Popular first name ranking in 2004

Meiji Yasuda life insurance company released the most popular first names for new born babies for 2004. Japanese names are mainly written in Kanji (Chinese Characters) so their meanings are related to the meanings of each Kanji in them and how they are combined.
For boys : 1. 蓮 (Ren)=Lotus. 2.颯太（Futa,Sota)= fresh breezing Boy, 3.翔太(Shota)=Fly Boy, 拓海(Takumi)=explore the sea.
For girls :  1. さくら(Sakura)=Cherry Bloosom.　美咲(Misaki)=beautiful Bloom 3.凛(Rin)= I'm not sure I can translate this character "凛" into English, but basically it means "a woman who receives admiration from others". It is a very Japanese idea. Maybe its meaning would be close to an amalgamation of dignified + clean + fresh.

I was surprised to hear that "Ren" was the No1 name for boys but they say that it is chosen because parents wish for their babies to grow up strong like the leaves and flowers of a Lotus plant. "Sakura" is popular because of the hit song "Sakura"(real audio) by Naotaro Moriyama. "Misaki" would be well liked because of the popular actress Misaki Ito.

The Lotus is a flower strongly connected to Buddism, and Sakura is the Japanese word for Cherry Blossom, which is a very important flower in Japan and is also in famous Japanese traditional song titles too   (Performed by Yo-Yo Ma). So there are very old fashioned images connected to these words they are is now hot here in Japan. I suppose this is more proof of another trend, which is that people are reassessing traditional culture here in Japan.

By the way, this site introduced old data too, and apparently there is a trend to names for babies. 50 years ago, in 1954, The top 3 for boys were 1.茂(Shigeru)= prosperity, flush of greenness 2.誠(Makoto)=Truth 3.隆(Takashi)=flowering. In those days, one Kanji (Chinese character) was popular, and a strong and tough image were liked very much. In 1984, 1. 大輔(Daisuke)=Big boy 2. 健太(Kenta)=Healthy boy 3.誠(Makoto)=Truth. Gradually names with two characters were getting popular for boys' names and parents seemed concerned for their boy's health or happy life. Now in 2004 many popular names have the meaning of Fly, Wind, Wing, Explore, so I can tell that the parents wish for their boy's bright future, leaping(?).

About girls names, 50 years ago, in 1954, the top 3 were, 1.恵子(Keiko)=blessed child 2.洋子(Yoko)=Child of ocean 3.幸子(Sahiko, Yukiko)=Happy Child. Yes Yoko Ono has this name as you know. Until early 1960s, most girls name had the Kanji(Chinese character ) 子 (ko)=Child in the end, after 1960s' 子 is began to disappear from popular ranking. In 1984 1.愛(Ai)=Love 2.麻衣(Mai)=hemp robes(Hmm I think the Japanese liked this SOUND first and then chose the most feminine character for it) 3.恵(Megumi)=blessed. Girl Names were getting shorter in contradiction to the boys name, which were getting two characters. After the late 1980s, many popular names had the meaning of soft, kind, heart, flower, warm, sunshine, beauty etc,. such words. Even though the generation has changed, Characters have changed, people’s hopes for such feminine images in a girls name has not changed. Anyway my name Mari has the meaning of truth, veritas. I like this very much.

Comments

[air jordans]

Writing an exact man,i admire you.

[MARIA HERMINIA VEHA]

MY DAUGHTERS' NAME ARE NATSUE AND KAEDE I AM LOOKING FOR THE MEANING ANN KANJI WOULD YOU HELPING ME? THANKS

[robert]

I wish I had a Japanese name..well besides Oyaji as I frequently get titled.Though I feel badly for the kid named "big boy" as well for "Flyboy" though there is an underlying cool factor to that one, I bet he'll still go through alot of sh*t with that name.
I also came across this awhile back: http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa050601a.htm
see. I've been interested in Japanese names for some time. I have decided that if I ever have kids I will name them using Japanese names or something wildly outlandish like Butterpeach Anklebiter or Orvillina Scratcherface..that way if the kid survives kindergarten he/she will be destined to notoriety...or psychotic rampage. In either case they are guaranteed a spot on the evening news. But no, I'll probably go with something Japanese..like Teri Yaki, or Natto Gyoza..something easy to remember. I get so easily distracted by complicated names... I remember when the best names had only three letters..like Jim, Tom, Bob, Art, Tim...ah those were the days.. but those names are all gone now..used up so that the rest of us must muddle through with two or more syllables ( apologies to Aloysius whose name frequently gets mispronounced). Yes. I wish I had a Japanese name. Veritatem dilexi ( I have loved the truth)