Hey everyone, as part of this year's NaNoWrimo staring in a couple of days I'm actually writing a novel about reincarnated idols. Yup. So I've got a couple of characters who are Japanese twins in their mid 20s but I want one of them to have a very old fashioned name. I've been entertained by some of the "granny" comments on old AKBingo segments and I kind of want to have a character that reflects that, so I'm looking for a name that would be uncommon in contemporary Japan and would probably get laughed at. Like if we met a Huckleberry Smith in the USA. Anyone who can legitimately provide help rather than just "these are names from a long time ago" because I've seen those lists and I've also recognized some of those names (like Nene or Momo. If I know them, they aren't uncommon enough). For the record, the family name I want to use is Takahashi. Any ideas?
Assuming that its female names that you are after? I think if you pull something from Japanese ancient literary classics like "Tales of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu....there should be some winners (even Shikibu itself is very ancient) (or is that too old fashioned?) Otherwise maybe something from Soseki Natsume? (that's late 19th to early 20th century) - I liked Botchan and Sanshiro - From Sanshiro: the female characters have names like Mineko (美禰子) Essentially anything without Katakana and has some hard to read Kanji names will do IMHO Open to suggestions
Meanwhile I'm looking for Japanese name that still sound relevant to other cultures. EG: Erika → Erica Rika → Rica Risa → Lisa Rina → Lina Runa → Luna Maria Marina Mari → Mary Arina → Alina Naomi Mika → Mikha Can anyone add more? Also some masculine names perhaps Why I was looking for these Spoiler: ... I'm so obsessed to Japanese girlsd! One of my dreams is that I'm gonna marry a Japanese girl so I'm looking for Japanese names that can still be relevant to other cultures which I'd name our (me & my Japanese wife) children with.
Yup. Might be too recent haha Actually this is the complete opposite. Women had easy names that were only written in hirigana because it was seen as a softer way to write, visually. Jun