Connie Ellefson - A Genealogists Guide to Japanese Names: A Reference for First Names from Japan

A Genealogists Guide to Japanese NamesA REFERENCE FOR FIRST NAMES FROM JAPANby Connie Ellefson
Cincinnati, Ohio shopfamilytree.com Japan had been isolated for hundreds of years when Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. navy convinced Japan to open its ports to the West in 1869. Not surprisingly, there is no recorded immigration from Japan until 1861, and even then, less than 300 Japanese arrived between 1861 and 1880. Most of them came by accident as shipwrecked sailors. In 1885, the Japanese government passed laws allowing people to emigrate. After that, immigration from Japan rose sharply, fueled by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited Chinese immigration.

A severe labor shortage on the West Coast led to an influx of Japanese, most of whom were willing to work for low wages. Japanese immigration was also encouraged by a law passed by the Japanese government in 1896 allowing a person to emigrate only if he had someone responsible for his financial support should he become ill or unable to work. Because the financial requirements were so strict, few Japanese families could afford an emigrant. However, emigration companies arose in Japan in cooperation with American companies that provided the necessary financial backing in exchange for a work contract. This system proved enormously successful, and between 1899 and 1904, nearly 60,000 Japanese came to America this way, primarily ending up in California and the territory of Hawaii. The total immigration between 1891 and 1924 was recorded at nearly 300,000; however, many returned to Japan or went back and forth several times.

By 1920, about 110,000 Japanese lived in California and an equal number in Hawaii. West Coast natives began to fear that the Japanese would flood the labor market in a rerun of the earlier panic that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Under pressure from the public, the U.S. negotiated the Gentlemens Agreement with Japan under which Japan agreed to voluntarily restrict emigration of laborers. Professionals could still immigrate, however, so arrivals continued. Also picture brides, courted by the families of Japanese immigrants, came to relieve the two-to-one balance of male to female among the immigrants.

Japanese immigration virtually came to a halt in 1924, when the Immigration Act excluded immigrants who could never become citizens. At the time, only whites and Negroes could become naturalized citizens. After World War II, Japanese brides of American soldiers stationed in Japan (an estimated 25,000 by 1960) began to arrive along with other non-quota immigrants. In the 1960s and 1970s, the immigration from Japan was about 4,000 per year. Because of their low numbers, these new immigrants were able to assimilate fairly easily into mainstream culture.

Japanese names come from a variety of sources.

Some names are made up when parents take a Chinese character and interpret it in some unique way. They may play with syllables to come up with a new name, but this is more common for girls than boys. Boys and girls may be named for someone in the family or country who has achieved much. Male virtues such as courage, wisdom, power and tranquility may be a name source. The female virtues embodied in names are such attributes as gentleness, wisdom, purity and beauty. Number names are sometimes used.

Low numbers denote birth order, and very high numbers such as chi (thousand) represent a wish for the childs long life. Girls may be named for the flower of the month they were born in; for instance, kiku means chrysanthemum and is the month flower for November. Foreign names used as Japanese names are possible if they sound Japanese. Mari (Mary) and Mai (May) are popular now, by coincidence, and each means something in Japanese. The suffixes -ko, -e and -yo denote female names, and the suffix -o appears in male names.

Japanese pronunciation is very consistent.

Vowels and consonants are the same as in English.

Ai (ah-EE) love, indigo blue Aiko little love, beloved Akako red Akasuki bright helper Aki (ah-KEE) born in autumn Akina very bright spring flower, bright leaves Anzu apricot Aoi hollyhock Asa (AH-sah) born in the morning Au meeting Ayako damask pattern Ayam iris flower Azami thistle flower Chika near, Chikako Chikako clever, wisdom Chitose thousand years Chiyo thousand generations Chizu a thousand storks; Chizuko Cho born at dawn, butterfly Dai great Den bequest from ancestors Etsu delight Fuyu born in winter Gen source, spring Gin silver; Gina Hama (hah-MAH) shore; Hamako Hanako flower, fair blossom; Hana, Hanae Haru born in spring Haru springtime bay Haruko tranquil, born in spring Hatsu firstborn Haya quick, light Hid excellent Hidyo superior generations Hiro broad Hiroko magnanimous Hisa (hee-SAH) long lasting; Hisako, Hisae, Hisayo Hisano long plain Hoshi star; Hoshiko, Hoshie Iku nourishing Ima now; Imako In rice Isamu vigorous, robust Ishi (ee-SHEE) stone; Ishie Ito thread Iwa rock Jin tenderness Junko obedient Kaed maple leaf Kagami mirror Kaiyo forgiveness Kama sickle Kame tortoise (symbol of long life) Kameko tortoise child (hope for long life) Kameyo generations of the tortoises Kana a character of the alphabet Kane (KAH-nee) the doubly accomplished; Kaneko Kaoru fragrant Kata worthy Katsu victorious Kawa river Kaya a yew, a rush Kazashi hair ornament Kazu first, obedient; Kazuko Kei rapture, reverence; Keiko Kichi fortunate; Yoshi Kiku chrysanthemum branch Kikuko chrysanthemum (flower for November) Kikuno chrysanthemum field Kimi peerless; Kimiko, Kimiyo, Kimie Kin gold Kinu silk cloth Kishi beach Kiwa born on a border; Kiwako Kiyo happy generations, pure Kiyoshi clear, bright Ko filial piety Kohana little flower Koko stork Koma filly, term of endearment; Komako Kom rice Konomi nuts Koto harp Kozakura little cherry tree Kozue branches of a tree Kukiko snow Kuma bear Kumi braid; Kumiko Kuni