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.)

NameName – English 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
ArumaAruma
AsawoAsawo呰男, “defect, to scold” + “male.” A negative name given to ward off misfortune.
AsupaAsupa阿須波
AtuAtu安津, 安都, 安豆
AyamaroAyamaro綾麻呂, 阿屋麻呂
AyamusiAyamusi文虫
Enmaro?Enmaro?縁麻呂
Inamura? Inaki?Inamura? Inaki?稲村, “rice plant” + “protect”
InatariInatari稲足, “rice plant” + -tari
Inatu?Inatu?稲束
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”
KatanaKatanaPossibly “knife”
KatanamaroKatanamaro方麻呂, “knife” + -maro
KetuKetu氣莵
KimiKimi枳美
KimimaroKimimaro
KinumaroKinumaro
KomaroKomaro“Child” + -maro古麻呂
KomusiKomusi“Child” + “snake, insect”
KoseKose巨勢
KosimaKosima兒嶋
KotopiKotopi許等比, 事日
KotoraKotora
KuroKuro黒, “black”
KurobitoKurobito黒人, “black” + -bito
KuromaroKuromaro黒麻呂, “black” + -maro
KuromasaKuromasa黒当, “black” + “right, correct, appropriate”
KurotariKurotari黒足, “black” + -tari
KurowiKurowi黒猪, “black boar”
KurowiKurowi黒井, “black” + “well”
ManaMana麻奈
MaroMaroThe name ending -maro, used as a standalone name.麻呂
MaturaMatura麻丑良
MimaMima美麻
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.身手
MitimaroMitimaro道麻呂
MituMɨtu身津, 身都
MiyamaroMiyamaro宮麻呂, “palace” + -maro
MiyateMiyate宮手, “palace” + -te
MizumaroMizumaroPossibly midu “fresh, young” + -maro.御豆麻呂
MomoyeMomoye百枝, “one hundred” + “branch”
MusiMusi虫, “snake” or “insect”
MusimaroMusimaro虫麻呂, “snake” or “insect” + -maro
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
OkimaroOkimaro吉麻呂
OkinaOkina
OkojiOkoji
OkuraOkura憶良
OpiOpi甥, “nephew”意斐, 意比
OpomaroOpomaro邑麻呂
OposimaOposima大嶋, “great island”
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”
OusakaOusaka乎御佐加
OyuOyu老, “old person”意由
PayamatiPayamati波椰摩智
PayatoriPayatori速鳥
PidaPida斐太
PikoPiko“Grandchild”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
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
SakamaroSakamaro酒麻呂, “rice wine” + -maro佐加麻呂, 坂麻呂
SakapiSakapi佐加比
SaruSaru猴, “monkey.” Given to boys born in the Year of the Monkey.佐流
SaruteSarute猴毛
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?)
SibimaroSibimaro志婢麻呂
SimamiSimamɨ嶋身, “island”
SimatariSimatari嶋足, “island” + -tari
SimatuSimatu嶋津, “island” + -tu “harbor”
SioSio
SipazuSipazu支波豆
SipiSipi志斐
SukuneSukune須久泥, 輸区泥
SukutaSukuta宿太
SusukoriSusukori須須許理
TamateTamate玉手, “jewel” + -te
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
TokumaroTokumaro
TomomaruTomomaru伴麻呂, 友麻呂, “companion” + -maro
TomotariTomotari伴足, 友足, “companion” + -tari
ToneTone
ToraTora“Tiger,” 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角麻呂津野麻呂
Two??Two??刀良
UdiUdi宇弖
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.
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”
WokuniWokuni小国, “small” + “country”
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, “small island”
WosumiWosumi小墨, “little” + “ink”
WotomoWotomo小友, “small” + “companion,” a diminutive of Tomo.
YakamaroYakamaro家麻呂, “house, home” + -maro
YakatariYakatari
YasumaroYasumaro安万呂
YasumaroYasumaro安麻呂, “peaceful, safe” + -maro
YayeYaye夜恵
YayemaroYayemaro夜恵麻呂
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.