These are names borne by non-aristocratic men in 8th-century Japan.1 Aristocratic men had already begun to develop the complex system of multiple names and differing name elements that distinguishes later Japanese aristocrats from commoners, so while some of these names were borne by aristocrats, please do additional research before giving any specific name to an aristocratic male.

The main source for these names is “Female Names in Ancient Izumo | 古代出雲国の女性名について” by Hiroshi Tagome 田籠 博.

Phonetic spellings are the attested spellings in man’yōgana that are purely phonetic. Meaningful spellings are attested spellings whose first (and sometimes second) character is used for its meaning instead of its phonetic value in man’yōgana. For example, Akamaro 赤麻呂 is written with the character for “red,” 赤, plus the characters 麻呂, which are pronounced maro and whose meaning is lost.

Please note that this is a work in progress, so the Phonetic Spelling column may contain names that are spelled with meaningful first elements.

The Names – English Phonetic Spellings column reflects the two different pronunciations of I and E in the 8th century. (I have omitted the two pronunciations of O because they disappeared early in the century.)

Updated October 23, 2024.

Name – Corrected SpellingNaməy – Phonetic SpellingMeaningful SpellingPhonetic Spelling
AguriAguri餘, “too much, to be left over”
AkabitoAkabito赤人, “red” + -bito
AkamaroAkamaro赤麻呂, “red” + -maro
AkawiAkawi赤井, “red” + “well”
AkawiAkawi赤猪, “red boar,” a name given to boys born in the Year of the Boar.
AkomaroAkomaro阿古麻呂, possibly “beloved antiquity” + -maro
ArimaArima
ArisoAriso荒石, “rocky shore” (lit. “rough rock”)
ArumaAruma
ArumiArumi荒海, “rough sea”
AsawoAsawo呰男, “defect, to scold” + “male.” A negative name given to ward off misfortune.
AtuAtu安津, 安都, 安豆
AyamaroAyamaro綾麻呂, 阿屋麻呂
AyamusiAyamusi文虫, “weaving; woven pattern” + “insect.” When pronounced “aya,” the kanji 文 is a variant of the kanji 綾.
InatariInatari稲足, “rice plant” + -tari
InuInu犬, “dog,” given to children born in the Year of the Dog.
InumaroInumaro犬麻呂, “dog” + -maro. Given to children born in the Year of the Dog.
IpamaroIpamaro石麿, “stone” + -maro
IpimaroIpimaro飯麻呂, “cooked rice” + -maro
IpomaroIpomaro五百麻呂, “500” + -maro
IposimaIposima五百嶋, “500” + “island”
IpotariIpotari五百足, “500” + -tari
IpotiIpoti五百智, “500” + “wisdom”
Isimaro, IpamaroIsimaro, Ipamaro石麻呂, “stone” + -maro
ItapiItapi板日
ItimaroItimaro市麻呂, “market” + -maro
ItisimaItisima市嶋, “market” + “island”
KadurakiKadurakɨ葛木, “creeping vine (kudzu?)” + “tree”
KanamaroKanamaro金万呂, “gold, metal” + -maro
KatanaKatanaPossibly “knife”
KatanamaroKatanamaro方麻呂, “knife” + -maro
KetuKəytu氣莵
KimiKimi枳美
KimimaroKimimaro
KinumaroKinumaro
KomaroKomaro“Child” + -maro古麻呂
KomusiKomusi“Child” + “snake, insect”
KosimaKosima兒嶋
KotopiKotopi“Bull 牡,” possibly a name given to boys born in the Year of the Ox.許等比, 事日
KotoraKotora
KuroKuro黒, “black”
KurobitoKurobito黒人, “black” + -bito
KuromaroKuromaro黒麻呂, 黒万呂, “black” + -maro
KuromasaKuromasa黒当, “black” + “right, correct, appropriate”
KurotariKurotari黒足, “black” + -tari
KurowiKurowi黒井, “black” + “well”
KurowiKurowi黒猪, “black boar”
KusuriKusuri“Medicine 藥”久須理
ManaMana麻奈
MaroMaroThe name ending -maro, used as a standalone name.麻呂
MaturaMatura麻丑良
MidumaroMidumaroPossibly midu “fresh, young” + -maro.御豆麻呂
MimaroMɨmaro“Snake 巳” + -maro, a name given to children born in the Year of the Snake.味麻呂
MimineMimine
MinoMino三野, “three” + “field”
MiteMɨte“Snake 巳” + -te. A name given to children born in the Year of the Snake.味提
MiteMɨte“Snake 巳” + -te, a name given to children born in the Year of the Snake.身手
MitimaroMitimaro道麻呂, “road” + -maro
MituMɨtu身津, 身都
MiwoMɨwo“Snake 巳” + -wo. A name given to children born in the Year of the Snake.味乎
MiyamaroMiyamaro宮麻呂, “palace” + -maro
MiyateMiyate宮手, “palace” + -te
MomoyeMomoye百枝, “one hundred” + “branch”
MusiMusi虫, “snake” or “insect”
MusimaroMusimaro虫麻呂, “snake” or “insect” + -maro
MutukimaroMutukɨmaro正月麻呂. Mutuki 正月 means “exact, precise” + “moon,” but it may be a reference to Mutsuki, the name of the first month of the year, the beginning of spring. This name appears in a poem, so its bearer may be from the educated upper classes who could play such games with synonyms.
NapoNapoPossibly 猶 “gentle”奈保
NemaroNemaro鼠麻呂, “rat,” a name given to children born in the Year of the Rat.祢麻呂, 泥麻呂, 尼麻呂, 根麻呂
NipatariNipatari庭足, “garden” + -tari
NodosiNodosiThe root of “nodosi” is probably 長, “long.”乃止志
NomosoNomoso
OkojiOkoji
OkuraOkura憶良
OpiOpi甥, “nephew”意斐, 意比
OpomaroOpomaro大麻呂, “big, great” + -maro
OpomaroOpomaro邑麻呂
OponaOpona大魚
OposimaOposima大嶋, “great island”
OpotoOpoto邑登
OsubitoOsubito忍人, “patience, endurance” + -hito意志比止
Osumaro, Osimaru (varies by region)Osumaro, Osimaru (varies by region)忍麻呂, “patience, endurance”
OsutariOsutari忍足, “patience, endurance” + -tari
OtomaroOtomaro弟麻呂, 乙麻呂, “younger brother” + -maro
OusakaOusaka乎御佐加
OyuOyu老, “old person”意由
PayamatiPayamatiPossibly “fast road”波椰摩智
PayatoriPayatori速鳥, “swift bird”
PikoPiko“Grandchild 孫”比古
PikomaroPikomaro孫麻呂, “grandchild” + -maro
PiroPiro広, “broad, wide, spacious”比呂
PiromaroPiromaro広麻呂, “broad, wide, spacious”
PirosePirose廣背, “wide rapids”
PirosimaPirosima廣嶋, “broad, wise, spacious” + “island”
PirotariPirotari広足, “broad, wide, spacious” + -tari
PitomaroPitomaro
PituziPituzi羊, “sheep.” Given to children born in the Year of the Sheep.比都自
PosoPosoProbably “thin, narrow, fine 細”冨曽
SakamaroSakamaro酒麻呂, “rice wine” + -maro佐加麻呂, 坂麻呂
SaruSaru猴, “monkey.” Given to boys born in the Year of the Monkey.佐流
SaruteSarute猴毛, “monkey” + -te. Given to boys born in the Year of the Monkey.
SatuyumiSatuyumi“Hunting bow,” the common term for a type of bow.佐都由美
SemaroSemaro世麻呂
SemaroSemaro勢麻呂 (different from other one?)
SibimaroSibimaroPossibly “tuna 鮪” + -maro志婢麻呂
SimamiSimamɨ嶋身, “island” + -mi
SimatariSimatari嶋足, “island” + -tari
SimatuSimatu嶋津, “island” + -tu “harbor”
SipazuSipazu(Could pazu mean bowstring?)支波豆
SipiSipɨ志斐
SukuneSukune須久泥, 輸区泥
SukutaSukuta宿太
SusukoriSusukori須須許理
TadamaroTadamaro縄万呂
TamateTamate玉手, “jewel” + -te
TarubitoTarubito足人
TatuTatu龍, “dragon.” Given to boys born in the Year of the Dragon.多都
TatumaroTatumaro龍麻呂, “dragon.” Given to boys born in the Year of the Dragon.立麻呂
TatuteTatute“Dragon 龍” + -te. Given to boys born in the Year of the Dragon.立手
TokomaroTokomaro常麻呂,”constant” + -maro得麻呂, 床麻呂
TokomaroTokomaro得麻呂
TokumaroTokumaro
TomomaruTomomaru伴麻呂, 友麻呂, “companion” + -maro
TomotariTomotari伴足, 友足, “companion” + -tari
ToneTone刀祢? (Modern spelling)
ToraTora“Tiger 虎,” a name given to boys born in the Year of the Tiger.刀良
ToriTori鳥, “bird,” a name given to children born in the Year of the Rooster.
TorimaroTorimaro鳥麻呂, “bird” + -maro, a name given to children born in the Year of the Rooster.
ToyokuniToyokuni豊国, “abundant” + “country”
ToyosimaToyosima豊嶋, “abundant” + “island”
TunomaroTunomaro角麻呂, “horn, antler” + -maro津野麻呂
UmamiUmamɨ馬身
UmatariUmatari馬足, “horse” + -tari
UmateUmate馬手, “horse,” a name given to children born in the Year of the Horse.
UnamaroUnamaro“Rabbit” + -maro. Given to children born in the Year of the Rabbit.宇奈麻呂
UsiUsi牛, “ox,” a name given to children born in the Year of the Ox.宇志
UsimaroUsimaro牛麻呂, “ox,” a name given to children born in the Year of the Ox.
UteUte宇弖
WakamaroWakamaro若万呂
WakasiWakasi
WesiWesi恵志
WideWide井代, 井手, “well” + -te
WimaroWimaro猪麻呂, “boar” + -maro,” a name given to boys born in the Year of the Boar.為麻呂
WiteWite猪手, “boar” + -te. Given to children born in the Year of the Boar.
WobuneWobune小舩, “little” + “boat”
WodeWode少瀬, 少羽
WokimiWokimi小君, “little” + “lord”
WomuraWomura小村, “small” + “forest”
WomusiWomusi小虫, “small insect/snake”
WonapaWonapa小縄, “little” + “rope”
WoneWone小根, “little” + “root, source.” 根 could also be used phonetically to indicate other words pronounced ne, such as “rat, mouse.”
WoputiWoputi小渕, “little” + “pool”
WosaWosa長, “long”
WosimaWosima小嶋, 小鳥, “little” + “island”
WosumiWosumi小墨, “little” + “ink”
WotomoWotomo小友, “small” + “companion,” a diminutive of Tomo.
WoyamaWoyama小山, “little” + “mountain”
YakamaroYakamaro家麻呂, “house, home” + -maro
YakatariYakatari
YasumaroYasumaro安麻呂, 安万呂, “peaceful, safe” + -maro
YayeYaye夜恵
YayemaroYayemaro夜恵麻呂
YemaroYemaro兄麻呂, “older brother” + -maro
YoribitoYoribito依人, “rely on” + “person”
YoroYoro与呂
YorosiYorosi冝, “good, fitting, suitable”
YosisimaYosisima吉嶋 “good” + “island”
YuteYute結手, “tie, fasten” + -te
  1. Although the list of women’s names was largely drawn from people who received charity in one specific region, the list of men’s names was drawn from commoners of all economic levels and regions.