Women's Names in Edo-Era Japan

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.