniii.
.
"Mulberry."
"Fir."*
"Bean."
Names
Japanese Female
....
....
O-Momo
O-Nara
"
O-RyU
"
"Sp routing-Rice."
"
O-Sane
.
.
Fruit-seed."
Bamboo."
Slender
a
"Cedar."
Wakana
"Bamboo."
"Ivy."*
"Double-Blossom." 6
"
Rice-in-grain."
"
Young
Net."
signifying light or color
of
aesthetic
seem so
.
....
....
....
....
O-YaS
O-Yone
Names
"
.
Willow."
"Reed."
O-Suge
O-Sugi
O-Take
O-Tsuta
most
the fruit. 1
Peach,"
"Oak."
Sanaa
O-Sbino
139
all
seem to us the
yobina ; and they probably
to the Japanese.
Nevertheless the rela-
even of these names cannot be di-
tive purport
vined at sight.
Colors have moral and other
values in the old nature-philosophy; and an
appellation that to the
Western mind suggests
only luminosity or beauty
1
Yet
this
character.
as
2
*
in the
actually refer
name may
possibly have been written with the wrong
"
"
"
another yobina, Momo
hundred."
signifying
There
is
phrase
momoyo,
"
for
a hundred ages."
Scirpui maritimus.
Cryptomeria Japonica.
* Cissus
5
may
Thunbcrgii.
A flower-name
certainly; but thejia'i here is probably an abbreviation of yae-^akura, the double-flower of a particular species of cherrytree.
* Brassica cbinensis.
140
Shadowings
to moral or social distinction,
the girl
named
so
will
to the
become "
hope that
illustrious."
NAMES SIGNIFYING BRIGHTNESS
..." New Moon."
.... "Light."
.... "Frost."
"The Shining."
.... "Moon."
.... " The Glossy,"
O-Mika
*
.
O-Mitsu
O-Sbimo
O-Teru
O-Tsuki
O-Tsuya
O-Tsuyu
O-Yuki
.
.
.
lustrous.
" Dew."
.
"Snow."
.
COLOR-NAMES
O-Ai
O-Aka
"
O-lro
"Color."
"
Deep Blue."
"Dark,"
lit, "Black."
"Green."
O-Kon
0-Kuro
Midori*
Murasaki*
....
....
.
.
.
"Purple."
.
"White."
O-Sbiro
1
Mika
is
Indigo."
"Red"
"
an abbreviation of Mika^uki, " the moon of the third night
[of the old lunar month].
* Midori and
Murasaki, especially the latter, should properly be
classed with aristocratic yobina ; and both are very rare. I could find
neither in the collection of aristocratic
names which was made
from the records of the Peeresses' School
in
a
list
of middle-class names.
among yobina,
I
thought
It
better
them together, independently of
;
but
I
discovered a
"
for
me
Midori
"
Color-names being remarkably few
in this instance to group the whole of
class-distinctions.
Japanese Female Names
The
following and
names contains
final
group
141
of
female
several
queer puzzles. Japanafter the family
and heraldry might explain one or two of
crest
But why a girl should be called a
these yobina.
ese girls are sometimes
named
;
am
Pernot sure of being able to guess.
haps some reader may be reminded of Nietzsche's
"
" Little
Brig called Angeline
I
ship,
:
"
they call me so
Angeline
Now a ship, one time a maid,
(Ah, and evermore a maid I)
Love the steersman, to and fro,
Turns the wheel so
finely
made."
But such a fancy would not enter into a Japanese
mind. I find, however, in a list of family crests,
two
varieties of design representing a ship,
representing an arrow, and
twenty
two representing a
bow.
NAMES DIFFICULT TO CLASSIFY OR EXPLAIN
O-Fuku 1
O-Fune
O-Hina 2
....
....
"Raiment,"
clothing.
"
or Boat.
Ship,"
"Doll,"
a paper doll?
1
Possibly this name belongs to the same class as O-Nui (" Embroidery "), O-Sotne (" The Dyer ") but I am not sure.
*
Probably a name of caress. The word bina is applied especially
;
to the
little
paper dolls made by hand for amusement,.
representing
Shado wings
142
....
O-Kono
O-Nao
O-Nari
"This."
"Still More."
"Thunder-peal"
"
O-Nibo
O-Rai
O-Rui
Palanquin;'
( ?).
"Thunder."
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
O-Tada
Tamaki
OTamt
O-Tosbi
O-Tsut
O-Tsuna
O-Yumi
kind, species.
"Sort,"
"Little Belt"
" Branch-of-Little-Bells."
" The
Only."
"
bracelet.
Armlet,"
common people.
"Folk,"
or barb.
"Arrowhead,"
"Pair,"
"
Rope,"
"Bow,"
match.
bond.
weapon.
Before passing on to the subject of aristocratic
names,
I
must mention an old
rule for Japanese
a curious rule that might help to ac-
names,
count for sundry puzzles in the preceding lists.
This rule formerly applied to all personal names,
masculine or feminine.
in the present
plained
It
paper
cannot be fully ex;
for a satisfactory
young ladies with elaborate coiffure ; and It is also given to the oldfashioned dolls representing courtly personages In full ceremonial costume. The true doll
Is called ningyo.
doll-baby
Perhaps this name
1
a tiny metal
to make the ringing.
su{u,
little
iu$u
in the silk
child's girdle.
somewhat
a pet
kitten.
ball,
given because of the sweet sound of the
little stone or other hard object Inside,
a pretty Japanese custom to put one of these
is
with a
It is
charm-bag (mamori-bukero) which
The iu{u rings
like
Is
attached to a
with every motion that the child makes,
one of those tiny bells which we attach
to the
neck of
Japanese Female Names
Oi
6.2
Qi
1
o
o
I
O
UJ
2
O
143
144
Shadowings
explanation would occupy at least fifty pages.
But, stated in the briefest possible way, the rule
"
"
head-character of a personal
is that the first or
"
"
name should be made to accord
(in the Chinese philosophic sense) with the supposed Sei, or
astrologically-determined nature, of the person to
whom
the required accordthe name is given
ance being decided, not by the meaning, but by
the sound of the Chinese written character.
;
Some vague
ject
may
table.
idea of the difficulties of the sub-
be obtained from the accompanying
(Page 143.)
Ill
FOR
examples
names
of
contemporary
aristocratic
consulted the reports of the
I
Jogakho
Kwa^pku-
School), published
(Peeresses'
between
the nineteenth and twenty -seventh years of Meiji
(1886-1895).
The
Kwazoku-Jogakko admits
other students besides daughters of the nobility
but for present purposes the names of the latter
;
only
seven
It
more
to the
number of one hundred and
have been
will
forty-
selected.
be observed that
syllables are rare
names of
among
these,
three
and
or
also
Japanese Female Names
modern
yobina of two syland
pronounced
explained, differ little
But as written in
ordinary yobina.
that the
aristocratic
lables, as
from
Chinese they
differ
greatly
from other female
names, being in most cases represented by characters of a complex and unfamiliar kind.
The
more
use of these
accounts
the
for
to
homonyms
be
elaborate
relatively
found
characters
large
the
in
chiefly
number of
following
list:
PERSONAL NAMES OF LADY STUDENTS OF THE
KWAZOKU JOGAKKO
Autumn."
The Clear-Minded."
Dawn."
Aki-ko
.
.
Aki-ko
.
.
Aki-ko
.
.
Asa-ko
.
.
Fair
Aya-ko
.
.
Silk
A Thousand
Cbibaru-ko
Cbika-ko
Near,"
.
Springs."
close.
.
A Thousand Storks."
A Thousand Generations."
Cbitsuru-ko
Cbiyo-ko
Morning."
Damask."
:
Ei-ko
.
.
Bell-Chime."
Etsu-ko
.
.
Delight."
.
.
Wistaria."
Fuji-ko
Fuku-ko
Good-Fortune."
Fumi-ko
A Woman's
Fuy5-ko
Lotos-flower."
Fuyu-ko
Hana-ko
10
.
Winter."
Flower."
Letter."
146
Shadowings
"
Hana-ko
Haru-ko
Haru-ko
Fair-Blooming."
Haru-ko
" The
Tranquil."
"
the season of flowers.
Spring,"
" The
in the sense,
Far-Removed,"
Hatsu-ko
" The
Hide-ko
"
perhaps, of superlative.
First-born."
Excelling."
"
Hide-ko
Hiro-ko
Surpassing."
"Magnanimous,"
.
"
large,"
literally ."broad,"
in the sense of benefi-
cence.
"
Hiro-ho
.
Wide-Spreading,"
with reference
to family prosperity.
"
Hisa-ko
.
Hisa-ko
.
Long-lasting."
"
Continuing."
" Star."
Hosbi-ko
Iku-ko
.
Ima-ko
.
Ibo-ko
.
"The Quick,"
" Now."
"
in the sense
Five Hundred,"
of living.
probably a name
of felicitation.
Ito-ko
"
.
"
Kami-ko
"
Kane-ko
Kane-ko
Sewing-Thread."
Tortoise."
"
Going around
"Bell,"
( ?).*
the character indicates a
large suspended bell
" Condition " ?
" First."
"
a great number.
Number,"
Kata-ko
Kapt-ko
Ka^u-ko
Kapi-ko
"The
Obedient."
" The Pure."
Kiyo-ko
1 It Is
possible that this name was made simply by taking one character of the father's name. The girl's name otherwise conveys no
Intelligible
meaning.
Japanese Female Names
147
" Filial
Piety."
tfji
Ko-ko
"Stork."
Koto
"Harp."
" Province."
Kuni-ko
.
.
.
.
"
Kuni
Ky5-ko
Macbi
Makoto
Masa-ko
Masa-ko
Masu-ko
Mata-ko
Matsu-ko
Micbi-ko
Mine
Mine-ko
Mitsu-ko
Miyo-ko
Moto-ko
Naga-ko
"
in the largest sense.
Country,"
metropolis.
Capital,"
"Ten-Thousand Thousand."
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"True-Heart."
" The
sure.
Trustworthy,"
" The
Upright."
"Increase."
"Completely,"
wholly.
"Pine-tree."
"
Three Thousand."
"Peak."
"Mountain-Range."
radiance.
"Light,"
" Beautiful Generations."
source.
"Origin,"
"
Long,"
probably in reference to
time.
Naga-ko
Namt'-ko
Nao-ko
Nyo-ko*
1
The
....
....
....
suffix
and sometimes
" ko "
Is
"Long
Life."
"Wave."
"Correct,"
upright.
"Gem-Treasure."
sometimes dropped for reasons of euphony,
for reasons of
good
taste
unfamiliar with the Japanese language
of only one syllable or of two syllables.
difficult to
explain to readers
even when the name consists
*
This name is borrowed from the name of the sacred gem Nj/oibdju,
which figures both in Shinto and in Buddhist legend. The divinity
Jizo is usually represented holding in one hand this gem, which is said
to have the power of gratifying any desire that its owner can entertain.
Perhaps the Nyoiboju may be identified with the Gem-Treasure Velurtya,
Shado wings
148
Nobu-ko
Nobu-ko
Nobu-ko
....
....
....
"Faithful"
"Abundance,"
plenty.
" The
Prolonger."
Nori-ko
"Precept,"
Nut
"
Oki
"
doctrine.
Embroidery,"
Offing,"
sewing.
perhaps
originally
a
1
....
....
Sakura-ko ....
Sada-ko
Sada-ko
place-name.
"The Chaste."
"
The Sure,"
trustworthy.
"Cherry-Blossom."
Sakan
"The Prosperous,"
Sato-ko
"
Sato-ko
" The
Seki-ko
"Great."
Sbige-ko
Sbiki-ko
....
....
....
....
....
....
Sbima-ko
.
Setsu-ko
Sbige-ko
Sbige-ko
Sbige-ko
.
.
.
Sbin-ko
.
Sbi^u-ko
....
.
.
.
Sbt\u<?
Sono-ko
"The
.
.
.
Discriminating."
Chaste."
"Flourishing."
"Exuberant,"
in the sense of rich
growth.
"Upgrowing."
"Fragrance."
"Prudence."
" Island."
" The Fresh,"
new.
" The
calm.
Quiet,"
"
River."
"
.
Home."
Quiet
Garden."
Sus-ko
"Last,"
Suke-ko
"The
in the sense of youngest.
Helper."
mentioned In the SOtra of The Great King of Glory, chapter I. (See
Sacred Books of the East, vol. xi.)
1 A
naval officer named Oki told me that his family had originally
been settled
In the
Oki Islands
(" Islands of the Offing"). This inme that the above jrobina might have
teresting coincidence suggested to
bad the same origin.
Japanese Female Names
Sumi-ko
Sumi-ko
Sumte-ko
Su^u-ko
Su^u-ko
Sufuni?
Taka-ko
Taka-ko
Taka-ko
Take-ko
Taki-ko
Tama-ko
Tama-ko
Tame-ko
Tami-ko
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tatsu-ko
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tatsuru-ko
Teru-ko
Tetsu-ko
Toki-ko
Tome-ko
Tomi-ko
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tomo-ko
.
.
.
.
Toshi-ko
.
.
.
.
Tomo
Tomo
1
So
real.
Clear River."
"Tin."
" Little Bell."
"
Sound of
"High,"
"
Filial
Little Bell."
lofty, superior.
Piety."
"Precious."
"Bamboo."
"Waterfall."
"Gem,"
"Gem,"
jewel.
written with a different
character.
"
" For the Sake of
"
folks.
People,"
" Successful."
"
Attaining."
"
Storks."
Many
Ricefield
.
Tsune-ko
"
spotless, refined.
Clear,"
Veritable,"
..."
Stork."
.... "Beaming," luminous.
.... "-Iron."
"
.
Tqyo-ko
Tsune
The
.
Tane-ko
Tatsuru-ko 1
"The
"
149
....
....
written, but probably
Time."
" Cessation."
" Riches."
"
Intelligence."
"
Knowledge."
"
Friendship."
" The
Quickly-Perceiving."
"Fruitful."
"
Constancy."
"Ordinary,"
usual,
common.
pronounced as two syllables only.
Shadowings
Tsunf-ko
TswU-ko
Tsuru-ko
Tsuya-ko
....
....
....
....
.....
Umi
Umt-ko
Yacbi-ko
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
written with a differ-
"Ordinary,"
ent character.
in the sense of wifely
"Faithful,"
fidelity.
"Stork."
" The
Lustrous,"
" Female Hare."
shining, glossy.
" Plum-Blossom."
"
Thousand."
Eight
.... "Eighty."
Yasosbi-ko
..." Eighty-four."
Yasu-ko
.... " The Maintainer," supporter.
Yasu-ko
.... " The Respectful"
Yasu-ko
.... " The Tranquil-Minded."
Yont-ko
.... "Rice."
Yori-ko
.... " The Trustful"
Yosbt
..... ""Eminent,"
Yosbi-ko
Fragrance."
Yosbi-ko .... "The Good,"
or Gentle.
" The Lovable."
Yosbi-ko ....
Yaso-ko
celebrated.
Yosbi-ko
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yosbi-ko
....
Yosbi-ko
.
.
.
.
Yosbi-ko
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Yosbi-ko
Yuki-ko
Yuki-ko
.
Yuku-ko
Yutaka
....
....
.
.
.
.....
"The
Lady-like,"
sense of refined.
gentle
in
the
"The Joyful"
"
Congratulation."
" The
Happy."
"
Bright and Clear."
"The Lucky."
" Snow."
"Going."
"
Plenty,"
dance.
affluence, superabun-
Japanese Female Names
1$1
IV
IN the
first
part of this paper
I
suggested that the
custom of giving very poetical names to geisha
and iojoro might partly account for the unpopu-
And in the
of purely esthetic yobina.
hope of correcting certain foreign misapprehensions, I shall now venture a few remarks about
larity
the names of geisha.
like other classes of
Geisha-names,
although
full
of curious interest,
names,
and often
in
themselves really beautiful, have become hopelessly vulgarized by association with a calling the
reverse of
respectable.
Strictly speaking, they
have nothing to do with the subject of the
inasmuch as they are not real
present study,
personal names, but professional appellations only,
noiyobina, but geimyo.
large proportion of such names can be
A
dis-
certain prefixes or suffixes attached
by
They can be known, for example,
"
"
(1) By the prefix Waha, signifying Young
"
"
as in the names Wakagusa,
Young Grass
tinguished
to them.
"
"
;
;
Wakamurasaki,
Waka^uru, Young Stork
"
"
"
Wakakoma, Young Filly ".
Young Purple
;
;
Shadowings
(2)
By
as in the
"
bana,
the prefix Ko, signifying
"
Cherry-Tree
(3)
Flower
Little
By
the suffix Ryo, signifying
;
"
"
Dragon
"
Dragon being especially a symbol
"
"
Tama-Ryo, Jewel-Dragon ;
Hower-Dragon
"
;
Kin-Ryo,
"
Gol-
".
den-Dragon
" to
Little
as
Hana-Ryo,
(4)
Ko-
;
"
Kojahura,
;
;
"
".
(the Ascending
of success)
"
"
Little
Charm
Little
names, Ko-en,
"
"
the suffix ji signifying
to serve ",
"
administer
as in the names Uta-ji,
By
t
;
Sbinne-ji, Katsu-ji.
"
"
(5) By the suffix suke, signifying
help ;
as in the names Tama-suke, Koma-suke.
" luck
(6) By the suffix kicbi, signifying
",
"
"
"
"
fortune
as
Uta-kicbi,
Song-Luck ;
"
Jewel - Fortune ".
Tama-kicbi,
;
(7)
"
By
the suffix giku
chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums
"
;
"
;
themum"; Ko-giku,
(8) By the suffix
(emblem
"
of
(i. e.,
Little
longevity)
Ko-tsuru,
"
Thread- Stork ".
,
;
Chrysanthemum".
tsuru, signifying
"
Filly-Stork
kiku), signifying
" Three
Mitsu-giku,
"
Hina-giku, Doll-Chrysan"
as
as
;
"
Little
" stork "
Koma-tsuru,
Stork
"
;
Ito-
Japanese Female
These forms
will
Names
serve for illustration
;
but
there are others.
Geimyo are written, as a genwith only two Chinese characters, and
eral rule,
are
pronounced as three or as four
syllables.
Geimyo of five syllables are occasionally to be
met with geimyo of only two syllables are rare
;
- at
least
among names
of dancing
girls.
And
these professional appellations have seldom
any
moral meaning: they signify things relating to
longevity,
wealth, pleasure,
youth, or luck,
perhaps especially to luck.
Of
late
years
it
became a fashion among
assume
tain classes of geisha in the capital to
names with the
tocratic
cerreal
genteel suffix Ko, and even aris-
yobina.
In
1889 some of the T6ky5
measures to
legislative
newspapers demanded
check the practice.
This incident would seem to
afford proof of public feeling
upon the
subject.