Editing Japanese name (section)

==Structure==
The majority of [[Japanese people]] have one surname and one given name, except for the [[Imperial House of Japan|Japanese imperial family]], whose members have no surname. The family name precedes the given name. People with mixed Japanese and foreign parentage may have middle names.<ref name=PowerpC4-2>Power, p. C4-2.</ref><!--Author gives examples of his own children, named in the document-->

Very few names are in use both as surnames and as given names (for example {{nihongo|Mayumi|真弓}}, {{nihongo|Izumi|泉}}, {{nihongo|Masuko|益子}}, or {{nihongo|Arata|新}}). Therefore, to those familiar with Japanese names, which name is the surname and which is the given name is usually apparent, no matter in which order the names are presented. It is thus unlikely that the two names will be confused, for example, when writing in English while using the family name-given name naming order. However, due to the variety of pronunciations and differences in languages, some common surnames and given names may coincide when Romanized: e.g., {{nihongo|Maki|真紀、麻紀、真樹}} (given name) and {{nihongo|Maki|真木、槇、牧}} (surname).

===Family names===
The term ''surname'' or ''family name'' can translate into three different Japanese words, ''{{nihongo|myōji|苗字}}'', ''{{nihongo|uji|氏}}'', and ''{{nihongo|sei|姓}}'', which historically had different meanings. ''{{nihongo|Sei|姓}}'' was originally the [[patrilineal]] surname which was granted by the emperor as a title of male rank. In the 8th century, eight types of {{transliteration|ja|sei}} were established, but later all surnames except for ''{{nihongo|ason|朝臣}}''  almost disappeared. ''{{nihongo|Uji|氏}}'' was another name used to designate [[patrilineal]] clan. ''Uji'' and ''Sei'' used in the set: e.g., {{nihongo|Minamoto no Ason|源朝臣}}, {{nihongo|Taira no Ason|平朝臣}}, {{nihongo|Fujiwara no Ason|藤原朝臣}}. ''Uji'' and {{transliteration|ja|sei}} together are called ''{{nihongo|seishi or shōji|姓氏}}'' and also simply {{transliteration|ja|sei}}. There were relatively few {{transliteration|ja|sei}} of the medieval noble clans, and they trace their lineage either directly to these {{transliteration|ja|sei}} or to the courtiers of these {{transliteration|ja|sei}}. {{nihongo|Myōji|苗字}} was simply what a family chooses to call itself, as opposed to the {{transliteration|ja|sei}} granted by the emperor. While it was passed on patrilineally in male ancestors including in male ancestors called {{Transliteration|ja|haku}} (uncles), one had a certain degree of freedom in changing one's {{transliteration|ja|myōji}}. See also {{transliteration|ja|[[kabane]]}}.

According to estimates, there are over 300,000 different surnames in use today in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myoji-yurai.net/columnMyojiCount.htm|title=名字由来net｜日本人の名字99%を掲載!! 【年末緊急発表】日本人の名字３０万種は事実か？|website=名字由来net｜日本人の名字99%を掲載!!}}</ref> The three most common family names in Japan are {{nihongo|[[Satō]]|佐藤}}, {{nihongo|[[Suzuki (surname)|Suzuki]]|鈴木}}, and {{nihongo|[[Takahashi]]|高橋}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japanese-name-translation.com/site/top500_Japanese_family_names.xls|title=Japanese name translations|publisher=Japanese-name-translation.com|format=XLS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624175822/http://www.japanese-name-translation.com/site/top500_Japanese_family_names.xls|archive-date=2006-06-24}}</ref> People in Japan began using surnames during the [[Muromachi period]].<ref>https://news.goo.ne.jp/amp/article/postseven/trend/postseven-581287.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> Japanese peasants had surnames in the [[Edo period]]; however, they could not use them in public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.city.kodaira.tokyo.jp/kurashi/022/022836.html|title=市史編さんこぼれ話No.１８ 「近世の百姓に苗字はあったのか」｜東京都小平市公式ホームページ|website=www.city.kodaira.tokyo.jp}}</ref>

Most surnames are written with two kanji characters, but some common surnames are written with one or three kanji.<ref name="meiji-yasuda">{{cite press release
 | title = 明治安田生命 全国同姓調査 [''Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company - National same family name investigation'']
 | publisher = [[Meiji Yasuda Life|Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company]]
 | date =2008-09-24
 | url =http://www.meijiyasuda.co.jp/profile/news/release/2008/pdf/20080924.pdf
 | access-date = 2012-05-30}}</ref> Some surnames written with four or five kanji exist, such as {{nihongo|Kadenokōji|勘解由小路}}, but these are rare.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://name.sijisuru.com/Columns/longname | title = 日本一長い苗字 [''Japan's Longest Surnames''] | access-date = 2023-10-24}}</ref>

One large category of family names can be categorized as {{transliteration|ja|-tō}} names. The kanji {{lang|ja|藤}}, meaning ''[[wisteria]]'', has the {{transliteration|ja|on'yomi}} {{transliteration|ja|tō}} (or, with {{transliteration|ja|[[rendaku]]}}, {{transliteration|ja|dō}}). Many Japanese people have surnames that include this kanji as the second character. This is because the {{nihongo|[[Fujiwara clan]]|藤原家}} gave their [[samurai]] surnames ({{transliteration|ja|myōji}}) ending with the first character of their name (which can be pronounced either {{transliteration|ja|fuji}} or {{transliteration|ja|tō}}), to denote their status in an era when commoners were not allowed surnames. Examples include Atō, [[Andō]], [[Itō (name)|Itō]] (although a different final kanji is also common), [[Udo (disambiguation)|Udō]], [[Eto|Etō]], [[Endo (surname)|Endō]], [[Goto (name)|Gotō]], Jitō, [[Katō (surname)|Katō]], [[Kitō (surname)|Kitō]], [[Kudo (disambiguation)|Kudō]], [[Kondō]], [[Saito (surname)|Saitō]], [[Satō]], [[Shindō (surname)|Shindō]], Sudō, [[Naito (disambiguation)|Naitō]], Bitō, and [[Muto (disambiguation)|Mutō]]. As already noted, some of the most common family names are in this list.

Japanese family names usually include characters referring to places and geographic features.<ref>Hakes, Molly. ''The Everything Conversational Japanese Book: Basic Instruction For Speaking This Fascinating Language In Any Setting''. [[Everything Books]], 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=m2WaRtYHoUoC&dq=%22Japanese+surnames+usually+incorporate+a+place%27&pg=PA120 120]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on August 8, 2011. {{ISBN|1-59337-147-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-59337-147-0}}.</ref>

===Given names===
Given names are called the {{nihongo|"name"|名|mei}} or {{nihongo|"lower name"|下の名前|shita no namae}}, because, in vertically written Japanese, the given name appears under the family name.<ref>Hakes, Molly. ''The Everything Conversational Japanese Book: Basic Instruction For Speaking This Fascinating Language In Any Setting''. [[Everything Books]], 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=m2WaRtYHoUoC&dq=%22In+Japanese%2C+the+last+name+is+always+given+first%22&pg=PA119 119]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on August 8, 2011. {{ISBN|1-59337-147-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-59337-147-0}}.</ref>

While family names follow relatively consistent rules, given names are much more diverse in [[pronunciation]] and characters. While many common names can easily be spelled or pronounced, parents may choose names with unusual characters or pronunciations; the pronunciation of such names generally cannot be inferred from the written form, or vice versa. Unusual pronunciations have become much more common, as the trend has significantly increased in popularity since the 1990s.<ref name="JT2012" /><ref>{{cite news|author=佐藤 稔 [Minoru Sato]|title=『読みにくい名前はなぜ増えたか』|trans-title=Yominikui Namae wa Naze Fuetaka ("Why We See More Hard-to-read Names")|year=2007}}</ref> For example, the popular masculine name {{lang|ja|大翔}} is traditionally pronounced "Hiroto", but in recent years alternative pronunciations "Haruto", "[[Yamato (disambiguation)|Yamato]]", "Taiga", "Sora", "Taito", "Daito", and "Masato" have all entered use.<ref name="JT2012" />

Male names often end in {{nihongo3|"son" or "clear, bright"⁠|郎/朗|-rō}} (e.g. "[[Ichirō (name)|Ichirō]]"), {{nihongo3|"great, thick" or "first [son]"|太|-ta}} (e.g. "[[Kenta]]"), or {{nihongo3|"man"|男/雄/夫|-o}} (e.g. "Teruo" or "[[Akio]]").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/names-for-people.html|title=How do Japanese names work?|website=www.sljfaq.org|language=en|access-date=2017-11-14}}</ref> Male names often also contain {{nihongo3|"first [son]"|一|ichi}} (e.g. "[[Ken'ichi]]"), {{nihongo3|"first [son]"|一|kazu}} (also written with {{nihongo2|一}}, along with several other possible characters; e.g. "[[Kazuhiro]]"), {{nihongo3|"second [son]" or "next"|二/次|ji}} (e.g. "[[Jiro (given name)|Jirō]]"), or {{nihongo3|"great, large"|大|dai}} (e.g. "[[Daichi (given name)|Daichi]]").

Female names often end in {{nihongo3|"child"|子|-ko}} (e.g. "[[Keiko (given name)|Keiko]]") or {{nihongo3|"beauty"|美|-mi}} (e.g. "[[Yumi (name)|Yumi]]").<ref name="Hakes121">Hakes, Molly. ''The Everything Conversational Japanese Book: Basic Instruction For Speaking This Fascinating Language In Any Setting''. [[Everything Books]], 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=m2WaRtYHoUoC&pg=PA121 121]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on August 8, 2011. {{ISBN|1-59337-147-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-59337-147-0}}.</ref> Other popular endings for female names include {{nihongo3|"scent, perfume" or "flower"⁠|香/花|-ka}} (e.g. "[[Reika]]") and {{nihongo3|"greens" or "apple tree"|奈/菜|-na}} (e.g. "[[Haruna (name)|Haruna]]").

Most personal names use one, two, or three kanji.<ref name="HanksHardcastleHodgesAp8"/> Four-syllable given names are common, especially in eldest sons.<ref name="Hakes122">Hakes, Molly. ''The Everything Conversational Japanese Book: Basic Instruction For Speaking This Fascinating Language In Any Setting''. [[Everything Books]], 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=m2WaRtYHoUoC&pg=PA122 122]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on August 8, 2011. {{ISBN|1-59337-147-0}}, {{ISBN|978-1-59337-147-0}}.</ref>

The usage of {{nihongo||子|-ko}} has changed significantly over the years: prior to the [[Meiji Restoration]] (1868), it was reserved for members of the imperial family. Following the restoration, it became popular and was overwhelmingly common in the [[Taishō period|Taishō]] and early [[Shōwa period|Shōwa]] era.<ref name="JT2012">{{cite web
| title = What to call baby? | publisher = The Japan Times Online
| access-date = 2012-01-24
| url = http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120122x1.html
}}</ref> The suffix {{transliteration|ja|-ko}} increased in popularity after the mid-20th century.

Around the year 2006, due to the citizenry mimicking naming habits of popular entertainers, the suffix {{transliteration|ja|-ko}} was declining in popularity. At the same time, names of western origin, written in kana, were becoming increasingly popular for naming of girls.<ref name="HanksHardcastleHodgesAp8"/> By 2004 there was a trend of using hiragana instead of kanji in naming girls.

Molly Hakes said that this may have to do with using hiragana out of cultural pride, since hiragana is Japan's indigenous writing form, or out of not assigning a meaning to a girl's name so that others do not have a particular expectation of her.<ref name="Hakes121"/>

Names ending with {{transliteration|ja|-ko}} dropped significantly in popularity in the mid-1980s, but are still given, though much less than in the past. Male names occasionally end with the syllable {{transliteration|ja|-ko}} as in [[Mako (actor)|Mako]], but very rarely using the kanji {{lang|ja|子}} (most often, if a male name ends in {{transliteration|ja|-ko}}, it ends in {{transliteration|ja|-hiko}}, using the kanji {{lang|ja|彦}} meaning "boy"). Common male name endings are {{transliteration|ja|-shi}} and {{transliteration|ja|-o}}; names ending with {{transliteration|ja|-shi}} are often adjectives, e.g., Atsushi, which might mean, for example, "(to be) faithful."

Katakana and hiragana spellings are characteristic of feminine names rather than masculine names, with katakana often used for women's names in the early 20th century due to being easier to read and write.<ref name="mori-kolbe">{{cite journal |last1= Mori-Kolbe |first1= Noriko |date= 2020 |title= Child Naming Practice and Changing Trends in Modern Japan |url= https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1142&context=thecoastalreview |journal= The Coastal Review |volume= 11 |issue= 1 |doi= 10.20429/cr.2020.110102 |access-date=2023-10-24|doi-access= free }}</ref>

A single name-forming element, such as {{nihongo3|"expansiveness"||hiro}} can be written by more than one kanji ({{lang|ja|博}}, {{lang|ja|弘}}, or {{lang|ja|浩}}). Conversely, a particular kanji can have multiple meanings and pronunciations. In some names, Japanese characters phonetically "spell" a name and have no intended meaning behind them. Many Japanese personal names use puns.<ref name="HanksHardcastleHodgesAp8">Hanks, Patrick, Kate Hardcastle, and Flavia Hodges. ''A Dictionary of First Names''. [[Oxford University Press]], 2006. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9nd05X_awIgC&pg=PT633 Appendix 8: Japanese Names]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on April 1, 2012. {{ISBN|0-19-861060-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-19-861060-1}}.</ref>

Although usually written in kanji, Japanese names have distinct differences from [[Chinese names]] through the selection of characters in a name and the pronunciation of them. A Japanese person can distinguish a Japanese name from a Chinese name. Akie Tomozawa said that this was equivalent to how "Europeans can easily tell that the name 'Smith' is English and 'Schmidt' is German or that 'Victor' is English or French and 'Vittorio' is Italian".<ref>Tomozawa, Akie. Chapter 6: "Japan's Hidden Bilinguals: The Languages of 'War Orphans' and Their Families After Repatriation From China." In: Noguchi, Mary Goebel and Sandra Fotos (editors). ''Studies in Japanese Bilingualism''. [[Multilingual Matters]], 2001. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mjAAjxo9yn4C&dq=Japanese+names+in+Chinese&pg=PA159 158-159]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on October 25, 2012. {{ISBN|185359489X}}, 9781853594892.</ref>