During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the former distinctions between noble and commoner women’s names disappeared as commoners adopted the names of the nobility. Meanwhile, noble women used a nickname ending in -ko while they were at court, but went by their childhood names or childhood nicknames outside formal situations.

While some of the names below belonged to women as high-ranking as concubines and ladies-in-waiting of great daimyō, the list is slanted toward maids, ordinary townswomen, and other women from the upper levels of commoners.

This page is a work in progress. Updated Oct. 9, 2024.

NameSpelling and Meaning
Acha阿茶. Originally, acha was an honorific used by the emperor’s daughters, but by the 14th century it spread to less eminent women, then entered the name pool as a popular female name element. It could be shortened to cha.

A- (阿) was an affectionate prefix derived from the name of the Amitabha Buddha. Cha was written with the character for tea (茶), but it is best understood as a phonetic spelling rather than a reference to tea.
Achaa阿茶阿 See Acha.
Achacha阿茶茶 See Acha.
Agoあ五. Ago was derived from Ko, a short form of the classical childhood name Akome/Akomaru. Although Ago was written with the character for five (五), it is best understood as a phonetic spelling rather than a reference to the number five.
Agogoあ五五. See Ago.
Ahi 
Ai 
Akaka 
Ako吾子 “My child”
Akoko 
Aya 
Ayamachi 
Ayaya 
Azechi 
Chaa茶阿 See Acha.
Chacha茶々 See Acha.
Chatsu茶津 Literally “tea harbor,” but see Acha.
Chibo 
Chii 
Chiku 
Chima 
Chiyo千代 A thousand years
Chobo 
Fuji 
Fuku福 Good fortune, blessing, good luck
Gomoji五もじ
Gosa 
Gou 
Harima 
Haru春 Spring
Hatsu 
Higashi東 East
Ia 
Ichi市 Market
Ichiya 
Ichiyakoいちや子
Ima 
Imaaki 
Inaka 
InuDog, a name given to girls born in the Year of the Dog
Ishi石 Stone
Ishikame石か女 Stone + turtle
Itoito 
Itokoいと子
IwaRock
Iya 
Kaka 
Kame亀 Turtle
Kii 
Kiku菊 Chrysanthemum
Kimi 
Kita北 North
Kitsu 
Kiyaku 
KochiyaLittle Chiya
Kogouこ五う. Little Gou.
Kohi 
Koho 
KoitoLittle Ito
Koko 
KonabeLittle Nabe
KotsuruLittle Tsuru
Kou 
Koya 
KoyayaLittle Yaya
Kuma 
Kuni 
Kuri 
Maa 
Man万 Ten thousand
Masa 
Matsu松 Pine tree
Miya 
Muku 
Mume梅 Japanese plum
Musu 
Naa 
Nabe鍋, cooking pot. Despite the humble sound of this name, it could be borne by women of distinction–one of Oda Nobunaga’s concubines was named Nabe.
Naka 
Natsu夏 Summer
NeneMouse or rat, a name given to girls born in the Year of the Rat
Nishi西 West
On’ue 
Riri
Roku六 Six
Sako 
Sana 
Sashi 
Sen
Shiyaa 
Suwa 
Take竹 Bamboo
Tama玉 Jewel
Tatsu Dragon, a name given to girls born in the Year of the Dragon
Tau 
Toku徳 Virtue
Tomo 
ToraTiger, a name given to girls born in the Year of the Tiger
Tou 
Tsuma 
Tsuru鶴 Crane
Uba 
Uta 
Yasu 
Yaya 
Yayachaやや茶 See Acha.
Yome 
Yura 
Yuusai 
Yuusen 
Zuru (Dzuru) 

Sources

Goble, Andrew Edmund. “Women and Medicine in Late 16th Century Japan: The Example of the Honganji Religious Community in Ōsaka and Kyoto as Recorded in the Diary of Physician Yamashina Tokitsune.” Asia Pacific Perspectives, Vol. 14, no. 1 (2016): 50-74.

Tsunoda Bun’ei (角田文衛). Japanese Female Names: A Historical Perspective | 日本の女性名 歴史的展望. Higashimurayama, Japan : Kyōikusha, 1980-1988.