_Aki-ko_ "Autumn."
_Aki-ko_ "The Clear-Minded."
_Aki-ko_ "Dawn."
_Asa-ko_ "Fair Morning."
_Aya-ko_ "Silk Damask."
_Chiharu-ko_ "A Thousand Springs."
_Chika-ko_ "Near,"--close.
_Chitsuru-ko_ "A Thousand Storks."
_Chiyo-ko_ "A Thousand Generations."
_Ei-ko_ "Bell-Chime."
_Etsu-ko_ "Delight."
_Fuji-ko_ "Wistaria."
_Fuku-ko_ "Good-Fortune."
_Fumi-ko_ "A Woman's Letter."
_Fuyo-ko_ "Lotos-flower."
_Fuyu-ko_ "Winter."
_Hana-ko_ "Flower."
_Hana-ko_ "Fair-Blooming."
_Haru-ko_ "The Tranquil."
_Haru-ko_ "Spring,"--the season of flowers.
_Haru-ko_ "The Far-Removed,"--in the sense, perhaps, of
superlative.
_Hatsu-ko_ "The First-born."
_Hide-ko_ "Excelling."
_Hide-ko_ "Surpassing."
_Hiro-ko_ "Magnanimous,"--literally, "broad,"
"large,"--in the sense of beneficence.
_Hiro-ko_ "Wide-Spreading,"--with reference to family
prosperity.
_Hisa-ko_ "Long-lasting."
_Hisa-ko_ "Continuing."
_Hoshi-ko_ "Star."
_Iku-ko_ "The Quick,"--in the sense of living.
_Ima-ko_ "Now."
_Iho-ko_ "Five Hundred,"--probably a name of
felicitation.
_Ito-ko_ "Sewing-Thread."
_Kame-ko_ "Tortoise."
_Kane-ko_ "Going around" (?).[87]
[87] It is possible that this name was made simply by
taking one character of the father's name. The
girl's name otherwise conveys no intelligible
meaning.
_Kane-ko_ "Bell,"--the character indicates a large
suspended bell.
_Kata-ko_ "Condition"?
_Kazu-ko_ "First."
_Kazu-ko_ "Number,"--a great number.
_Kazu-ko_ "The Obedient."
_Kiyo-ko_ "The Pure."
_Ko_[88] "Filial Piety."
[88] The suffix "_ko_" is sometimes dropped for reasons
of euphony, and sometimes for reasons of good
taste--difficult to explain to readers unfamiliar
with the Japanese language--even when the name
consists of only one syllable or of two syllables.
_Ko-ko_ "Stork."
_Koto_ "Harp."
_Kuni-ko_ "Province."
_Kuni_ "Country,"--in the largest sense.
_Kyo-ko_ "Capital,"--metropolis.
_Machi_ "Ten-Thousand Thousand."
_Makoto_ "True-Heart."
_Masa-ko_ "The Trustworthy,"--sure.
_Masa-ko_ "The Upright."
_Masu-ko_ "Increase."
_Mata-ko_ "Completely,"--wholly.
_Matsu-ko_ "Pine-tree."
_Michi-ko_ "Three Thousand."
_Mine_ "Peak."
_Mine-ko_ "Mountain-Range."
_Mitsu-ko_ "Light,"--radiance.
_Miyo-ko_ "Beautiful Generations."
_Moto-ko_ "Origin,"--source.
_Naga-ko_ "Long,"--probably in reference to time.
_Naga-ko_ "Long Life."
_Nami-ko_ "Wave."
_Nao-ko_ "Correct,"--upright.
_Nyo-ko_[89] "Gem-Treasure."
[89] This name is borrowed from the name of the sacred
gem _Nyoihoju_, which figures both in Shinto and in
Buddhist legend. The divinity Jizo is usually
represented holding in one hand this gem, which is
said to have the power of gratifying any desire
that its owner can entertain. Perhaps the _Nyoihoju_
may be identified with the Gem-Treasure _Veluriya_,
mentioned in the Sutra of The Great King of Glory,
chapter i. (See _Sacred Books of the East_, vol.
xi.)
_Nobu-ko_ "Faithful."
_Nobu-ko_ "Abundance,"--plenty.
_Nobu-ko_ "The Prolonger."
_Nori-ko_ "Precept,"--doctrine.
_Nui_ "Embroidery,"--sewing.
_Oki_ "Offing,"--perhaps originally a place-name.[90]
[90] A naval officer named Oki told me that his family
had originally been settled in the Oki Islands
("Islands of the Offing"). This interesting
coincidence suggested to me that the above _yobina_
might have had the same origin.
_Sada-ko_ "The Chaste."
_Sada-ko_ "The Sure,"--trustworthy.
_Sakura-ko_ "Cherry-Blossom."
_Sakae_ "The Prosperous."
_Sato-ko_ "Home."
_Sato-ko_ "The Discriminating."
_Seki-ko_ "Great."
_Setsu-ko_ "The Chaste."
_Shige-ko_ "Flourishing."
_Shige-ko_ "Exuberant,"--in the sense of rich growth.
_Shige-ko_ "Upgrowing."
_Shige-ko_ "Fragrance."
_Shiki-ko_ "Prudence."
_Shima-ko_ "Island."
_Shin-ko_ "The Fresh,"--new.
_Shizu-ko_ "The Quiet,"--calm.
_Shizue_ "Quiet River."
_Sono-ko_ "Garden."
_Sue-ko_ "Last,"--in the sense of youngest.
_Suke-ko_ "The Helper."
_Sumi-ko_ "The Clear,"--spotless, refined.
_Sumi-ko_ "The Veritable,"--real.
_Sumie-ko_ "Clear River."
_Suzu-ko_ "Tin."
_Suzu-ko_ "Little Bell."
_Suzune_ "Sound of Little Bell."
_Taka-ko_ "High,"--lofty, superior.
_Taka-ko_ "Filial Piety."
_Taka-ko_ "Precious."
_Take-ko_ "Bamboo."
_Taki-ko_ "Waterfall."
_Tama-ko_ "Gem,"--jewel.
_Tama-ko_ "Gem,"--written with a different character.
_Tame-ko_ "For the Sake of--"
_Tami-ko_ "People,"--folks.
_Tane-ko_ "Successful."
_Tatsu-ko_ "Attaining."
_Tatsuru-ko_[91] "Many Storks."
[91] So written, but probably pronounced as two syllables
only.
_Tatsuru-ko_ "Ricefield Stork."
_Teru-ko_ "Beaming,"--luminous.
_Tetsu-ko_ "Iron."
_Toki-ko_ "Time."
_Tome-ko_ "Cessation."
_Tomi-ko_ "Riches."
_Tomo_ "Intelligence."
_Tomo_ "Knowledge."
_Tomo-ko_ "Friendship."
_Toshi-ko_ "The Quickly-Perceiving."
_Toyo-ko_ "Fruitful."
_Tsune_ "Constancy."
_Tsune-ko_ "Ordinary,"--usual, common.
_Tsune-ko_ "Ordinary,"--written with a different
character.
_Tsune-ko_ "Faithful,"--in the sense of wifely fidelity.
_Tsuru-ko_ "Stork."
_Tsuya-ko_ "The Lustrous,"--shining, glossy.
_Ume_ "Female Hare."
_Ume-ko_ "Plum-Blossom."
_Yachi-ko_ "Eight Thousand."
_Yaso-ko_ "Eighty."
_Yasoshi-ko_ "Eighty-four."
_Yasu-ko_ "The Maintainer,"--supporter.
_Yasu-ko_ "The Respectful."
_Yasu-ko_ "The Tranquil-Minded."
_Yone-ko_ "Rice."
_Yori-ko_ "The Trustful."
_Yoshi_ "Eminent,"--celebrated.
_Yoshi-ko_ "Fragrance."
_Yoshi-ko_ "The Good,"--or Gentle.
_Yoshi-ko_ "The Lovable."
_Yoshi-ko_ "The Lady-like,"--gentle in the sense of
refined.
_Yoshi-ko_ "The Joyful."
_Yoshi-ko_ "Congratulation."
_Yoshi-ko_ "The Happy."
_Yoshi-ko_ "Bright and Clear."
_Yuki-ko_ "The Lucky."
_Yuki-ko_ "Snow."
_Yuku-ko_ "Going."
_Yutaka_ "Plenty,"--affluence, superabundance.