Japanese female names have a simple reading and a clear, straightforward meaning. Depending on the meaning, female names are divided into several types and groups. There is a set of popular names that take into account certain traditions, but there are also new names entirely created from scratch.
Features of Japanese names
The Japanese always have one and only surname and a single name without a patronymic. The exception is the Japanese imperial family, whose members do not have a surname at all.
Japanese names are made up of a generic name (surname) followed by a personal name. According to European tradition, in Western languages, including Russian, Japanese names are written in reverse order - first the first name, then the last name.
Japanese names and surnames are written in Chinese kanji characters, which are used in modern Japanese writing along with other word formation systems. Kanji can have many different pronunciations, depending on the case.
Very often, Japanese names are added independently from the available characters, which allows you to create unique names. There are more names in Japan than surnames.
The number of characters in one name or surname is not limited and they can be of any length. But, nevertheless, very rarely are given names and surnames more than three characters. A common variant is both a two-digit name and a surname.
Japanese female names
Until 1980, the most common component in a woman's name was "ko", meaning "child." He still accounts for 25% of all female names, but now he is not fashionable and they began to discard him. For example, Atsuko - "kind child", Bunko - "educated child", Haruko - "spring child", Fumiko - "beautiful child" can be changed to Atsu, Bun, Haru, Fumi.
Most Japanese female names have abstract meanings. Usually such names are given to girls as a wish to have the same qualities. For example, Ai - "love", Mi - "beauty", Nao - "respect", Hiro - "prosperity", Chi - "wisdom".
Quite a large group of names with the meaning of the seasons. These are Asa - "morning", Akiro - "dawn", Kumo - "cloud", and Natsu - "summer", Yuki - "snow".
Another common type of female name is associated with the designation of plants or animals. Such names were given in the past and are now considered old-fashioned. For example, Take - "bamboo", Yanagi - "willow", Momo - "peach", Kiku - "chrysanthemum", Ran - "lily", Hana - "flower", Ine - "rice".
Names with numerals remain from the ancient tradition of naming girls of noble families in the order of their birth. The most common are Mi - "three", Go - "five", Nana - "seven", Ti - "thousand".
Examples of names that consist of several characters without any designation: Komaki, Satsuki.
Borrowed names are considered exotic and trendy. But they are quite rare: Anna, Maria, Rina, Rena, Emiri.
