Japanese naming trends

[katsuno-hitomi.livejournal.com]

Japanese names have changed a lot over the years, just as names elsewhere have.For example, check out the top 5 names for each gender in 1915 in Japan:

Boys
Kiyoshi
Saburou
Shigeru
Masao
Tadashi

Girls
Chiyo
Chiyoko
Fumiko
Shizuko
Kiyo

Now lets take a look at 1965:

Boys
Makoto
Hiroshi
Osamu
Naoki
Tetsuya

Girls
Akemi
Mayumi
Yumiko
Keiko
Kumiko

Finally, a look at the top 10 of 2005:

Boys
Yuuki
Haruto
Souta
Yuuto
Haruki
Kouki
Kaito
Takumi
Hayato
Shouta

Girls
Hina
Yui
Miyu
Haruka
Sakura
Nanami
Ayaka
Honoka
Momoka
Aoi

So if you're looking for a female name considered old-fashioned in Japan, you can't go wrong with names ending in -ko.

Probably only useful to people writing stories set in Japan, but still interesting. The info comes from http://japanese.about.com/ .

Comments

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

I love Sakura, I think it's such a beautiful name! Hina and Miyu are nice too. A Dutch parliament member of Japanese descent is called Mariko. I think that one is nice, too.
And I know a Naoki, though he is 20ish!

[forthemorrow.livejournal.com]

Love Haruki. Totally think Murakami is behind that trend! Haha. ; )

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

I actually really like Shigeru :)

[elizabethtess.livejournal.com]

OMG KORRA ICON.

Sorry. Just had to freak out a little.

This is very interesting, and thank you for the new reference material! :D This could be very useful.

[katsuno-hitomi.livejournal.com]

Freak out is acknowledged and welcomed. :)

Your welcome!

[rosabelle.livejournal.com]

I like:
Hiroshi
Keiko
Kumiko
Yuuki
Haruki
Kaito
Hina
Yui
Haruka
Nanami
Ayaka
Honoka

[theljfromheck.livejournal.com]

I love Japanese names so much.

I like
Chiyo
Makoto
Hiroshi
Mayumi
Yumiko
Yuuki
Haruki
Shouta
Hina
Miyu
Sakura
Aoi

[skudge.livejournal.com]

I think the "-ko" names might be coming back, since this list (http://akachan-meimei.com/ranking/2011kamihankiwoman/) has the six of the top ten girl names for the first half of 2011 ending in ko.