III
For examples of contemporary aristocratic names I consulted the reports of the Kwazoku-Jogakkō (Peeresses' School), published between the nineteenth and twenty-seventh years of Meiji (1886-1895). The Kwazoku-Jogakkō admits other students besides daughters of the nobility; but for present purposes the names of the latter only—to the number of one hundred and forty-seven—have been selected.
It will be observed that names of three or more syllables are rare among these, and also that the modern aristocratic yobina of two syllables, as pronounced and explained, differ little from ordinary yobina. But as written in Chinese they differ greatly from other female names, being in most cases represented by characters of a complex and unfamiliar kind. The use of these more elaborate characters chiefly accounts for the relatively large number of homonyms to be found in the following list:—
PERSONAL NAMES OF LADY STUDENTS OF THE KWAZOKU JOGAKKŌ
| 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." |
| Fuyō-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." |
| Hidé-ko | "Excelling." |
| Hidé-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." |
| Kamé-ko | "Tortoise." |
| Kané-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.
| Kané-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." |
| Kō[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.
| Kō-ko | "Stork." |
| Koto | "Harp." |
| Kuni-ko | "Province." |
| Kuni | "Country,"—in the largest sense. |
| Kyō-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." |
| Miné | "Peak." |
| Miné-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." |