Date
Name Kesa
Gender Feminine
Usage Japanese
Scripts 今朝, 袈裟 (kanji), けさ (hiragana), ケサ (katakana)
Edit Status Status
Meaning & History
This name is used as either 今朝 or 袈裟 with 今 (kin, kon, ima) meaning "now," 朝 (chou, asa) meaning "dynasty, epoch, morning, regime," 袈 (ka, ke) meaning "a coarse camlet" and 裟 (sa. sha) meaning "Buddhist surplice."As a word, Kesa (今朝 & 袈裟) means "this morning" and "kasaya (a monk's stole)" respectively. Kesa (袈裟) is also used as an abbreviation of 袈裟懸け (kesagake/けさがけ) which refers to wearing a kasaya or an article of clothing in the same manner as a kasaya (i.e. draped over one shoulder).
Regarding 今朝, it originally came about as an Old Japanese compound of 此 (ke) meaning "this" (ke being the alternative form of ko) and 朝 (asa). This, in turn, formed into 'keasa,' but it contracted to, what is now, 'kesa' since Old Japanese didn't permit vowel clusters.This name was most commonly used from the Edo Period (1603-1868) to the first half of the 20th century, albeit occasionally, but nowadays, it is very rarely given to girls, if given at all.
Regarding 今朝, it originally came about as an Old Japanese compound of 此 (ke) meaning "this" (ke being the alternative form of ko) and 朝 (asa). This, in turn, formed into 'keasa,' but it contracted to, what is now, 'kesa' since Old Japanese didn't permit vowel clusters.This name was most commonly used from the Edo Period (1603-1868) to the first half of the 20th century, albeit occasionally, but nowadays, it is very rarely given to girls, if given at all.