I specialize in researching Japanese names from periods that have very little information available on the English-speaking web, especially women’s names and niche subjects like the names of geisha, courtesans, and Buddhist monks and nuns. If you have any questions, please contact me—I’m terrible at replying, but when I do reply, I enjoy helping people with research projects.
All Periods
- Japanese Buddhist Names (7th-17th centuries)
Nara Period (710-794 BCE)
- Introduction
- Quick and Dirty Guide to Making a Nara-Period Name
- Nara-Period Female Names
- Nara-Period Male Names
- Nara-Period Clan Names
- Resources for Nara-Period Japan
Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1603)
Edo Period (1603-1868)
- Women’s Names in Edo-Era Japan – The early Edo period, 1603-1700
- Commoner Men’s Names in Edo-Era Japan, part 1
Merchants’ Names from the Edo Shopping Guide (1824)
- Introduction
- Merchants’ Names by Pronunciation
- Merchants’ Names with Alternate Spellings
- First Elements of Merchants’ Names
- Suffixes Used in Merchants’ Names
Japanese Courtesans’ Names
Geisha Names (1603-Present)
Discover the rich traditions behind geisha names (geimei), from their symbolic meanings and lineage-based elements to how they reflect beauty, fortune, and artistic identity. Explore authentic historical examples, naming patterns, and common misconceptions about geisha names in popular culture.
- Introduction
- Geisha Names: Adakichi to Fusao
- Geisha Names: Hamako to Kyoko
- Geisha Names: Mamefusa to Suzuko
- Geisha Names: Takamaru to Yukizono
- Geisha Names That Aren’t
Modern Japanese Names
Unlike the other articles, which I researched meticulously, these articles are… somewhat perfunctory. I compiled them at a time when good information about Japanese names was hard to come by, and even lists in published books were full of garbage. The information isn’t bad, but it’s dated and riddled with omissions. I’m leaving it online in the interest of thoroughness, but there are better sources of modern Japanese names out there.