Japanese names and their meanings...

A Japanese given name (人名 jinmei?) these days usually consists of a family name (surname) followed by a personal name. This is a very common practice in East and Southeast Asia, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and some other cultures.

Names are usually written in kanji, which in different cases can have many various options pronunciation.

Modern Japanese names can be compared to names in many other cultures. All Japanese have a single surname and a single given name without a middle name, with the exception of the Japanese Imperial Family, whose members do not have a surname.

In Japan, the surname comes first, and then the given name. At the same time, in Western languages ​​(often in Russian), Japanese names are written in the reverse order of first name - last name - according to European tradition.

Names in Japan are often created independently from existing characters, so the country has a huge number of unique names. Surnames are more traditional and most often go back to toponyms. There are more names in Japanese than surnames. Men's and female names differ due to their characteristic components and structure. Reading Japanese proper names is one of the most difficult elements of the Japanese language.

From the tables below, you can see how preferences have changed when choosing names over the past almost 100 years:

Popular boy names

Year/Place 1 2 3 4 5

1915 Kiyoshi Saburou Shigeru Masao Tadashi

1925 Kiyoshi Shigeru Isamu Saburou Hiroshi

1935 Hiroshi Kiyoshi Isamu Minoru Susumu

1945 Masaru Isamu Susumu Kiyoshi Katsutoshi

1955 Takashi Makoto Shigeru Osamu Yutaka

1965 Makoto Hiroshi Osamu Naoki Tetsuya

1975 Makoto Daisuke Manabu Tsuyoshi Naoki

1985 Daisuke Takuya Naoki Kenta Kazuya

1995 Takuya Kenta Shouta Tsubasa Daiki

2000 Shou Shouta Daiki Yuuto Takumi

Popular names for girls

Year/Place 1 2 3 4 5

1915 Chiyo Chiyoko Fumiko Shizuko Kiyo

1925 Sachiko Fumiko Miyoko Hirsako Yoshiko

1935 Kazuko Sachiko Setsuko Hiroko Hisako

1945 Kazuko Sachiko Youko Setsuko Hiroko

1955 Youko Keiko Kyouko Sachiko Kazuko

1965 Akemi Mayumi Yumiko Keiko Kumiko

1975 Kumiko Yuuko Mayumi Tomoko Youko

1985 Ai Mai Mami Megumi Kaori

1995 Misaki Ai Haruka Kana Mai

2000 Sakura Yuuka Misaki Natsuki Nanami

Ai - F - Love

Aiko - F - Beloved child

Akako - F - Red

Akane - F - Sparkling red

Akemi - F - Dazzlingly beautiful

Akeno - M - Clear morning

Aki - F - Born in autumn

Akiko - F - Autumn child

Akina - F - Spring flower

Akio - M - Handsome

Akira - M - Smart, quick-witted

Akiyama - M - Autumn, mountain

Amaya - F - Night rain

Ami - F - Friend

Amida - M - Name of the Buddha

Anda - F - Met in the field

Aneko - F - Big sister

Anzu - F - Apricot

Arata - M - Inexperienced

Arisu - F - Yap. form of the name Alice

Asuka - F - Aroma of Tomorrow

Ayame - F - Iris

Azarni - F - Thistle flower

Benjiro - M - Enjoying the world

Botan - M - Peony

Chika - F - Wisdom

Chikako - F - Child of Wisdom

Chinatsu - F - A thousand years

Chiyo - F - Eternity

Chizu - F - A thousand storks (longevity is implied)

Cho - F - Butterfly

Dai - M / F - Great / th

Daichi - M - Great First Son

Daiki - M - Great Tree

Daisuke - M - Great Help

Etsu - F - Delightful, charming

Etsuko - F - A delightful child

Fudo - M - God of fire and wisdom

Fujita - M/F - Field, meadow

Gin - F - Silver

Goro - M - Fifth son

Hana - F - Flower

Hanako - F - Flower child

Haru - M - Born in the spring

Haruka - F - Far

Haruko - F - Spring

Hachiro - M - Eighth son

Hideaki - M - Brilliant, excellent

Hikaru - M / F - Light, shining

Hide - F - Prolific

Hiroko - F - Generous

Hiroshi - M - Generous

Hitomi - F - Doubly beautiful

Hoshi - F - Star

Hotaka - M - The name of a mountain in Japan

Hotaru - F - Firefly

Ichiro - M - First son

Ima - F - Gift

Isami - M - Courage

Ishi - F - Stone

Izanami - F - Attractive

Izumi - F - Fountain

Jiro - M - Second son

Joben - M - Loving purity

Jomei - M - Carrier of light

Junko - F - Pure child

Juro - M - Tenth son

Kado - M - Gate

Kaede - F - Maple Leaf

Kagami - F - Mirror

Kameko - F - Child of the turtle (symbol of longevity)

Kanaya - M - Zealous

Kano - M - God of water

Kasumi - F - Fog

Katashi - M - Hardness

Katsu - M - Victory

Katsuo - M - Victorious child

Katsuro - M - Victorious son

Kazuki - M - Joyful World

Kazuko - F - Cheerful child

Kazuo - M - Sweet son

Kei - F - Respectful

Keiko - F - Adored

Keitaro - M - Blessed

Ken - M - Zdorovyak

Ken`ichi - M - Strong first son

Kenji - M - Strong second son

Kenshin - M - Heart of the sword

Kenta - M - Healthy and bold

Kichi - F - Lucky

Kichiro - M - Lucky son

Kiku - F - Chrysanthemum

Kimiko - F - Child of noble blood

Kin - M - Golden

Kioko - F - Happy child

Kisho - M - Having a head on his shoulders

Kita - F - North

Kiyoko - F - Purity

Kiyoshi - M - Quiet

Kohaku - M/F - Amber

Kohana - F - Small flower

Koko - F - Stork

Koto - F - Yap. musical instrument "koto"

Kotone - F - Sound of a koto

Kumiko - F - Forever beautiful

Kuri - F - Chestnut

Kuro - M - Ninth son

Kyo - M - Consent (or red)

Kyoko - F - Mirror

Leiko - F - Arrogant

Machi - F - Ten thousand years

Machiko - F - Lucky child

Maeko - F - Honest child

Maemi - F - Sincere smile

Mai - F - Bright

Makoto - M - Sincere

Mamiko - F - Baby Mami

Mamoru - M - Earth

Manami - F - The beauty of love

Mariko - F - Child of Truth

Marise - M/F - Infinite

Masa - M/F - Straight (human)

Masakazu - M - First son of Masa

Mashiro - M - Wide

Matsu - F - Pine

Mayako - F - Maya Child

Mayoko - F - Child Mayo

Mayuko - F - Child of Mayu

Michi - F - Fair

Michie - F - Gracefully hanging flower

Michiko - F - Beautiful and wise

Michio - M - Man with the strength of three thousand

Midori - F - Green

Mihoko - F - Baby Miho

Mika - F - New Moon

Miki - M/F - Stalk

Mikio - M - Three woven trees

Mina - F - South

Minako - F - Beautiful child

Mine - F - Brave Protector

Minoru - M - Seed

Misaki - F - The flowering of beauty

Mitsuko - F - Child of Light

Miya - F - Three arrows

Miyako - F - Beautiful baby March

Mizuki - F - Beautiful moon

Momoko - F - Peach Child

Montaro - M - Big guy

Moriko - F - Child of the forest

Morio - M - Forest boy

Mura - F - Rustic

Mutsuko - F - Child of Mutsu

Nahoko - F - Baby Naho

Nami - F - Wave

Namiko - F - Child of the waves

Nana - F - Apple

Naoko - F - Obedient child

Naomi - F - "Beauty First"

Nara - F - Oak

Nariko - F - Sissy

Natsuko - F - Summer child

Natsumi - F - Beautiful summer

Nayoko - F - Baby Nayo

Nibori - M - Famous

Nikki - M/F - Two trees

Nikko - M - Daylight

Nori - F - Law

Noriko - F - Child of the Law

Nozomi - F - Hope

Nyoko - F - Gemstone

Oki - F - Mid-Ocean

Orino - F - Peasant meadow

Osamu - M - Firmness of the law

Rafu - M - Network

Rai - F - Truth

Raidon - M - God of Thunder

Ran - F - Water lily

Rei - F - Gratitude

Reiko - F - Gratitude

Ren - F - Water lily

Renjiro - M - Honest

Renzo - M - Third son

Riko - F - Child of Jasmine

Rin - F - Unfriendly

Rinji - M - Peaceful forest

Rini - F - Little Bunny

Risako - F - Child of Risa

Ritsuko - F - Child of Ritsu

Roka - M - White crest of the wave

Rokuro - M - Sixth son

Ronin - M - Samurai without a master

Rumiko - F - Baby Rumi

Ruri - F - Emerald

Ryo - M - Excellent

Ryoichi - M - First son of Ryo

Ryoko - F - Child Ryo

Ryota - M - Strong (obese)

Ryozo - M - Third son of Ryo

Ryuichi - M - First son of Ryu

Ryuu - M - Dragon

Saburo - M - Third son

Sachi - F - Happiness

Sachiko - F - Child of happiness

Sachio - M - Fortunately born

Saeko - F - Child of Sae

Saki - F - Cape (geographic)

Sakiko - F - Baby Saki

Sakuko - F - Baby Saku

Sakura - F - Cherry flowers

Sanako - F - Child Sana

Sango - F - Coral

Saniiro - M - Wonderful

Satu - F - Sugar

Sayuri - F - Little lily

Seiichi - M - First son of Sei

Sen - M - Spirit of the tree

Shichiro - M - Seventh son

Shika - F - Deer

Shima - M - Islander

Shina - F - Worthy

Shinichi - M - First son of Shin

Shiro - M - Fourth son

Shizuka - F - Quiet

Sho - M - Prosperity

Sora - F - Sky

Sorano - F - Heavenly

Suki - F - Favorite

Suma - F - Asking

Sumi - F - Purified (religious)

Susumi - M - Moving forward (successful)

Suzu - F - Bell (bell)

Suzume - F - Sparrow

Tadao - M - Helpful

Taka - F - Noble

Takako - F - Tall child

Takara - F - Treasure

Takashi - M - Famous

Takehiko - M - Bamboo Prince

Takeo - M - Similar to bamboo

Takeshi - M - Bamboo tree or brave

Takumi - M - Craftsman

Tama - M/F - Jewel

Tamiko - F - Child of abundance

Tani - F - From the valley (child)

Taro - M - Firstborn

Taura - F - Many lakes; many rivers

Teijo - M - Fair

Tomeo - M - Cautious person

Tomiko - F - Child of wealth

Tora - F - Tigress

Torio - M - Bird's tail

Toru - M - Sea

Toshi - F - Mirror Reflection

Toshiro - M - Talented

Toya - M/F - Door of the house

Tsukiko - F - Child of the Moon

Tsuyu - F - Morning dew

Udo - M - Ginseng

Ume - F - Plum Blossom

Umeko - F - Child of plum blossoms

Usagi - F - Rabbit

Uyeda - M - From the rice field (child)

Yachi - F - Eight thousand

Yasu - F - Calm

Yasuo - M - Mirny

Yayoi - F - March

Yogi - M - Practicing yoga

Yoko - F - Child of the Sun

Yori - F - Trustworthy

Yoshi - F - Perfection

Yoshiko - F - Perfect child

Yoshiro - M - Perfect Son

Yuki - M - Snow

Yukiko - F - Snow child

Yukio - M - Cherished by God

Yuko - F - Kind child

Yumako - F - Child Yuma

Yumi - F - Like a bow (weapon)

Yumiko - F - Arrow Child

Yuri - F - Lilia

Yuriko - F - Child of a lily

Yuu - M - Noble blood

Yuudai - M - Great Hero

Nagisa - "coast"

Kaworu - "to smell sweet"

Ritsuko - "science", "attitude"

Akagi - "mahogany"

shinji - "death"

Misato - "beautiful city"

Katsuragi - "fortress with walls entwined with grass"

Asuka - lit. "love-love"

Soryu - "central current"

Ayanami - "strip of fabric", "wave pattern"

Rei - "zero", "example", "soul"

KENSHIN name means "Heart of the sword".

Akito - Glittering Man

Kuramori Reika - Protector of Treasure and Cold Summer Rurouni - The Wandering Wanderer

Himura - Burning Village

Shishio Makoto - True Hero

Takani Megumi - Sublime Love

Shinomori Aoshi - "Green Bamboo Forest"

Makimachi Misao - "Ruling the City"

Saito Hajime - "The Beginning of Human Life"

Hiko Seijuro - "Justice Done"

Seta Sojiro - "Comprehensive Forgiveness"

Mirai is the future

Hajime - boss

Mamoru - protector

Jibo - earth

hikari - light

Atarashiki - transformations

Namida - tears

Sora - sky

Ginga - the universe

Eve is alive

Izzy - doctor

Usagi the rabbit

Tsukino - Lunar

Ray - soul

Hino - fire

Ami - rain

Mitsuno - water

Corey - ice, icy

makoto is true

Cinema - air, forest

Minako - Venus

Aino - loving

Setsuna - Guard

Mayo - castle, palace

Haruka - 1) distance, 2) heavenly

Teno - heavenly

Michiru - way

Cayo - sea

Hotaru - light

Tomo is a friend.

Kaori - soft, affectionate

Yumi - Fragrant Beauty

Hakufu - Noble Sign

How to name a child?

For future parents in Japan, they release special collections of names - like ours in general - so that they can choose the most suitable for their child. In general, the process of choosing (or inventing) a name comes down to one of the following ways:

1. A keyword can be used in the name - a seasonal phenomenon, a shade of color, a precious stone, etc.

2. The name may contain the wish of the parents to become strong, wise or courageous, for which the hieroglyphs of strength, wisdom and courage are used, respectively.

3. you can also go from choosing the hieroglyphs you like the most (in various spellings) and combining them with each other.

4. Recently, it has become popular to name a child, focusing on hearing, i.e. depending on how pleasant the desired name is to the ear. Having chosen the desired pronunciation, they determine the hieroglyphs with which this name will be written.

5. It has always been popular to name a child after celebrities - heroes of historical chronicles, politicians, pop stars, TV series heroes, etc.

6. Some parents rely on various fortune-telling, they believe that the number of features in the hieroglyphs of the first and last name should be combined with each other.

The most common endings for Japanese names are:

Male names: ~aki, ~fumi, ~go, ~haru, ~hei, ~hiko, ~hisa, ~hide, ~hiro, ~ji, ~kazu, ~ki, ~ma, ~masa, ~michi, ~mitsu , ~nari, ~nobu, ~nori, ~o, ~rou, ~shi, ~shige, ~suke, ~ta, ~taka, ~to, ~toshi, ~tomo, ~ya, ~zou

Female names: ~a, ~chi, ~e, ~ho, ~i, ~ka, ~ki, ~ko, ~mi, ~na, ~no, ~o, ~ri, ~sa, ~ya, ~yo

Nominal suffixes

Personal pronouns

Japanese nominal suffixes and personal pronouns

Nominal suffixes

In Japanese, there is a whole set of so-called nominal suffixes, that is, suffixes added in colloquial speech to names, surnames, nicknames and other words denoting an interlocutor or a third person. They are used to indicate the social relationship between the speaker and the one being spoken about. The choice of a suffix is ​​determined by the character of the speaker (normal, rude, very polite), his attitude towards the listener (usual politeness, respect, fawning, rudeness, arrogance), their position in society and the situation in which the conversation takes place (one on one, in the circle of loved ones friends, between colleagues, between strangers, in public). What follows is a list of some of these suffixes (in ascending order of "respect" and their usual meanings.

Tyan (chan) - A close analogue of the "diminutive" suffixes of the Russian language. Usually used in relation to the younger or lower in the social sense, with whom one develops a close relationship. In the use of this suffix, the element of "lisping" is felt. Usually used when referring to adults to children, boys to their beloved girls, girlfriends to each other, small children to each other. The use of this suffix in relation to people who are not very close, equal in position to the speaker, is impolite. For example, if a guy refers to a peer of the same age with whom he does not “twist an affair”, then he shows incorrectness. A girl who addresses a fellow peer with whom she doesn’t “twist an affair” is, in fact, rude.

Kun (kun) - An analogue of the appeal "comrade". Most often used between men or in relation to guys. Indicates, rather, some "official", however, close relations. Say, between classmates, partners or friends. It can also be used in relation to the younger or lower in the social sense, when this circumstance does not need to be emphasized.

Yang (yan) - Kansai equivalent of "-chan" and "-kun".

Pyon (pyon) - Children's version of "-kun".

Tti (cchi) - Children's version of "-chan" (cf. "Tamagotti".

Without suffix - Close relationship, but without "lisping". The usual address of adults to teenage children, friends to each other, etc. If a person does not use suffixes at all, then this is a clear indicator of rudeness. Addressing by surname without a suffix is ​​a sign of familiar, but "detached" relationships (a typical example is the relationship of schoolchildren or students).

San (san) - An analogue of the Russian "mister / madam". General indication to a respectful attitude. Often used to communicate with strangers, or when all other suffixes do not fit. Used in relation to elders, including older relatives (brothers, sisters, parents).

Han (han) - Kansai equivalent of "-san".

Si (shi) - "Sir", is used exclusively in official documents after the surname.

Fujin (fujin) - "Lady", is used exclusively in official documents after the surname.

Kohai (kouhai) - Appeal to the younger. Especially often - at school in relation to those who are younger than the speaker.

Senpai (senpai) - Appeal to the elder. Especially often - at school in relation to those who are older than the speaker.

Dono (dono) - Rare suffix. Respectful address to an equal or superior, but slightly different in position. It is now considered obsolete and almost never occurs in communication. In ancient times, it was actively used when samurai addressed each other.

Sensei (sensei) - "Teacher". Used in relation to the actual teachers and professors, as well as to doctors and politicians.

Senshu (senshu) - "Athlete". Used in relation to famous athletes.

Zeki (zeki) - "Sumo wrestler". Used in relation to famous sumo wrestlers.

Ue (ue) - "Senior". A rare and obsolete respectful suffix used for older family members. It is not used with names - only with designations of the position in the family ("father", "mother", "brother".

Sama (sama) - The highest degree of respect. Appeal to gods and spirits, to spiritual authorities, a girl to her lover, servants to noble masters, etc. It roughly translates into Russian as "respected, dear, venerable."

Jin (jin) - "One of". "Saya-jin" means "one of the Sai".

Tachi (tachi) - "And friends." Goku-tachi - Goku and his friends.

Gumi (gumi) - "Team, group, party." "Kenshin-gumi" - "Team Kenshin".

Japanese names and their meanings

Personal pronouns

In addition to nominal suffixes, Japan also uses many various ways addressing each other and calling themselves with personal pronouns. The choice of a pronoun is determined by the social laws already mentioned above. The following is a list of some of these pronouns.

Group with the meaning "I"

Watakushi - A very polite female version.

Washi - Obsolete polite variant. Does not depend on gender.

Wai is the Kansai equivalent of "washi".

Boku (Boku) - Familiar youth male version. It is rarely used by women; in this case, “non-femininity” is emphasized. Used in poetry.

Ore - Not a very polite option. Purely masculine. Kind of cool. ^_^

Ore-sama (Ore-sama) - "Great I". A rare form, an extreme degree of boasting.

Daiko or naiko (Daikou/Naikou) - An analogue of "ore-sama", but somewhat less boastful.

Sessha - A very polite form. Usually used by samurai when addressing their masters.

Hisyo (Hishou) - "Insignificant." A very polite form, now practically not used.

Gusei - An analogue of "hisyo", but somewhat less pejorative.

Oira (Oira) - Polite form. Commonly used by monks.

Tin (Chin) - special shape, which only the emperor has the right to use.

Ware (Ware) - Polite (formal) form, translated as [I / you / he] "himself". It is used when it is necessary to especially express the importance of "I". For example, in spells (“I conjure.” In modern Japanese, it is rarely used in the meaning of “I”. It is more often used to form a reflexive form, for example, “forgetting about yourself” - “ware in vasurete”.

[Speaker's name or position] - Used by or with children, usually within a family. Let's say a girl named Atsuko can say "Atsuko is thirsty". Or her older brother, referring to her, can say "Brother will bring you juice." There is an element of "lisping" in this, but such an appeal is quite acceptable.

Group with the meaning "We"

Watashi-tachi - A polite option.

Ware-ware - A very polite, formal variant.

Bokura - An impolite variant.

Touhou - The usual variant.

Group with the meaning "You / You":

Anata - General polite variant. Also, the usual address of a wife to her husband ("dear".

Anta (Anta) - A less polite option. Usually used by young people. A slight hint of disrespect.

Otaku (Otaku) - Literally translated as "your home." Very polite and rare form. Due to the arrogant use of Japanese informals in relation to each other, the second meaning was fixed - “fan, crazy”.

Kimi - A polite variant, often between friends. Used in poetry.

Kijo (Kijou) - "Lady". A very polite way of addressing a lady.

Onushi (Onushi) - "Insignificant." An obsolete form of polite speech.

Omae (Omae) - Familiar (when referring to an enemy - insulting) option. Usually used by men in relation to the socially younger (father to daughter, say).

Temae / Temee (Temae / Temee) - Offensive male version. Usually towards the enemy. Something like "bastard" or "bastard".

Onore - An offensive variant.

Kisama - Very offensive. Translated with dots. ^_^ Oddly enough, it literally translates as "noble lord."

Japanese names

Modern Japanese names consist of two parts - the family name, which comes first, and the given name, which comes second. True, the Japanese often write their names in "European order" (first name - last name) if they write them in romaji. For convenience, the Japanese sometimes write their last name in CAPITAL letters so that it is not confused with the name (due to the above-described inconsistency).

The exception is the emperor and members of his family. They don't have a last name. Girls who marry princes also lose their last names.

Ancient names and surnames

Before the Meiji Restoration, only aristocrats (kuge) and samurai (bushi) had surnames. The rest of the population of Japan was content with personal names and nicknames.

Women of aristocratic and samurai families also usually did not have surnames, since they did not have the right to inherit. In cases where women did have surnames, they did not change them upon marriage.

Surnames were divided into two groups - the surnames of aristocrats and the surnames of samurai.

Unlike the number of samurai surnames, the number of surnames of aristocrats has practically not increased since ancient times. Many of them date back to the priestly past of the Japanese aristocracy.

The most revered and respected clans of aristocrats were: Konoe, Takashi, Kujo, Ichijo and Gojo. All of them belonged to the Fujiwara clan and had a common name - "Gosetsuke". From among the men of this kind, regents (sessho) and chancellors (kampaku) of Japan were appointed, and wives for emperors were chosen from among women.

The following in nobility were the Hirohata, Daigo, Kuga, Oimikado, Saionji, Sanjo, Imaidegawa, Tokudaiji, and Kaoin clans. From among them, the highest state dignitaries were appointed.

So, representatives of the Saionji clan served as imperial stables (meryo no gogen). Then came all the other aristocratic clans.

The hierarchy of nobility of aristocratic families began to take shape in the VI century and lasted until the end of the XI century, when power in the country passed to the samurai. Among them, the clans of Genji (Minamoto), Heike (Taira), Hojo, Ashikaga, Tokugawa, Matsudaira, Hosokawa, Shimazu, Oda enjoyed special respect. A number of their representatives in different time were the shoguns (military rulers) of Japan.

The personal names of aristocrats and high-ranking samurai were formed from two kanji (hieroglyphs) of a "noble" meaning.

The personal names of samurai servants and peasants were often given according to the "numbering" principle. The first son is Ichiro, the second is Jiro, the third is Saburo, the fourth is Shiro, the fifth is Goro, and so on. Also, in addition to "-ro", the suffixes "-emon", "-ji", "-zo", "-suke", "-be" were used for this purpose.

Upon entering the samurai during his youth, he chose a different name for himself than what he was given at birth. Sometimes the samurai changed their names and throughout adult life, for example, to emphasize the onset of her new period (promotion or moving to another duty station). The lord had the right to rename his vassal. In the event of a serious illness, the name was sometimes changed to the name of the Buddha Amida in order to appeal to his mercy.

According to the rules of samurai fights, before the fight, the samurai had to name his full name so that the opponent can decide whether he is worthy of such an opponent. Of course, in life this rule was observed much less frequently than in novels and chronicles.

At the end of the names of girls from noble families, the suffix "-hime" was added. It is often translated as "princess", but in fact it was used in relation to all noble young ladies.

For the names of the wives of the samurai, the suffix "-gozen" was used. Often they were called simply by their husband's surname and rank. personal names married women practically used only by their close relatives.

For the names of monks and nuns from the noble classes, the suffix "-in" was used.

Modern names and surnames

During the Meiji Restoration, all Japanese were given surnames. Naturally, most of them were associated with various signs of peasant life, especially with rice and its processing. These surnames, like those of the upper class, were also usually composed of two kanji.

The most common Japanese surnames now are Suzuki, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Saito, Sato, Sasaki, Kudo, Takahashi, Kobayashi, Kato, Ito, Murakami, Onishi, Yamaguchi, Nakamura, Kuroki, Higa.

Men's names have changed less. They also often depend on the "serial number" of the son in the family. The suffixes "-ichi" and "-kazu" meaning "first son" are often used, as well as the suffixes "-ji" ("second son" and "-zo" ("third son").

Most Japanese female names end in “-ko” (“child” or “-mi” (“beauty”). Girls are usually given names that are related in meaning to everything beautiful, pleasant and feminine. Unlike male names, female names are usually written not in kanji, but in hiragana.

Some modern girls do not like the "-ko" ending in their names and prefer to omit it. For example, a girl named "Yuriko" might refer to herself as "Yuri".

According to the law passed during the time of Emperor Meiji, after marriage, the husband and wife are required by law to take the same surname. In 98% of cases, this is the husband's surname. For several years now, an amendment to the Civil Code has been discussed in parliament, allowing spouses to leave premarital surnames. However, while she can not get the required number of votes.

After death, a Japanese person receives a new, posthumous name (kaimyo), which is written on a special wooden tablet (ihai). This tablet is considered the embodiment of the spirit of the deceased and is used in funeral rites. Kaimyo and ihai are bought from Buddhist monks, sometimes even before the person dies.

The surname in Japanese is called "myoji" (苗字 or 名字), "uji" (氏) or "sei" (姓).

The vocabulary of the Japanese language has long been divided into two types: wago (Jap. 和語?) - native Japanese words and kango (Jap. 漢語?) - borrowed from China. Names are divided into the same types, although a new type is now actively expanding - gairaigo (Jap. 外来語?) - words borrowed from other languages, but components of this type are rarely used in names.

Modern Japanese names are divided into the following groups:

kunnye (consisting of vago)

onny (consisting of kango)

mixed

The ratio of Kun and Onn surnames is approximately 80% to 20%.

The most common surnames in Japan are:

Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 Sato:?)

Suzuki (jap. 鈴木?)

Takahashi (Japanese: 高橋?)

Tanaka (Japanese: 田中?)

Watanabe (jap. 渡辺?)

Ito (Japanese: 伊藤 Itō:?)

Yamamoto (jap. 山本?)

Nakamura (Japanese: 中村?)

Ohayashi (Jap. 小林?)

Kobayashi (Jap. 小林?) (different surnames, but spelled the same and have roughly the same distribution)

Kato (Jap. 加藤 Kato:?)

Many surnames, although they are read according to the on (Chinese) reading, go back to ancient Japanese words and are written phonetically, and not in meaning.

Examples of such surnames: Kubo (jap. 久保?) - from jap. kubo (jap. 窪?) - a hole; Sasaki (jap. 佐々木?) - from the ancient Japanese sasa - small; Abe (jap. 阿部?) - from ancient word ape - to combine, to mix. If we take into account such surnames, then the number of native Japanese surnames reaches 90%.

For example, the hieroglyph 木 ("tree") is read in kun as ki, but in names it can also be read as ko; The hieroglyph 上 ("up") can be read in kun as both ue and kami. There are two different surnames Uemura and Kamimura, which are spelled the same - 上村. In addition, there are dropping out and merging of sounds at the junction of components, for example, in the surname Atsumi (Japanese 渥美?), the components separately are read as atsui and umi; and the surname 金成 (kana + nari) is often read simply as Kanari.

When combining hieroglyphs, the alternation of the ending of the first component A / E and O / A is typical - for example, 金 kane - Kanagawa (Jap. 金川?), 白 Shiro - Shiraoka (Jap. 白岡?). In addition, the initial syllables of the second component often become voiced, for example 山田 Yamada (pit + ta), 宮崎 Miyazaki (miya + saki). Also, surnames often contain the remainder of the case indicator no or ha (in ancient times it was customary to put them between the given name and surname). Usually this indicator is not written, but read - for example, 一宮 Ichinomiya (ichi + miya); 榎本 Enomoto (e + moto). But sometimes the case indicator is displayed in hiragana, katakana, or a hieroglyph - for example, 井之上 Inoue (and + but + ue); 木ノ下 Kinoshita (ki + katakana no + sita).

The vast majority of surnames in Japanese consist of two characters, surnames of one or three characters are less common, and four-digit or more surnames are very rare.

One-component surnames are mainly of Japanese origin and are formed from nouns or medial forms of verbs. For example, Watari (Jap. 渡?) - from watari (Jap. 渡り crossing?), 　Hata (Jap. 畑?) - the word hata means "plantation, vegetable garden". Onn surnames consisting of one hieroglyph are much less common. For example, Cho (Jap. 兆 Cho:?) means “trillion”, Ying (Jap. 因?) means “reason”.

Japanese surnames consisting of two components, the majority, are called numbers in 60-70%. Of these, most of them are surnames from Japanese roots - it is believed that such surnames are the easiest to read, since most of them are read according to the usual kuns used in the language. Examples - Matsumoto (Jap. 松本?) - consists of the nouns used in the language of matsu "pine" and moto "root"; Kiyomizu (Japanese: 清水?) - consists of the adjective stem 清い kiyoi - "clean" and the noun 水 mizu - "water". Chinese two-component surnames are less numerous and usually have a single reading. Often Chinese surnames contain numbers from one to six (excluding four 四, since this number is read the same as "death" 死 si and they try not to use it). Examples: Ichijo: (Japanese 一条?), Saito: (Japanese 斉藤?). There are also mixed surnames, where one component is read by on, and the other by kun. Examples: Honda (jap. 本田?), khon - "base" (on reading) + ta - "rice field" (kun reading); Betsumiya (jap. 別宮?), betsu - "special, different" (on reading) + miya - "temple" (kun reading). Also, a very small part of the surnames can be read both by ons and by kuns: 坂西 Banzai and Sakanishi, 宮内 Kunai and Miyauchi.

In three-component surnames, Japanese roots are often found phonetically recorded by onami. Examples: 久保田 "Kubota (probably the word 窪 kubo "fossa" is spelled phonetically as 久保), 阿久津 Akutsu (probably the word 明く aku "open" is spelled phonetically as 阿久). However, common three-component surnames consisting of three kun readings are also common. Examples: 矢田部 Yatabe, 小野木 Ōnoki There are also three-component surnames with Chinese reading.

Four or more component surnames are very rare.

There are surnames with very unusual readings that look like puzzles. Examples: 十八女 Wakairo - written in characters "eighteen-year-old girl", and read as 若色 "young + color"; The surname denoted by the character 一 "one" is read as Ninomae, which can be translated as 二の前 ni no mae "before the deuce"; and the surname 穂積 Hozue, which can be interpreted as "gathering of ears", is sometimes written as 八月一日 "the first day of the eighth lunar month" - apparently on this day the harvest began in ancient times.

The modern Japanese name in its composition follows the tradition characteristic of Chinese, Korean and a number of other cultures. According to this tradition, a Japanese name consists of a family name or surname followed by a personal name. Names in Japan are most often written in kanji, which have different pronunciations in different cases.

All modern Japanese have a single surname and a single given name; they do not have a patronymic. The only exception is the imperial family, whose members have only a first name without a surname.

The Japanese pronounce and write their last name and first name in reverse order than is customary in the West. Last name comes first, then first name. However, in Western languages, Japanese names are written in the order familiar to Europeans - the surname follows the given name.

Often Japanese names are created independently from existing characters. As a result, this country has a large number of unique, non-recurring names. More traditional are surnames, which by their origin often belong to toponyms. Thus, there are more names in Japanese than surnames. The difference between female and male names is expressed in the use of component names characteristic of each species and their structure. It should be noted that reading Japanese names is perhaps the most difficult element in the Japanese language.

Transcription of Japanese names

Most often, in other languages ​​that use the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet, Japanese names are written according to their transcription, as well as ordinary Japanese text, according to the rules of a particular system - for example, romaji, Polivanov's system. Not less common is the recording of Japanese names in non-standard transliteration, for example, “shi” is used instead of “si”, and “ji” instead of “ji”, which is explained by an attempt to transliterate from the Latin spelling of the name according to the romaji system. For example, the name and surname Honjou Shizuka by Russian-speaking readers in most cases is read as Honjo "at Shizu" ka, and not Honjou Shizuka.

In Latin and Cyrillic transcription, Japanese names most often go in the usual order for Europeans - first the first name, then the surname, i.e. Yamada Taro is usually written as Tarou Yamada. This order is found in news feeds, magazines and journalistic publications. Less commonly, the Japanese spelling order is used, but in this case, the surname in Latin spelling is written in full capital letters. The Japanese traditional order of indicating the surname and name can be found in professional linguistic publications.

Sometimes you can find the Latin spelling of the name using standard Latin abbreviations of the name to the initial. Vowels in Japanese have different lengths, which may be shown in transliteration in a spelling way (for example, Tarou Yamada), or may not be shown at all (for example, Taro Yamada). In Cyrillic writing, vowel length is usually not shown. The exception is educational publications, where the length of vowels is shown in brackets after writing in hieroglyphs and is indicated by a colon.

In Japanese, the relationship of interlocutors to each other is expressed by a suffix that is added after the name. So, san is typical for respectful neutral communication, kun is used in a conversation between two men, a classmate or work colleagues of equal rank, and tyan is an analogue of diminutive suffixes in Russian. The last suffix is ​​usually used in close acquaintance, when referring to girls or children.

Most Japanese refer to each other by their last names. Only in the circle of friends and good acquaintances is it possible to address by name without a suffix, in other cases such an appeal will be considered familiar.

As mentioned above, the choice of a name in Japan is not limited by anything, names can be created from any hieroglyphs allowed for this. Of course, many Japanese use popular names that take into account certain traditions.

Female Japanese names

Most Japanese names are easy to read and write, but there is a trend among parents to choose characters with unusual spellings or readings. It is for this reason that a large number of interpretations of both the meaning and reading of Japanese names have appeared. This trend has been actively manifested since the end of the 20th century.

This phenomenon was especially active in women's names. It is for this reason that the popularity of a particular female name is not as stable as that of a male one. For the past 20 years, Misaki and Sakura have continued to stay in the top 10, but they have been squeezed out by names such as Hina, Aoi, Rin and Yui, who have not been in the top five most popular female names in the last 100 years.

Japanese girl names have a clear and understandable meaning and are easy to read. Most of the female names are composed of the main component and the indicator, although there are names that do not have an indicative component. Depending on the value of the main component, it can be divided into several types.

• Many female names fall into the group of names with an abstract meaning. These names are based on components meaning "love", "calm", "tenderness" and others. Such names are given as a wish to possess certain qualities in the future (Kiyoko, Michi).
• The next group of names are names that have animal or plant components in their composition. In the past, girls were often given similar names. It was believed to promote health. However, today the fashion for names with animal components has passed. Only the component denoting "crane" is still popular. And the hieroglyphs associated with the world of flora do not go out of fashion to this day. Very often you can find names with components denoting "chrysanthemum" or "bamboo" (Sakura, Hana, Kiku).
• It is very rare to find names with numerals that take their roots in the ancient tradition of naming girls from noble families in order of birth (Nanami, Anko).
• You can also find names that have in their composition a component with the meaning of seasons, time of day, etc. (Yuki, Kasuma)
• Fashion for foreign names (Anna, Maria and others).

Beautiful Japanese names. The greatest changes have occurred among female names. New signs and hieroglyphs were added to record the name, the view on the general use of female names changed - more European-sounding names began to appear that resemble European names, although they are traditionally written in hieroglyphs and compiled according to traditional Japanese traditions. Examples would be the names - Naomi, Mika, Yuna.

At present, beautiful Japanese names contain less and less animal or plant components, and more and more abstract concepts and desirable meanings have begun to be used. good qualities, future success (Haruto, Hina, Yuna, Yamato, Sora, Yua). Although the name Sakura does not leave the top ten most popular female names, the female name Aoi (mallow) and the male name Ren (lotus) are firmly in the top five.

The previously common component of the name with the ending “-ko”, which literally means “child”, has become considered unfashionable, out of date, therefore it is used less and less, although it has not completely lost its position (Asako, Yumiko, Takako).

Male Japanese names

Male names are incredibly difficult to read. It is in them that non-standard readings of nanori and rare readings are used, sometimes some components change in a non-standard way. So, the names Kaoru, Shigekazu and Kungoro have the same hieroglyph in their composition, but in each individual name it is read differently. Also, the same component of yoshi names, which is very common in Japan, can be written with 104 different characters or their combinations. It happens that only its bearer can read the name correctly.

Often one-component names come from verbs or adjectives. For example, Kaoru comes from the verb “to smell sweet”, and Hiroshi comes from the adjective “wide”. Male names that include two hieroglyphs use the hieroglyph denoting the male name as the second hieroglyph, showing also the way the name is read. Three-component names have a similar two-component index (Katsumi, Macao, Naoki, Sora).

Time does not stand still, and modern trends have made their own adjustments. Now, among the male names, traditional ones continue to prevail, but now they have different reading options. Popular male names in 2005 were such names as Sho, Shota, Hikaru, Tsubasa, Yamato, Takumi and various variations of the name Hiroto.

The traditional male name Hiroto now has alternative readings and "romanized" transcriptions. In the Russian version of pronunciation and recording, these are as if completely different and not at all close, not similar names, because the whole thing is in writing the hieroglyph and voicing it. Modern twins for the name Hiroto - Haruto, Yamato, Daito, Taiga, Sora, Taito, Masato, all of them are used in modern times along with their progenitor.

Most often, male names are divided into the following groups, but these are only the most basic ones.

• The name contains the "-ro" component, which is interpreted as "son" (Ichiro, Shiro, Saburo). But also this part of the name is assigned the meaning of “light”, “clear”, which can add various shades to the meaning of the name.
• The "-to" component is considered masculine and is very rare among female names. Means either "person" (Yuto, Kaito), or "fly", "soar" (Hiroto).
• The "-dai" component means "big, great". Used only in male names (Dai, Daichi, Daisuke, Daiki).
• Desirable names are popular, in which the boy is credited with masculine traits, future successes and wonderful life(Takeshi, Niboru, Ken).
• Traditional Japanese names are related to natural phenomena, seasons, natural materials(Kita, Montaro, Kohaku, Akiyama).

List of Japanese names with descriptions

List of Japanese names with meanings

Ai (Ai) - love

Ayaka - colorful flower

Aiko - beloved child

Aina (Aina) - loving

Akemi - dazzlingly beautiful

Aki (Aki) - born in autumn

Akiko (Akiko) - autumn child

Akira (Akira) - smart, quick-witted

Akihito - bright, friendly

Akiyama - autumn mountain

Amaya (night rain)

Ami (Ami) - beautiful Asian

Amida is the Japanese name for Buddha Amitabha.

Anzu - apricot

Anko (Aneko) - older sister

Aoi (Aoi) - pink mallow

Arisu (Arisu) - noble (Japanese analogue of the name Alice)

Atsuko (Azuko) - a kind child

Ayame - iris

Ayana - beautiful sounding

Bachiko - happy child

Botan (Botan) - long life, longevity

Gin / Gin (Gin) - silver

Goro - fifth son

Daiki - great tree, great radiance

Daisuke - great help

Izumi - fountain

Ima (Ima) - now

Isamu - peppy

Itsu (Etsu) - delightful, charming

Ichiro (Ichiro) - the first son

Ishi - stone

Yoko (Yuko) - bright / sunny child

Yori - trustworthy

Yoshi - reeds

Kagami - mirror

Kazuko (Kazuko) - a harmonious child

Kazuo - the man of the world

Kaze - wind

Kazuki - hope for the world

Kazuya (Kazuya) - harmonious, cheerful

Kaito (Kaito) - elusive

Kameko (Turtle child) (symbol of longevity)

Kana - diligent

Kano (Kano) - male power, opportunity

Kasumi (Kasumi) - haze, fog

Katashi (hardness)

Katsu (Katsu) - victory

Katsuo (Katsuo) - victorious child

Katsuro - victorious son

Keiko - blessed child, happy child

Ken (Ken) - strong, healthy

Kenji - strong second son

Kenshin - the heart of the sword

Kenta (Kenta) - healthy and bold

Kiyoko - purity

Kiyoshi (quiet)

Kiku (Kiku) - chrysanthemum

Kimiko (child of noble blood)

Kin - gold

Cinema (Kino) - air, forest

Kita - North

Kichiro (Kichiro) - a lucky son

Koko - stork

Koto (Koto) - the name of the national musical instrument Japanese - "koto", melodic

Kohaku - amber

Kohana - small flower

Kumiko - forever beautiful

Kuri - chestnut

Mai (Mai) - bright, leaf, dance

Maiko (Maeko) - an honest child

Makoto (Makoto) - sincere, true, truthful

Mami (Mami) - true beauty

Mamoru - earth, protector

Manami - the beauty of love

Marise - infinity

Matsuo - pine

Maemi (sincere smile)

Midori - green

Mika - first sound, three trees

Mina (Mina) - beauty

Mira (Mirai) - treasure

Misaki - flowering of beauty, beautiful flowering

Miu (Miu) - a beautiful feather

Mizuki - beautiful moon

Mitsuko - child of light

Michi (Michi) - fair, road

Miya (Miya) - three arrows

Montaro - mountains

Momoko (Peach Child)

Nami (Nami) - wave

Nana (Nana) - apple, seven

Nanami - seven seas

Naoki - straight tree

Naoko - obedient child, honest child

Naomi (Naomi) - beautiful

Nara - oak

Nariko - sissy, thunder

Natsuko - summer child

Natsumi - beautiful summer

Niboru - famous, rising

Nikki - new hope

Nori (Nori) - law, ceremony, rite

Nyoko - gemstone

Oki (Oki) - the middle of the ocean

Osamu (observant of the law)

Reiko - grateful child, thanksgiving child

Renzo - third son

Ryo (remote reality)

Ryota - obese, fat

Riko - child of jasmine, child of reason

Riku (Riku) - land, land

Rin (Rin) - unfriendly, cold

Rini (Rini) - little bunny

Japanese culture is unique, radically different from the rest of the world. In this article, we will list the most beautiful Japanese names and their meanings. Consider both male and female names. Also, consider the features and tips when choosing these names.

Today, Japanese names are at the peak of popularity in Russia, this is due, first of all, to the fashion for Japanese culture - cinema, music, animation and literature. With female names, not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. They are easy to read and write, according to the locals, but the Europeans categorically disagree with this. Therefore, in our list only the most beautiful and consonant options:

• Izumi is a fountain of happiness;
• Yoko is the child of the ocean;
• Yoshi - fragrant branch;
• Kaori - fabric fragrance;
• Kaoru - gentle smell;
• Kasumi - foggy morning;
• Katsumi - beauty wins;
• Kazue - a young branch;
• Kazuko - harmony;
• Kazumi - harmonious beauty;
• Kiku - chrysanthemum;
• Kin - gold;
• Kiyomi - immaculate beauty;
• Kohaku - amber;
• Kotone - sounds of a harp;
• Kou - happiness;
• Kumiko - beautiful child;

• Mayi - dance;
• Madoka - flower circle;
• Makoto - sincerity;
• Mana is love;
• Manami - affectionate beauty;
• Marie - beloved;
• Masami - luxurious beauty;
• Megumi - blessing;
• Misaki - blooming beauty;
• Michi - a long road;
• Midori - green;
• Minori - true;
• Mitsuko is a brilliant child;
• Mizuki is a beautiful moon;
• Miho is a beautiful bay;
• Michiko is an important child;
• Mommo - peach;
• Mommoko is the child of the peach;
• Moriko is a forest kid;
• Manami - the beauty of love;

• Nabuko is a devoted child;
• Naoki - obedient branch;
• Neo - honesty;
• Netsumi - summer beauty;
• Ran is a delicate orchid;
• Rika is the main fragrance;
• Riko - jasmine baby;
• Ren - water lily;

• Fumiko is the most beautiful baby;
• Hanako - flower child;
• Haru - spring, sun;
• Harumi - spring beauty;
• Hideko is a gorgeous kid;
• Hikaru - bright radiance;
• Hitomi - beautiful eyes;
• Hoshi is a star;
• Hotaru - firefly;

• Chi - wisdom;
• Chiharu - a thousand springs;
• Chow is a moth;
• Uzeji - rabbit;
• Shika - gentle deer;
• Shinju is a pearl;
• Eiko is a long-liver;
• Amy - blessed beauty;
• Etsuko is a cheerful child;
• Yuki - snow;
• Yumiko is a child of benefit;
• Yasu - calmness;
• Yayoi - dawn.

Even for specialists who are fluent in Japanese, it is extremely difficult to correctly read this or that female name. The desire to single out a child from the group, with the help of a name and make it unique, leads to the fact that parents begin to invent their own hieroglyphs, or write down and read traditional ones in an unusual way.

The Russian rating of girl names from the country of the Rising Sun is as follows. The top five, which has held steady for the past twenty years, has changed dramatically. Of the "old-timers", only Sakura and Misaki, of the completely new ones, which have never risen above tenth place, and today claim the championship, the following are called - Yui, Aoi, Rin and hina.

Despite the unusual pronunciation for the European ear, many Japanese names for girls have a completely understandable meaning. Some of them correspond to ethical categories loved in many countries. Separate names are translated as “love”, “tenderness” (Michi, Kiyoko), naming their daughters like that, parents are trying to “attract” these qualities, such a kind of message to the future.

For a long time, many names for girls were associated with the names of plants or animals. The most popular was and is the name Sakura (translated as "blooming Japanese cherry"). Also quite often there are names that can be translated as "chrysanthemum" (one of the flowers loved by the Japanese), Aoi ("mallow").

The hieroglyphs associated with the world of fauna fade into the background, most likely, this process is associated with the development of a high-tech society, only the name meaning "crane" remains of interest. The tradition of naming girls by numerals, which was previously popular in rich families with many children, is becoming a thing of the past.

A little earlier, there was a surge of interest in names ending in "ko" - Yumiko, Asako, he was associated with unusual animated films in the anime genre. In fact, the ending of the name “ko” means a child; in relation to any name, it indicates that its bearer has not yet grown up, has not become an adult.

Male Japanese names

Male Japanese onomastics is even more complex than female, non-standard pronunciations are more common here, the use of various combinations of hieroglyphs. The most surprising thing is that the same graphic sign, used in various combinations, is read differently. We give the most readable names for Russians:

• Izamu is a brave warrior;
• Isao - merit;
• Isaneji - inviting to visit;
• Yoichi - the first son;
• Iori - dependent;
• Yoshao is a good friend;
• Yoshi - good;
• Yoshinori - nobility;
• Yoshiro is a good son;
• Yoshito is a lucky person;
• Yoshieki - fair glory;
• Yoshiyuki - fair happiness;
• Iuoo - stone man;
• Ichiro is the first son;

• Kayoshi - quiet;
• Ken is healthy and strong;
• Kenji is a smart ruler;
• Kenichi - the first builder, governor;
• Kenta - healthy, strong;
• Kenshin - modest and honest;
• Kiyoshi - pure, holy;
• Kyo - ginger;
• Kichiro is a lucky son;
• Koji - the son of the ruler;
• Koichi - bright
• Koheku - amber;
• Kunayo is a compatriot;
• Catsero - the son of the winner;
• Katsu - victory;

• Naoki is an honest tree;
• Noboru - rise;
• Nobu - faith;
• Nobuo is a devoted person;
• Neo - honest;

• Rio - excellent;
• Ryota - strong;
• Raiden - thunder and lightning;
• Ryuu is a dragon;
• Suzumu - progressive;
• Sebero - third son;
• Sezo - decisive;
• Setoru - enlightened;
• Setoshi - quick-witted;

• Teruo is a flamboyant person;
• Tetsuya - iron;
• Tomayo - keeper;
• Tooru is a wanderer;
• Toshayo is a man of anxiety, a genius;
• Toshieki - bright;
• Toshiyuki - happy;
• Tsuyoshi - strong;
• Tsutomu - worker;
• Takeo - warrior;
• Takehiko - soldier of the prince;
• Takeshi is a fierce warrior;
• Tekumi is an artisan;
• Takao is a noble person;
• Tetsuo - dragon man;

• Shigeru - plentiful;
• Shin - true;
• Shoji - shining;
• Shoichi - correct;
• Shuji is excellent;
• Shuichi - manager;

• Eiji - luxurious;
• Yuichi - brave;
• Yukayo is a happy person;
• Yuki - happiness, snow;
• Yutaka - prosperous;
• Yuu - superior;
• Yuudei is a great hero;
• Yuchi - brave, second;
• Yasuo is an honest, peaceful person;
• Yasuhiro - rich honesty.

The simplest boy names consist of one hieroglyph, they are formed from verbs and adjectives, they can indicate certain actions or characteristics (“high”, “wide”, “fragrant”).

More complex are two- and three-component names. In them, the first part may indicate gender (“man”, “boy”), role significance (“son”). The second part is the characteristics associated with the position or profession (“prince”, “assistant”).

We can give several recommendations to parents who dream of naming their own child with a Japanese name. The first tip is to think it over well, moms and dads should think not only about themselves, satisfying their own interests, but also about the child too. He will have to grow up, study and be brought up in Russian society, where you will not always find a kind-hearted attitude towards a person with a familiar European name, not to mention a very exotic, Japanese one.

Tip two - when choosing a Japanese name for your son, you should definitely check for compatibility with the surname and patronymic. How will the life of the heir, big question, perhaps he will have to work in the Russian team. In this case, the appeal to an adult will be appropriate - by name and patronymic. Therefore, you need to try to choose a harmonious name, combined with both the patronymic and the surname.

Just imagine how difficult it will be for a child to live with a full name like: "Ivanov Yasuhiro Fedorovich."

The third tip is to check from the list what this or that name means, whether it has a negative, negative connotation, or the name is read positively in all positions.

A brief excursion into the theory of creating Japanese names

Japanese names always consist of several parts - this is, in fact, the name and the generic name ( or surname, if following European rules). But they are always written in a certain order: first the last name, then the first name. In this they differ from the inhabitants Western Europe, where they write the first name, then the surname, and Eastern Europe, where different spellings are allowed.

According to Japanese beliefs, the name should be rare, and therefore it is allowed to invent names for your own children on your own. There are signs with which names are written, changing the sequence of these signs or their spelling, the Japanese create new names, replenishing their already huge base.

The next rule does not apply to the field of education, but already addressing a person by name. The rule says that with the help of suffixes that are attached to the name of a person, you can express your attitude towards him. For example, the suffix "san" is a symbol of a neutral or respectful attitude towards the interlocutor. The suffix "tyan" is similar to diminutives in Russian. Such a prefix to the name can be used when communicating with children, close relatives or friends.

A Japanese given name (人名 jinmei) these days usually consists of a family name (surname) followed by a personal name.

Names are usually written in kanji, which can have many different pronunciations on different occasions.

Modern Japanese names can be compared to names in many other cultures. All Japanese have a single surname and a single given name without a middle name, with the exception of the Japanese Imperial Family, whose members do not have a surname. Girls who marry princes also lose their last names.

In Japan, the surname comes first, and then the given name. At the same time, in Western languages ​​(often in Russian), Japanese names are written in the reverse order of first name - last name - according to European tradition. For convenience, the Japanese sometimes write their last name in CAPITAL letters so that it is not confused with the given name.

Names in Japan are often created independently from existing characters, so the country has a huge number of unique names. Surnames are more traditional and most often go back to toponyms. There are more names in Japanese than surnames. Male and female names differ due to their characteristic components and structure. Reading Japanese proper names is one of the most difficult elements of the Japanese language.

The surname in Japanese is called "myoji" (苗字 or 名字), "uji" (氏) or "sei" (姓).

The vocabulary of the Japanese language has long been divided into two types: wago (Japanese 和語 "Japanese") - native Japanese words and kango (Japanese 漢語 Chineseism) - borrowed from China. Names are also divided into the same types, although a new type is now actively expanding - gairaigo (jap. 外来語) - words borrowed from other languages, but components of this type are rarely used in names.

Modern Japanese names are divided into the following groups:
kunny (consisting of vago),
onny (consisting of kango),
mixed.
The ratio of Kun and Onn surnames is approximately 80% to 20%.

The vast majority of surnames in Japanese consist of two characters, surnames of one or three characters are less common, and four or more digit surnames are very rare.

Male names are the most difficult part of Japanese proper names to read, it is in male names that non-standard readings of nanori and rare readings are very common, strange changes in some components, although there are also easy-to-read names. For example, the names Kaworu (薫), Shigekazu (薫), and Kungoro: (薫五郎) use the same character 薫 ("flavor"), but in each name it is read differently; and the common main component of yoshi names can be written in 104 different characters and their combinations. Sometimes reading is not at all connected with written hieroglyphs, so it happens that only its bearer himself can read the name correctly.

Japanese female names, unlike male ones, in most cases have a simple kun reading and a clear and understandable meaning. Most female names are composed according to the “main component + indicator” scheme, however, there are names without an indicative component. Sometimes female names can be written entirely in hiragana or katakana. Also, sometimes, there are names with on-reading, and also only in female names there are new non-Chinese borrowings (gairaigo).

Ancient names and surnames

Before the Meiji Restoration, only aristocrats (kuge) and samurai (bushi) had surnames. The rest of the population of Japan was content with personal names and nicknames.

Women of aristocratic and samurai families also usually did not have surnames, since they did not have the right to inherit. In cases where women did have surnames, they did not change them upon marriage.

Surnames were divided into two groups - the surnames of aristocrats and the surnames of samurai.

Unlike the number of samurai surnames, the number of surnames of aristocrats has practically not increased since ancient times. Many of them date back to the priestly past of the Japanese aristocracy.

The most honored and respected clans of aristocrats were: Konoe, Takashi, Kujo, Ichijo and Gojo. All of them belonged to the Fujiwara clan and had a common name - "Gosetsuke". From among the men of this kind, regents (sessho) and chancellors (kampaku) of Japan were appointed, and wives for emperors were chosen from among women.

The following in nobility were the Hirohata, Daigo, Kuga, Oimikado, Saionji, Sanjo, Imaidegawa, Tokudaiji, and Kaoin clans. From among them, the highest state dignitaries were appointed. So, representatives of the Saionji clan served as imperial stables (meryo no gogen). Then came all the other aristocratic clans.

The hierarchy of nobility of aristocratic families began to take shape in the VI century and lasted until the end of the XI century, when power in the country passed to the samurai. Among them, the clans of Genji (Minamoto), Heike (Taira), Hojo, Ashikaga, Tokugawa, Matsudaira, Hosokawa, Shimazu, Oda enjoyed special respect. A number of their representatives at different times were the shoguns (military rulers) of Japan.

The personal names of aristocrats and high-ranking samurai were formed from two kanji (hieroglyphs) of a "noble" meaning.

The personal names of samurai servants and peasants were often given according to the "numbering" principle. The first son is Ichiro, the second is Jiro, the third is Saburo, the fourth is Shiro, the fifth is Goro, and so on. Also, in addition to "-ro", the suffixes "-emon", "-ji", "-zo", "-suke", "-be" were used for this purpose.

Upon entering the samurai during his youth, he chose a different name for himself than what he was given at birth. Sometimes samurai changed their names throughout adulthood, for example, to emphasize the onset of her new period (promotion or moving to another duty station). The lord had the right to rename his vassal. In the event of a serious illness, the name was sometimes changed to the name of the Buddha Amida in order to appeal to his mercy.

According to the rules of samurai fights, before the fight, the samurai had to give his full name so that the enemy could decide whether he was worthy of such an opponent. Of course, in life this rule was observed much less frequently than in novels and chronicles.

At the end of the names of girls from noble families, the suffix "-hime" was added. It is often translated as "princess", but in fact it was used in relation to all noble young ladies.

For the names of the wives of the samurai, the suffix "-gozen" was used. Often they were called simply by their husband's surname and rank. The personal names of married women were practically used only by their close relatives.

For the names of monks and nuns from the noble classes, the suffix "-in" was used.

Modern names and surnames

During the Meiji Restoration, all Japanese were given surnames. Naturally, most of them were associated with various signs of peasant life, especially with rice and its processing. These surnames, like those of the upper class, were also usually composed of two kanji.

The most common Japanese surnames now are Suzuki, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Watanabe, Saito, Sato, Sasaki, Kudo, Takahashi, Kobayashi, Kato, Ito, Murakami, Onishi, Yamaguchi, Nakamura, Kuroki, Higa.

Men's names have changed less. They also often depend on the "serial number" of the son in the family. The suffixes "-ichi" and "-kazu" meaning "first son" are often used, as well as the suffixes "-ji" ("second son") and "-zo" ("third son").

Most Japanese female names end in "-ko" ("child") or "-mi" ("beauty"). Girls, as a rule, are given names that are connected in meaning with everything beautiful, pleasant and feminine. Unlike male names, female names are usually written in hiragana instead of kanji.

Some modern girls do not like the "-ko" ending in their names and prefer to omit it. For example, a girl named "Yuriko" might refer to herself as "Yuri".

According to the law passed during the time of Emperor Meiji, after marriage, the husband and wife are required by law to take the same surname. In 98% of cases, this is the husband's surname.

After death, the Japanese receive a new, posthumous name (kaimyo), which is written on a special wooden tablet (ihai). This tablet is considered the embodiment of the spirit of the deceased and is used in funeral rites. Kaimyo and ihai are bought from Buddhist monks - sometimes even before a person's death.

Japanese surnames and their meaning

Abe - 阿部 - corner, shadow; sector
Akiyama - 秋山 - autumn + mountain
Ando: - 安藤 - calm + wisteria
Aoki - 青木 - green, young + tree
Arai - 新井 - new well
Arai - 荒井 - wild well
Araki - 荒木 - wild + tree
Asano - 浅野／淺野 - small + [uncultivated] field; plain
Baba - 馬場 - horse + seat
Wada - 和田 - harmony + rice field
Watanabe - 渡辺／渡邊 - to cross + surroundings
Watanabe - 渡部 - to cross + part; sector;
Goto: - 後藤 - behind, future + wisteria
Yokota - 横田 - side + rice field
Yokoyama - 横山 - side, side of the mountain
Yoshida - 吉田 - happiness + rice field
Yoshikawa - 吉川 - happiness + river
Yoshimura - 吉村 - happiness + village
Yoshioka - 吉岡 - happiness + hill
Iwamoto - 岩本 - rock + base
Iwasaki - 岩崎 - rock + cape
Iwata - 岩田 - rock + rice field
Igarashi - 五十嵐 - 50 storms
Iendo: - 遠藤 - distant + wisteria
Iida - 飯田 - boiled rice, food + rice field
Ikeda - 池田 - pond + rice field
Imai - 今井 - now + well
Inoe - 井上 - well + top
Ishibashi - 石橋 - stone + bridge
Ishida - 石田 - stone + rice field
Ishii - 石井 - stone + well
Ishikawa - 石川 - stone + river
Ishihara - 石原 - stone + plain, field; steppe
Ichikawa - 市川 - city + river
Ito - 伊東 - that, he + east
Ito: - 伊藤 - I + wisteria
Kawaguchi - 川口 - river + mouth, entrance
Kawakami - 川上 - river + top
Kawamura - 川村 - river + village
Kawasaki - 川崎 - river + cape
Kamata - 鎌田 - sickle, scythe + rice field
Kaneko - 金子 - gold + child
Katayama - 片山 - piece + mountain
Kato: - 加藤 - add + wisteria
Kikuchi - 菊地 - chrysanthemum + earth
Kikuchi - 菊池 - chrysanthemum + pond
Kimura - 木村 - tree + village
Kinoshita - 木下 - tree + under, bottom
Kitamura - 北村 - north + village
Ko:no - 河野 - river + [uncultivated] field; plain
Kobayashi - 小林 - small forest
Kojima - 小島 - small + island
Koike - 小池 - small + pond
Komatsu - 小松 - small pine tree
Kondo - 近藤 - close + wisteria
Konishi - 小西 - small + west
Koyama - 小山 - small mountain
Kubo - 久保 - long + maintain
Kubota - 久保田 - long + maintain + rice field
Kudo: - 工藤 - worker + wisteria
Kumagai - 熊谷 - bear + valley
Kurihara - 栗原 - chestnut + plain, field; steppe
Kuroda - 黒田 - black rice field
Maruyama - 丸山 - round + mountain
Masuda - 増田 - increase + rice field
Matsubara - 松原 - pine + plain, field; steppe
Matsuda - 松田 - pine + rice field
Matsui - 松井 - pine + well
Matsumoto - 松本 - pine + base
Matsumura - 松村 - pine + village
Matsuo - 松尾 - pine + tail
Matsuoka - 松岡 - pine + hill
Matsushita - 松下 - pine + under, bottom
Matsuura - 松浦 - pine + bay
Maeda - 前田 - behind + rice field
Mizuno - 水野 - water + [uncultivated] field; plain
Minami - 南 - south
Miura - 三浦 - three bays
Miyazaki - 宮崎 - temple, palace + cape
Miyake - 三宅 - three houses
Miyamoto - 宮本 - temple, palace + base
Miyata - 宮田 - temple, palace + rice field
Mori - 森 - forest
Morimoto - 森本 - forest + base
Morita - 森田 - forest + rice field
Mochizuki - 望月 - full moon
Murakami - 村上 - village + top
Murata - 村田 - village + rice field
Nagai - 永井 - eternal well
Nagata - 永田 - eternal rice field
Naito - 内藤 - inside + wisteria
Nakagawa - 中川 - middle + river
Nakajima／Nakashima - 中島 - middle + island
Nakamura - 中村 - middle + village
Nakanishi - 中西 - west + middle
Nakano - 中野 - middle + [uncultivated] field; plain
Nakata／ Nakada - 中田 - middle + rice field
Nakayama - 中山 - middle + mountain
Narita - 成田 - to form + rice field
Nishida - 西田 - west + rice field
Nishikawa - 西川 - west + river
Nishimura - 西村 - west + village
Nishiyama - 西山 - west + mountain
Noguchi - 野口 - [uncultivated] field; plain + mouth, entrance
Noda - 野田 - [uncultivated] field; plain + rice field
Nomura - 野村 - [uncultivated] field; plain + village
Ogawa - 小川 - small river
Oda - 小田 - small rice field
Ozawa - 小沢／小澤 - small swamp
Ozaki - 尾崎 - tail + cape
Oka - 岡 - hill
Okada - 岡田 - hill + rice field
Okazaki - 岡崎 - hill + cape
Okamoto - 岡本 - hill + base
Okumura - 奥村 - deep (hidden) + village
It - 小野 - small + [uncultivated] field; plain
Ooishi - 大石 - big stone
Ookubo - 大久保 - big + long + support
Oomori - 大森 - big forest
Oonishi - 大西 - big west
Oono - 大野 - large + [uncultivated] field; plain
Oosawa - 大沢／大澤 - big swamp
Ooshima - 大島 - big island
Oota - 太田 - large + rice field
Ootani - 大谷 - big valley
Oohashi - 大橋 - big bridge
Ootsuka - 大塚 - big + hill
Sawada - 沢田／澤田 - swamp + rice field
Saito: - 斉藤／齊藤 - equal + wisteria
Saito: - 斎藤／齋藤 - purification (religious) + wisteria
Sakai - 酒井 - alcohol + well
Sakamoto - 坂本 - slope + base
Sakurai - 桜井／櫻井 - sakura + well
Sano - 佐野 - assistant + [uncultivated] field; plain
Sasaki - 佐々木 - assistants + tree
Sato: - 佐藤 - helper + wisteria
Shibata - 柴田 - brushwood + rice field
Shimada - 島田 - island + rice field
Shimizu - 清水 - pure water
Shinohara - 篠原 - undersized bamboo + plain, field; steppe
Sugawara - 菅原 - sedge + plain, field; steppe
Sugimoto - 杉本 - Japanese cedar + roots
Sugiyama - 杉山 - Japanese cedar + mountain
Suzuki - 鈴木 - bell (bell) + tree
Suto / Sudo - 須藤 - by all means + wisteria
Seki - 関／關 - Outpost; barrier
Taguchi - 田口 - rice floor + mouth
Takagi - 高木 - tall tree
Takada／Takata - 高田 - tall + rice field
Takano - 高野 - high + [uncultivated] field; plain
Takahashi - 高橋 - tall + bridge
Takayama - 高山 - high mountain
Takeda - 武田 - military + rice field
Takeuchi - 竹内 - bamboo + inside
Tamura - 田村 - rice field + village
Tanabe - 田辺／田邊 - rice field + neighborhood
Tanaka - 田中 - rice field + middle
Taniguchi - 谷口 - valley + mouth, entrance
Chiba - 千葉 - a thousand leaves
Uchida - 内田 - inside + rice field
Uchiyama - 内山 - inside + mountain
Ueda/Ueta - 上田 - top + rice field
Ueno - 上野 - top + [uncultivated] field; plain
Fujiwara - 藤原 - wisteria + plain, field; steppe
Fujii - 藤井 - wisteria + well
Fujimoto - 藤本 - wisteria + base
Fujita - 藤田 - wisteria + rice field
Fukuda - 福田 - happiness, prosperity + rice field
Fukui - 福井 - happiness, prosperity + well
Fukushima - 福島 - happiness, prosperity + island
Furukawa - 古川 - old river
Hagiwara - 萩原 - bicolor lespedeza + plain, field; steppe
Hamada - 浜田／濱田 - shore + rice field
Hara - 原 - plain, field; steppe
Harada - 原田 - plain, field; steppe + rice field
Hashimoto - 橋本 - bridge + base
Hasegawa - 長谷川 - long + valley + river
Hattori - 服部 - clothes, subordinate + part; sector;
Hayakawa - 早川 - early + river
Hayashi - 林 - forest
Higuchi - 樋口 - gutter; drain + mouth, input
Hirai - 平井 - level well
Hirano - 平野 - flat + [uncultivated] field; plain
Hirata - 平田 - flat + rice field
Hirose - 広瀬／廣瀬 - wide fast current
Homma - 本間 - base + gap, room, luck
Honda - 本田 - base + rice field
Hori - 堀 - channel
Hoshino - 星野 - star + [uncultivated] field; plain
Tsuji - 辻 - street
Tsuchiya - 土屋 - land + house
Yamaguchi - 山口 - mountain + mouth, entrance
Yamada - 山田 - mountain + rice field
Yamazaki／ Yamasaki - 山崎 - mountain + cape
Yamamoto - 山本 - mountain + base
Yamanaka - 山中 - mountain + middle
Yamashita - 山下 - mountain + under, bottom
Yamauchi - 山内 - mountain + inside
Yano - 矢野 - arrow + [uncultivated] field; plain
Yasuda - 安田 - calm + rice field.

Personal names in Japan are the most difficult direction in the Japanese language. Women's names are no exception here. At first, reading the translations, it may seem that there is nothing complicated. In Japanese, the surname is pronounced first, and then the given name. In Russian, as in many Western languages, the first name is pronounced first, and only then the surname. But believe me - this is the smallest difficulty that you encounter when working with Japanese names. Although even such a trifle sometimes confuses people who are poorly familiar with Japanese culture.

In Japanese culture, and in particular personal names, over the past hundred years there have been dramatic changes. This also affected the spelling of names and their meaning. New hieroglyphs and signs for writing names were allowed. The last major change dates back to the nineties of the twentieth century. Then the Parliament of Japan amended the list of permitted characters for writing names. In principle, these signs are amended approximately every five years. But as they say, only a dead language does not change.

The change in attitude towards traditions is especially evident in the modern names of the Japanese. If Japan used to be an extremely traditional society, now it is fading away with every generation. Names from Japanese comics - manga are very popular among modern Japanese names for girls. Manga is one of the Japanese cultural phenomena, comics covering a wide variety of topics for both children and adults. Manga, in fact, is not the usual children's comic, but rather a serious literary and visual work. This cultural phenomenon known and popular all over the world.

Another difficulty is the transliteration of Japanese names for girls. Transliteration of any language causes a lot of controversy, to say nothing of the language of the Land of the Rising Sun. Most often in Russian practice, the Polivanov system is used. It was introduced in the thirties of the twentieth century and since then has been an unofficially approved transliteration system from Japanese to Cyrillic.

Japanese girl names popular in 2009-2011

List of Japanese female names, their spelling and meaning.

Here is a list of female Japanese names compiled by our editors. Of course, these are not all possible female Japanese names, but according to statistics, these are the most popular. Japanese names are the most complex part of the Japanese language and therefore there are so many discrepancies in their translations. Enjoy watching.

Pronunciation Amaterasu

Writing 秋 and 明 and 晶 笃子 and 温子 彩花 and 彩华 彩乃 and 绫乃 顺子 and 纯子 和子 and 一子 后子 and 君子 爱美 and 爱海 雅子 and 昌子 直子 and 尚子 晴 and 春 and 阳 遥 and 遥 and 悠 裕 and 寛 and 浩 裕美 and 浩美 恵美 and 絵美

Meaning of the name indigo/love love song love child love beauty bright red color bright beauty autumn/bright/sparkle autumn baby bright/clear sun goddess blue/mallow morning beauty flavor of tomorrow kind child island of apples colorful/design color-flower/flower petals iris flower my color / my design pace/walk/walk safe living. obedient obedient child weaving scent beauty victory branch/first blessing harmonious harmonious beauty chrysanthemum honest, noble noble child pure child pure beauty harp sounds happiness/light/peace beautiful child child of the city circle/flower dancing child meaning / sincerity tender beauty true child of the village elegant child elegant beauty true clarity benefit the world blessing beautiful, wise child beautiful child beauty of flowering shining baby beautiful baby of the night handsome generation child beautiful moon budding one hundred blessings forest child obedient / respected obedient tree obedient child above all beauty summer beauty lily/orchid lovely baby meaningful flavor water lily child of cherished beauty favorite/flower baby flower spring/sun distance spring tree spring baby spring beauty gorgeous baby generous/tolerant abundant beauty long-lived child Glowworm wisdom wise child thousand springs scattered flowers fragrant baby a thousand generations child of a thousand generations long-lived baby beautiful blessing/ beautiful child blessed prize joyful child