For curious minds
in reply to a message by Silver
since you admit that this isn't as much for you as it is for the database, I won't go through too much detail. Since I'm sure that people will peep in here, though, I can help a little bit
First of all, the meaning of any one name can differ depending on what characters are used to write it. Each name can be broken into several elements, and I'll only spend minimal energy on each of them, so a meaning I give is only a common one and is not definitive.
As for pronunciation, a basic guide is:
a = the a in father
e = the e in fed
i = the es in feet
o = the o in go
u = the os in food
other letters can be tricky. the syllable TSU is often left silent (since you watch Inuyasha, think of his sword Tetsusaiga -- it's pronounced TET-saiga, without any SOO sound.) sometimes, however, the TSU is pronounced as SOO (as in Tsunami). The japanese R is odd as well, as it has no true english equivilant. It is pronounced as a mix between the english R and L. English speakers tend to pronounce the Japanese R as either a clear L sound (as in Inuyasha's Kirara) or, less commonly, a clear R sound (as in Inuyasha's Miroku)
As for Kohaku . . . if the name in itself is a word, without breaking it into elements, that means "Amber". With this meaning, it is almost always a girl's name. It can be broken into elements also, though, and becomes a boys name. Ko can mean "small", "child", "great", "big", or "fault" among other things. Haku can mean "oak", or "eldest brother" among other things. Haku can be broken into two elements as well, Ha and Ku, but I will stop here. As you can see, a name that means "Great Oak" (one possilbe meaning of Ko + one possible meaning of Haku) can easily be a masculine name. This is how it is with many names. Kohaku is a rarity, though, because most names with the element KO at the beginning or end are feminine, and the element is usually used to mean "child" or "little"
Remember that Anime names are often skewed quite a bit; they're mispronounced and misspelled for the same reason that asian characters are often depicted with pale blonde, wavy hair (that is, to draw attention to the character)
Because of the nature of japanese names (that is, each name can mean any number of things) I will only define names which translate as a whole. That is, names like Kohaku (amber) which mean something without breaking them down into parts, and I will only give the meanign for the name as a whole.
Ayame [eh-YAW-mee] =a feminine name, pronouned ah-YAH-meh; means "Iris"
Kimishima [keim-ee-SHEE-mah] - kimi actually means "Lord" or "Prince", but may be translated to "Noble" as in a person of noble blood and not the quality of being noble. Unlikely to be used as a name, because the word Shi is in it, and shi is one way to say "death". Japanese culture is very supersticous, and often avoid the word Shi if at all possible
Miroku [mear-OH-koo] = properly pronounced MEE-roh-koo or mee-ROH-koo. Given in reference to Maitreya, a legendary bodhisattva.
Momiji [moh-MEE-jee] = a feminine name
Sanoske [sahn-OH-skeh] / [sahn-OHS-keh] = might I add that I love Ruroni Kenshin
Toya [TOY-ah] = pronounced TOH-yah
Yahiko [YAH-hee-koh] - 'ko' likely means child = Ko, as listed above, can mean any number of things. If this is a masculine name, Ko is more likley translated to something along the lines of "great" or "big". This is more than likely a feminine name, though, because Ko is at the end of the name (as opposed to the middle)
Yuhi [YOO-hee] = Spelled Yuuhi, this would mean "the setting (or evening) sun"
Yukito [yoo-KEE-toh] - 'yuki' means snow or luck = doens't mean luck at all; actually either means "snow" or "going"
Female:
Kaede [ki-EH-deh] = properly pronounced kah-eh-deh. Means "Maple Leaves"
Kagome [kah-goh-MEH] = properly pronounced KAH-goh-meh. Means "a woven bamboo pattern". I've also heard it used in reference to a childs game played in rural Japan.
Kagura [kah-GURH-ah]= KAH-goo-rah or KAH-goo-lah. Used in reference to ancient Shinto music and dancing
Kanami [KAWN-ah-mee] = spelled Kanaami, it means "wire mesh"
Kanna [kawn-ah] = though it can mean many things, it is traditionally translated as "Power" when used for a name.
Kaoru [KOW-roo] = kah-OH-roo or KAH-oh-roo. Means "sweet smelling" or "fragrant" and is derived from the word/name Kaori
Kikiyo [kee-kee-YOH] - 'yo' probably means sun = actually spelled Kikyo or Kikyou, it means "chinese bellflower"
Megumi [muh-GOO-mee] = "Blessing"
Ritsu [REET-soo] = "a commandment"
Tomoyo [TOH-moy-yoh] - 'yo' probably means sun = "Yo" actually means "generation" "society" or "age".
First of all, the meaning of any one name can differ depending on what characters are used to write it. Each name can be broken into several elements, and I'll only spend minimal energy on each of them, so a meaning I give is only a common one and is not definitive.
As for pronunciation, a basic guide is:
a = the a in father
e = the e in fed
i = the es in feet
o = the o in go
u = the os in food
other letters can be tricky. the syllable TSU is often left silent (since you watch Inuyasha, think of his sword Tetsusaiga -- it's pronounced TET-saiga, without any SOO sound.) sometimes, however, the TSU is pronounced as SOO (as in Tsunami). The japanese R is odd as well, as it has no true english equivilant. It is pronounced as a mix between the english R and L. English speakers tend to pronounce the Japanese R as either a clear L sound (as in Inuyasha's Kirara) or, less commonly, a clear R sound (as in Inuyasha's Miroku)
As for Kohaku . . . if the name in itself is a word, without breaking it into elements, that means "Amber". With this meaning, it is almost always a girl's name. It can be broken into elements also, though, and becomes a boys name. Ko can mean "small", "child", "great", "big", or "fault" among other things. Haku can mean "oak", or "eldest brother" among other things. Haku can be broken into two elements as well, Ha and Ku, but I will stop here. As you can see, a name that means "Great Oak" (one possilbe meaning of Ko + one possible meaning of Haku) can easily be a masculine name. This is how it is with many names. Kohaku is a rarity, though, because most names with the element KO at the beginning or end are feminine, and the element is usually used to mean "child" or "little"
Remember that Anime names are often skewed quite a bit; they're mispronounced and misspelled for the same reason that asian characters are often depicted with pale blonde, wavy hair (that is, to draw attention to the character)
Because of the nature of japanese names (that is, each name can mean any number of things) I will only define names which translate as a whole. That is, names like Kohaku (amber) which mean something without breaking them down into parts, and I will only give the meanign for the name as a whole.
Ayame [eh-YAW-mee] =a feminine name, pronouned ah-YAH-meh; means "Iris"
Kimishima [keim-ee-SHEE-mah] - kimi actually means "Lord" or "Prince", but may be translated to "Noble" as in a person of noble blood and not the quality of being noble. Unlikely to be used as a name, because the word Shi is in it, and shi is one way to say "death". Japanese culture is very supersticous, and often avoid the word Shi if at all possible
Miroku [mear-OH-koo] = properly pronounced MEE-roh-koo or mee-ROH-koo. Given in reference to Maitreya, a legendary bodhisattva.
Momiji [moh-MEE-jee] = a feminine name
Sanoske [sahn-OH-skeh] / [sahn-OHS-keh] = might I add that I love Ruroni Kenshin
Toya [TOY-ah] = pronounced TOH-yah
Yahiko [YAH-hee-koh] - 'ko' likely means child = Ko, as listed above, can mean any number of things. If this is a masculine name, Ko is more likley translated to something along the lines of "great" or "big". This is more than likely a feminine name, though, because Ko is at the end of the name (as opposed to the middle)
Yuhi [YOO-hee] = Spelled Yuuhi, this would mean "the setting (or evening) sun"
Yukito [yoo-KEE-toh] - 'yuki' means snow or luck = doens't mean luck at all; actually either means "snow" or "going"
Female:
Kaede [ki-EH-deh] = properly pronounced kah-eh-deh. Means "Maple Leaves"
Kagome [kah-goh-MEH] = properly pronounced KAH-goh-meh. Means "a woven bamboo pattern". I've also heard it used in reference to a childs game played in rural Japan.
Kagura [kah-GURH-ah]= KAH-goo-rah or KAH-goo-lah. Used in reference to ancient Shinto music and dancing
Kanami [KAWN-ah-mee] = spelled Kanaami, it means "wire mesh"
Kanna [kawn-ah] = though it can mean many things, it is traditionally translated as "Power" when used for a name.
Kaoru [KOW-roo] = kah-OH-roo or KAH-oh-roo. Means "sweet smelling" or "fragrant" and is derived from the word/name Kaori
Kikiyo [kee-kee-YOH] - 'yo' probably means sun = actually spelled Kikyo or Kikyou, it means "chinese bellflower"
Megumi [muh-GOO-mee] = "Blessing"
Ritsu [REET-soo] = "a commandment"
Tomoyo [TOH-moy-yoh] - 'yo' probably means sun = "Yo" actually means "generation" "society" or "age".
Replies
Sorry for the many mispellings
It's late. ^_^ please don't crucify me
It's late. ^_^ please don't crucify me
Wow, thanks a lot. I can see how it would be very difficult to put Japanese names in a data base of their meaning. But, I like that in names/a language. As most of my ancestory is Scottish, I plan one day to take word elements from gaelic and create unique name with meaningful etymologies. I how Japanese names are not so defined as in Western Culture, where the same names are often used over and over. I find most people don't know what their name means or what the name of their child means. I personally grew up with a VERY common name, and I felt like it left me lacking a sense of identity. There were 9 girls out of a graduating class of ~200, 100 were girls. There were only two other names with more than one person having them, Sarah and Courtney, of each there was only two. The rest of the girls had a name that was not shared by anyone else in our grade.
I know im rambling on; I just love everything about Japanese culture. It is so very beautiful. My grandfather still keeps with many old Scottish traditions, but my father doesn't, so I think that is why I really enjoy societies which still not only still respect the old ways, but encourage them.
For eg on the Scottish names:
A more recently coined name (to my knowledge and searching through google) is Deasloch. 'Deas' is Gaelic for 'south' or 'from south' and 'loch' is Scottish term for a lake.. Daesloch = from the south lake. Others on this website agreed.
Neways, im bored waiting for xmas day... just rambling...
thanks again!
~ SD
I know im rambling on; I just love everything about Japanese culture. It is so very beautiful. My grandfather still keeps with many old Scottish traditions, but my father doesn't, so I think that is why I really enjoy societies which still not only still respect the old ways, but encourage them.
For eg on the Scottish names:
A more recently coined name (to my knowledge and searching through google) is Deasloch. 'Deas' is Gaelic for 'south' or 'from south' and 'loch' is Scottish term for a lake.. Daesloch = from the south lake. Others on this website agreed.
Neways, im bored waiting for xmas day... just rambling...
thanks again!
~ SD
No prob! I'm sorry if I came off a little "know it all" - ish; I'm studying to be a japanese translator, so that little rant is kind of pre packaged.
and I love the way that name looks, Daesloch. Would you use it for a boy or a girl? Because I think it would be a gorgeous boys name!
and I love the way that name looks, Daesloch. Would you use it for a boy or a girl? Because I think it would be a gorgeous boys name!
Daesloch
Deffinately a boys name. In most traditionally cultures, the woman would move to the man's town, so it's more important for men to carry on names that are in relations to places or relatives. The name Daesmond, and most place names were once surnames, so if Daesloch is not a new invention, and simply a revival, it would also have been a surname.
I really like Daesloch too. If I ever live by a southern lake, or the south part of a lake, I would love to name a son that. One could call him Daesy for short.
Ty for all your help. If you interested in further Gaelic ranting, I'm starting a post above about some qus. I have.
~ SD
Deffinately a boys name. In most traditionally cultures, the woman would move to the man's town, so it's more important for men to carry on names that are in relations to places or relatives. The name Daesmond, and most place names were once surnames, so if Daesloch is not a new invention, and simply a revival, it would also have been a surname.
I really like Daesloch too. If I ever live by a southern lake, or the south part of a lake, I would love to name a son that. One could call him Daesy for short.
Ty for all your help. If you interested in further Gaelic ranting, I'm starting a post above about some qus. I have.
~ SD