The Early Edo Period (1600 to 1700)
These names are all authentic Japanese commoner’s names from the 17th through early 18th centuries. Most of them are in the two-syllable, one-kanji form that became ragingly popular in the early 1600’s, sweeping away the more complex pre-Edo women’s names and dominating Japanese naming traditions until the early 20th century. Even when the educated elites began experimenting with three-syllable names in the mid-1800’s, they simply added suffixes (-no, -e, -yo) to traditional two-syllable names.
The list doesn’t represent the full variation in Edo-era women’s names. Names varied by period, by region, and by class; in some areas, medieval names like Amachiyo and Inuchō persisted into the early 18th century, while in others those names vanished by the 1630’s. Names like Bii, Haa, Saa, and Ruu popped up in the late 16th century, possibly as regional nicknames; I have left these names off the list until I have more context for them. I left off other names, like Chiisa and Inoko, because they broke the pattern and again, I don’t have enough context to explain them. There’s so little information online about Edo-era names that I’m reluctant to put up anything that will muddy the water.
Spellings and Meanings
Edo-era women’s names were usually written in hiragana, a phonetic script that was considered particularly suitable for women because it was easier to learn. It also looked humbler and less assuming beside the columns of kanji, the scholarly, important-looking Chinese characters that men used to write their own names. Aristocratic women sometimes wrote their names in kanji, and early-period commoner women were also more likely to follow the medieval custom of using kanji, but by the 1650’s the rule was to write female names phonetically.
Unfortunately, this means that the meaning of most names is difficult to determine. Or rather, the meaning of most names is difficult for an English-speaking Westerner with no deep knowledge of the culture to discover. Edo-era names had set meanings—the games modern Japanese people play with spellings and pronunciations didn’t become popular until the 20th century—and based on how Japanese authors discuss names, I believe scholars expect most Japanese readers to have a general idea what those meanings are. However, most names now have so many spellings and meanings that it’s almost impossible to dig out the original spelling without some sort of prior knowledge.
The meanings given here are based on the kanji spellings that do appear in Edo-era name lists. These spellings are listed in the “Spelling(s)” column. The meanings are also based on kanji spellings that slightly predate the Edo period, spellings of aristocratic names that are carefully selected to avoid alternate “palace readings,” comments by modern scholars, judicious use of late-Edo name lists (which must be reviewed closely because some names changed meaning by the end of the period), and occasional abuse of the Enamdict name database. This latter group of spellings are given in the “Meanings” column, to indicate that they’re not necessarily authentic Edo-period spellings. I’ve been as clear as possible about how definite a given meaning is.
Commoners vs. Aristocrats
This list of women’s names applies mainly to commoners, the 95% of the Japanese population, peasants and townswomen alike, who weren’t samurai or nobility. However, under their exquisite titles, elite women were often named just as plainly as commoners. For example, among the daughters of the mighty shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616) were girls named Kame (亀), Matsu (松), and Ichi (市), the Mary, Jane, and Anne of their time; Furi (振), a name not much less common; and Suke, whose name was spelled “leader, governor (督)” but sounded like the humble name that meant “helper (助).” Among Ieyasu’s nieces, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters were girls named Mate (満天), Hasu (蓮), Tosa (土佐), and Teru (輝), uncommon names with unusual, erudite spellings; but also Man (万), Sen (千), Nene (子々), two Katsus (勝), Hatsu (初), Chiyo (千代), Tsuru (鶴), another Furi, and another Kame, all names that you could hear on any street in Japan. [Seigle 2012]
Elite women were more likely to write their names in kanji, and they were also more likely to use scholarly “palace readings” instead of plain Japanese readings. However, almost all of the names in the list below were borne by aristocrats, and almost all aristocrats had names from the list below.
Japanese Women’s Names from the 1600’s
| Name | Spelling(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aguri | あぐり | Excess, remainder (餘), a name indicating that the parents had too many children and didn’t want any more. This survival of medieval times was occasionally used in the 17th century, and remained extremely rare through the early 20th century. |
| Ai | あい | Love (愛) |
| Aka | あか, 赤 | Red, the color of youth and celebration |
| Akai | あかい | Red. Largely obsolete by the end of the century. |
| Aki | あき | Probably “autumn” (秋), given to girls born in the autumn. |
| Akii | あきい | Possibly an alternate pronunciation of “autumn” (秋). |
| Ama | あま | Possibly “indulgent” (甘). |
| Ane | あね | Older sister. A very old name–the element was in use as early as 793–it lost steam in the early 1600’s and fell from use.In the very early 1600’s, it might also be spelled 阿泥, which literally means “muddy cleft in the mountains.” The initial A- (阿), “mountain cleft,” is from the name of the Amitabha Buddha, whose worship was popular in the medieval period. In the Buddha’s honor, many names of the 14th and 15th centuries began with 阿, including Acha, Aguri, Ako, and Aku. Some of the 阿 names persisted into the early 1600’s, and a very few—including Aguri—held on as rare survivals into the 1900’s. |
| Asa | あさ | Possibly “morning” (朝) or “shallow” (浅), meaning the shallows of a river. |
| Baba | ばば | Possibly “old woman” (婆), indicating a wish that the bearer will live to an august old age. |
| Ben | べん | |
| Bin | びん | |
| Bō | ぼう | |
| Chiki | ちき | |
| Chima | ちま | |
| Chin | ちん | |
| Chiyo | ちよ, 千代, 千世 | A thousand generations, forever. Chiyo was one of the all-time favorite Japanese girls’ names, ubiquitous from at least the 16th century until 1912, when it fell off the list of the top five girls’ names. It was often written in kanji, even when other female names were written in hiragana.Chiyo was originally a common ending for aristocratic boys’ babyhood names, and a common ending of their boyhood names. |
| Chō | ちやう (archaic), てう (archaic) | Probably either butterfly (蝶) or long (長), implying long-lived. Both meanings were common in the previous eras. |
| Den | でん | |
| Fude | ふで | Writing brush (筆) |
| Fuji, Fudji | ふぢ, 藤 | Wisteria, a symbol of filial piety. The wisteria was an element in female names as early as 1147. |
| Fuku | ふく | Good fortune (福) |
| Fume | ふめ | |
| Furi | ふり | Hanging sleeve (振), referring to the fluttering sleeves worn by women. Seen in the 17th century, when hanging sleeves were coming into fashion, but obsolete by the end of the century, possibly because the sleeves were no longer a novelty. |
| Fusa | ふさ | Tassel (房), a name connoting completeness—”right down to the tassels.” |
| Fuso | ふそ | |
| Futsu | ふつ | |
| Gen | げん | Probably “source, origin” (元). |
| Gin | ぎん | Silver (銀), a name connoting a character as strong as metal. |
| Hama | はま | Shore or coastline (濱, 浜) |
| Hana | はな, 花 | Flower |
| Haru | はる | Spring (春), or peace, tranquility (治) |
| Hatsu | はつ | Probably “first, beginning” (初). |
| Heya | へや | |
| Hiina | ひいな | Possibly “chick, doll, cute little thing (雛)” |
| Hiki | ひき | |
| Hiko | ひこ, 彦 | Boy, connoting a young scholar who excels in scholarship and the arts. Originally a common element of aristocratic men’s names. |
| Hime | ひめ, 姫 | Princess or high-ranking woman, an aristocratic title used as a complete name. It was in use as a personal name as early as 793. |
| Hin | ひん | |
| Hinu | ひぬ | |
| Hisa | ひさ | A long time (久), long-lived, enduring |
| Hitsu | ひつ | |
| Hiwa | ひわ | |
| Hoso | ほそ | Little, dainty, 細? |
| Hotsu | ほつ | |
| Ichi | いち | Probably “one, first” (一) or “marketplace” (市). The 市 kanji was often used in men’s names as a replacement for the 一 kanji, possibly because the 一 kanji was too easy to secretly turn into another kanji. (“Sorry, Ichirou, the contract clearly states the cow belongs to Saburou.”) Because of this history, a girl named Ichi who wrote her name “市” might be named after the marketplace near where she was born, or she might be her parents’ first daughter. |
| Iku | いく | |
| Ima | いま | Now (今). Ima was in use as early as 1572 as a standalone name, and was a female name element much earlier. |
| Ina | いな | Possibly “springing shoots of rice (稲),” implying a nurturing nature. |
| Ine | いね | Possibly “springing shoots of rice (稲),” implying a nurturing nature. |
| Ino | いの | |
| Inu | いぬ | Dog (犬), connoting faithfulness and loyalty. A popular name given to girls born in the Year of the Dog. The name was in use by 1332, and was relatively common in the 1600’s, but rare by the 1800’s. |
| Iri | いり | |
| Isa | いさ | |
| Ise | いせ, 伊勢 | The temple of Ise |
| Ishi | いし | Stone (石), connoting firmness of character. Ishi was an element in female commoners’ names by 1332. |
| Iso | いそ | |
| Ito | いと | Thread (糸) |
| Iwa | いわ | Boulder, rock (岩), connoting firmness of character. The name was in use as early as 1572, pronounced Iha. |
| Jō | でう | |
| Kachi | かち | Possibly “victory” (勝) |
| Kaku | かく | |
| Kama | かま | Sickle (鎌) |
| Kame | 亀, かめ | Turtle, a symbol of longevity. The turtle was believed to live for ten thousand years. This name was in use by 1332, and remained popular until the 1800’s. By the late 1800’s, some educated Japanese considered it vulgar, but it was still in occasional use. |
| Kan | かん | |
| Kana | かな | Gold (金) |
| Kane | かね | Gold, metal (金). Kane was an element in female commoners’ names by 1332. |
| Kane | 兼 | Doubly accomplished. From the verb kaneru, meaning “to do two things at the same time.” Kane was an element in female names by 1155. |
| Karu | かる | |
| Kase | かせ | |
| Katsu | かつ | Victory (勝) |
| Kawa | かわ | Probably “river (川)” |
| Kaya | かや | |
| Kayo | かよ | |
| Kesa | けさ | |
| Kesai | けさい | |
| Kichi | きち | Possibly “good fortune, good luck (吉)” |
| Kiku | きく, 菊 | Chrysanthemum, an autumn flower that was a symbol of longevity. Drinking dew from a chrysanthemum was believed to bring you long life, or even (in legend) eternal youth. Kiku was one of the most common Japanese names until at least the end of the 19th century, and continues to be popular as an element in geishas’ names. |
| Kin | きん | Gold (金); also means “metal” or “wealth.” The name connotes a character as strong as metal. |
| Kina | きな | |
| Kinu | きぬ | Silk (絹) |
| Kiri | きり | |
| Kisa | きさ | |
| Kitsu | きつ | |
| Kiyo | きよ | Pure, clean, clear, bright (清). Purity was an extremely important concept for medieval and Edo-era Japanese, and “kiyo,” meaning physical and spiritual purity, was one of the strongest words for purity. Kiyo remained a popular name (or name root) well into the 20th century. |
| Kō | かう (archaic) | River (川) |
| Kogō | こがう (archaic spelling) | A Heian name that was more common at the beginning of the 17th century and largely obsolete by the end of the century. The most famous bearer was a 12th-century lady named 小督, “little leader,” a favorite of Emperor Takakura who was a famously skilled biwa player. The story of her love affair with Takakura was made into a Nō play named after her. |
| Koku | こく | |
| Koma | こま | Filly or pony (駒), a name given to girls born in the Year of the Horse. Koma was an element of female names as early as 793. |
| Kome | こめ | Cooked rice |
| Kona | こな | |
| Koro | ころ | |
| Koya | こや | |
| Koyo | こよ | |
| Kuchi | くち | |
| Kuma | くま | Bear (熊), a symbol of bravery and strength. |
| Kume | くめ | Everlasting rice (久米 , 粂), with the connotation of everlasting wealth. Could also be spelled 九目, sevenfold foresight (lit. seven + eye, seeing). |
| Kuni | くに | Province (國, 邦) |
| Kura | くら | Storehouse (蔵, 倉). In a country whose light wooden houses were regularly leveled by storms and fire, the heavily built, fireproof storehouse was essential. Kura is sometimes translated as “treasure-house” to reflect its importance, but even humble families would have kura to protect their food supplies and to shelter in during storms. |
| Kuri | くり | Sweet chestnut (栗). Harvesting chestnuts was a late-autumn pastime, and the nuts were eaten roasted or made into a variety of sweets. Because chestnuts were associated with the late autumn, I wouldn’t be surprised if this name were given to girls born when chestnuts were in season. |
| Kuro | くろ | Black (黒), possibly referring to the alluring blackness of the woman’s hair. |
| Kusu | くす | |
| Kuu | くふ (archaic) | |
| Kuwa | くわ | Mulberry tree (桑). Mulberry leaves were essential to the production of silk, and the berries were used for everything from making liquor to dyeing cloth. |
| Kuyo | くよ | |
| Machi | まち | Possibly “town, street” (町), a name element in use in women’s names as early as 1147. |
| Magi | まぎ | |
| Maki | まき | Possibly “pasture” (牧). |
| Mako | まこ | |
| Man | まん, 萬 | Ten thousand, a name reflecting the hope that the bearer (or their family line) will live for ten thousand years. |
| Mane | まね | |
| Mare | まれ | |
| Mari | まり | Possibly “ball” (鞠) |
| Masa | まさ, 牧 | Pasture. Could also mean “correct, righteous” (正) or “elegant” (雅). |
| Mashi | まし | |
| Mata | また | Possibly “again, twice” (又). |
| Mate | まて | Possibly “Wait!”, an order given to the child to convince her to stay (that is, to not die). |
| Matsu | まつ, 松 | Pine tree, a symbol of longevity, steadfastness, and faithful friendship in the face of adversity. In use in female names by 1147, Matsu was one of the most popular names or name elements from the medieval era through the beginning of the 20th century. |
| Mego | めご | Possibly “love (愛)” or “girl (女子).” A rare name that died out by the end of the 17th century. |
| Mimi | みみ | |
| Mina | みな | |
| Mine | みね | Possibly “peak, summit” (峰), implying eminence. |
| Mino | みの | Possibly “straw rain cloak” (蓑). |
| Mitsu | みつ | Light, shining (光), an element of female names as early as 1147. |
| Miya | みや, 宮 | Shrine, an element of female names as early as 793. |
| Mochi | もち | |
| Moku | もく | |
| Momo | もも | One hundred (百), a name reflecting the wish that the bearer will live for a hundred years.Can also mean “peach” (), a symbol of longevity and female desirability. This meaning was much less common in the 1600’s than the “one hundred” meaning. |
| Muma | むま | Horse (馬). A Heian-era (9th-12th century) pronunciation of “Uma” that was retained as a name. Given to girls born in the Year of the Horse. |
| Mume | むめ | Plum blossom (梅). A Heian-era (9th-12th century) pronunciation of “Ume” that was retained as a name. |
| Musu | むす | Possibly “to steam” (蒸), referring to steaming food. |
| Mutsu | むつ | Possibly “six” (六). |
| Nabe | なべ | Cooking pot (鍋). Commonly used as a name for maidservants as well as a name given at birth. |
| Nagu | なぐ | |
| Nai | ない | |
| Naka | なか | Middle, midmost (中), often meaning the bearer was middle-born or mid-ranking. |
| Nana | なな, 七, 寧々 | Seven (七) or tranquil (寧々) |
| Natsu | なつ | Summer (夏), often given to girls born in summer. In use as a female name element by 1147, and given as a standalone name by 1428. |
| Nei | ねい | |
| Neko | ねこ | |
| Nene | ねね, 禰々 | Nene dates to at least the 1400’s. During the Edo period it was usually written in hiragana, but originally it had three spellings: 禰々 or 禰禰, meaning “ancestral shrine” or “oracle,” 寧々 or 寧寧, meaning “tranquil,” and 子々 or 子子, referring to the zodiacal sign of the Rat. (When the 子 kanji is pronounced “ne,” it refers to the Rat.) When Nene meant “ancestral shrine” or “tranquil” it could be given to any girl, but it was also a zodiacal name given to girls born in the Year of the Rat. |
| Niga | にが | |
| Niku | にく | |
| Nino | にの | |
| Niwa | にわ | Possibly “garden” (庭). |
| Oma | おま | |
| Ona | おな | |
| Osa | おさ | |
| Oshi | おし | |
| Ota | おた | |
| Oto | 乙, おと, をと | Second, probably a name given to second-born girls. |
| Rin | りん | |
| Riyo | りよ | |
| Roku | ろく, 六 | Six |
| Run | るん | |
| Rusu | るす | |
| Sago | さご | |
| Sai | さい | Years of age (才). The same kanji and pronunciation can mean “talented,” as well. |
| Saka | さか | |
| Saki | さき | Cape, promontory (岬) |
| Sako | さこ | |
| Saku | さく | Work, harvest (作) |
| Sama | さま | |
| Same | さめ | |
| San | さん | |
| Sana | さな | |
| Sani | さに | |
| Saru | さる, 猿 | Monkey. Given to girls born in the Year of the Monkey. Waned in popularity by the end of the century. |
| Satsu | さつ, 札 | |
| Sawa | さわ | Marsh (沢) |
| Saya | さや | |
| Sechi | せち | |
| Seki | せき | Possibly “stone” (石). |
| Sen | せん, 千 | One thousand, a name referring to longevity. |
| Senu | せぬ | |
| Shige | しげ | |
| Shima | しま, 志ま | Island (島) |
| Shime | しめ | Possibly “total, totality” (乄). |
| Shimo | しも | Possibly “frost” (霜). |
| Shina | しな | Goods, possessions (品). The same kanji can connote refinement and dignity. |
| Shino | しの | Possibly “slender bamboo” (篠), a species of bamboo. |
| Shio | しお, 塩, しを, しほ (archaic) | Salt, a symbol of purification. |
| Shō | しやう (archaic) | Victory (勝) |
| Shuu | せう (archaic) | Victory (勝) |
| Some | そめ | Dye, dyer (染). Dyeing was central to Japanese style, and mention of dyes implied lots of rich, bright color. |
| Sue | すへ (archaic), すゑ (archaic) | “Last” or “end” (末), a name indicating the parents’ hope that they will have no more children. Despite the unevocative meaning, this name was sometimes one of the most popular—or at least the most common—girls’ names. |
| Sugi | すぎ | Cedar (椙). The name has associations of constancy and straightforwardness. |
| Suka | すか | |
| Suke | すけ | Helper (助) |
| Suki | すき | Possibly “beloved” (好). |
| Suko | すこ | |
| Suma | すま | |
| Sumi | 墨 | Black ink. |
| Suna | すな | |
| Suo | すほ (archaic) | |
| Sute | すて | Foundling (捨), a name that remained very common until the end of the 19th century. Lafcadio Hearn, writing at the end of the 19th century, explains: Not necessarily a real foundling. Sometimes the name may be explained by a curious old custom. In a certain family several children in succession die shortly after birth. It is decided, according to traditional usage, that the next child born must be exposed. A girl is the next child born;—she is carried by a servant to some lonely place in the fields, or elsewhere, and left there. Then a peasant, or other person, hired for the occasion (it is necessary that he should be of no kin to the family), promptly appears, pretends to find the babe, and carries it back to the parental home. “See this pretty foundling,” he says to the father of the girl,—”will you not take care of it?” The child is received, and named “Suté,” the foundling. By this innocent artifice, it was formerly (and perhaps in some places is still) supposed that those unseen influences, which had caused the death of the other children, might be thwarted. |
| Take | たけ, 竹 | Bamboo, a symbol of longevity and uprightness. Bamboo is associated with the summer, but is also prized for its ability to endure throughout the seasonal round. |
| Tama | たま | Jewel (玉) |
| Tan | たん | Possibly “vermilion, red (丹)” |
| Tane | たね | |
| Tatsu | たつ | The zodiacal sign of the Dragon (辰), a symbol of good fortune, success, and wealth. Girls born in the Year of the Dragon could be named Tatsu, but the name was also given to girls born in any other year. |
| Ten | てん | |
| Toku | 徳, とく | Virtue |
| Toma | とま | |
| Tome | とめ | “Stop” (留), a name reflecting the parents’ wish to have no more children. Despite the unevocative meaning, this name was sometimes one of the most popular—or at least the most common—girls’ names. It was also given to boys as an element of their childhood name (Tomejirou, Tomematsu, etc.), but most men shed it when they changed their name in their late teens or early 20’s. |
| Tone | とね | |
| Tora | とら, 虎 | Tiger, a name implying the tiger’s bravery. A popular name that could be given to girls born in the Year of the Tiger, but was also given to girls born in any other year. |
| Tori | とり, 鳥 | Bird. Given to girls born in the Year of the Rooster. |
| Totsu | とつ | |
| Towa | とわ | |
| Toyo | とよ | Abundance (豊) |
| Tsubo | つぼ | |
| Tsuchi | つち | |
| Tsuji | つじ | |
| Tsuka | つか | |
| Tsuma | つま | Possibly “wife” (妻) |
| Tsuna | つな | Possibly “rope, bond (綱),” a name that implies control. |
| Tsune | つね | Constancy (恒) |
| Tsuru | つる, 鸛 | Crane, a symbol of longevity. Cranes were believed to live for a thousand years. This name was in use as early as 1332, and remained popular until the early 20th century. |
| Tsushi | つし | |
| Tsuta | つた | Possibly “ivy” (蔦). |
| Tsuya | つや | Possibly “beauty, charm” (艶). |
| Uba | うば | |
| Uma | うま | Horse (馬). Given to girls born in the Year of the Horse. |
| Ume | うめ | Plum blossom |
| Uno | 卯の | Rabbit. A name given to girls born in the Year of the Rabbit. Uncommon, and less popular toward the end of the century. |
| Ushi | 牛, うし | Cow, ox; a symbol of physical strength. Given to girls born in the Year of the Ox. Less common toward the end of the century. |
| Uta | うた | Song, poem |
| Yama | やま | Possibly “mountain” (山). |
| Yasu | やす | Peace, tranquility (康) |
| Yaya | やや | Double prosperity (彌々). A popular name in the 1500’s and the early 1600’s, but obsolete by the end of the century. |
| Yen | ゑん | |
| Yome | よめ | Possibly “bride” (嫁). |
| Yone | よね, 米 | Cleaned, uncooked grains of rice. (The rice you buy at the store is yone.) Because rice was used as currency, “yone” has a connotation of wealth. It was an element in women’s names as early as 1147. |
| Yono | よの | |
| Yoshi | よし | Good (良) |
| Yoso | よそ | |
| Yote | よて | |
| Yuki | ゆき | Possibly “happiness” (幸) or “snow” (雪). |
| Yura | ゆら | |
| Yuri | ゆり | |
| Yuwa | ゆわ |
Sources
Throndardottir, Solveig (Barbara Nostrand). Name Construction in Medieval Japan, Revised Edition. Columbia, Missouri: Potboiler Press. 2004.
Tsunoda Bunʾei (角田 文衛). Japanese Women’s Names: A Historical Perspective (Nihon no joseimei: rekishiteki tenbo | 日本の女性名 : 歴史的展望). Rekishi shinsho. Nihon shi; 30, 42-43. 1980.
Updated 7/24/2015