[49] ] "Ayamé Sama," however, is rather familiar; and this form cannot be used by a stranger in verbal address, though a letter may be directed with the name so written. As a rule, the ko is the more respectful form.
So much having been said as regards the etiquette of prefixes and suffixes, I shall now attempt a classification of female names,—beginning with popular yobina. These will be found particularly interesting, because they reflect something of race-feeling in the matter of ethics and æsthetics, and because they serve to illustrate curious facts relating to Japanese custom. The first place I have given to names of purely moral meaning,—usually bestowed in the hope that the children will grow up worthy of them. But the lists should in no case be regarded as complete: they are only representative. Furthermore, I must confess my inability to explain the reason of many names, which proved as much of riddles to Japanese friends as to myself.
NAMES OF VIRTUES AND PROPRIETIES
| O-Ai | "Love." |
| O-Chië | "Intelligence." |
| O-Chū | "Loyalty." |
| O-Jin | "Tenderness,"—humanity. |
| O-Jun | "Faithful-to-death." |
| O-Kaiyō | "Forgiveness,"—pardon. |
| O-Ken | "Wise,"—in the sense of moral discernment. |
| O-Kō | "Filial Piety." |
| O-Masa | "Righteous,"—just. |
| O-Michi | "The Way,"—doctrine. |
| Misao | "Honor,"—wifely fidelity. |
| O-Nao | "The Upright,"—honest. |
| O-Nobu | "The Faithful." |
| O-Rei | "Propriety,"—in the old Chinese sense. |
| O-Retsu | "Chaste and True." |
| O-Ryō | "The Generous,"—magnanimous. |
| O-Sada | "The Chaste." |
| O-Sei | "Truth." |
| O-Shin | "Faith,"—in the sense of fidelity, trust. |
| O-Shizu | "The Tranquil,"—calm-souled. |
| O-Setsu | "Fidelity,"—wifely virtue. |
| O-Tamé | "For-the-sake-of,"—a name suggesting unselfishness. |
| O-Tei | "The Docile,"—in the meaning of virtuous obedience. |
| O-Toku | "Virtue." |
| O-Tomo | "The Friend,"—especially in the meaning of mate, companion. |
| O-Tsuné | "Constancy." |
| O-Yasu | "The Amiable,"—gentle. |
| O-Yoshi | "The Good." |
| O-Yoshi | "The Respectful." |
The next list will appear at first sight more heterogeneous than it really is. It contains a larger variety of appellations than the previous list; but nearly all of the yobina refer to some good quality which the parents trust that the child will display, or to some future happiness which they hope that she will deserve. To the latter category belong such names of felicitation as Miyo and Masayo.
MISCELLANEOUS NAMES EXPRESSING PERSONAL QUALITIES, OR PARENTAL HOPES
| O-Atsu | "The Generous,"—liberal. |
| O-Chika | "Closely Dear." |
| O-Chika | "Thousand Rejoicings." |
| O-Chō | "The Long,"—probably in reference to life. |
| O-Dai | "Great." |
| O-Den | "Transmission,"—bequest from ancestors, tradition. |
| O-É | "Fortunate." |
| O-Ei | "Prosperity." |
| O-En | "Charm." |
| O-En | "Prolongation,"—of life. |
| O-Etsu | "Surpassing." |
| O-Etsu | "The Playful,"—merry, joyous. |
| O-Fuku | "Good Luck." |
| O-Gen | "Source,"—spring, fountain. |
| O-Haya | "The Quick,"—light, nimble. |
| O-Hidé | "Superior." |
| Hidéyo | "Superior Generations." |
| O-Hiro | "The Broad." |
| O-Hisa | "The Long." (?) |
| Isamu | "The Vigorous,"—spirited, robust. |
| O-Jin | "Superexcellent." |
| Kaméyo | "Generations-of-the-Tortoise." |
| O-Kané[50] | "The Doubly-Accomplished." |