Haruto and Hinato (陽翔) for boys and Tsumugi (紬) for girls were Japan's most popular first names given to boys and girls born in 2024, according to a survey by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.
Haruto topped the list for the first time in seven years, and Tsumugi topped the list for the second time in three years.
Meiji Yasuda said that both names "may contain the hope that the child will grow up to be bright, hopeful and strong in these turbulent times."
This is the 36th time the survey has been conducted. The names of 7,308 boys and 7,017 girls born between January and September of this year among the children and grandchildren of the company's policyholders were tallied.
Next on the list for boys was Nagi or Nagisa (凪) and for girls, it was Sui (翠).
© Japan Today
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Meiyouwenti
Surveys show that children with hard-to-pronounce names do worse at school than children with conventional, easy-to-pronounce names, and they are more likely to land at less prestigious jobs when they grow up. Best of luck to Haruto, Hinato and Tsumugi.
Jay
It has always fascinated me how Japanese people stick to their own names while other East Asians often pick from the colonial classics like “Godfrey,” “Nigel,” or even “Cornelius.” Ever met a Percival Wang? I have. Instant classic.
Tokyo Guy
It has always fascinated me how Japanese people stick to their own names while other East Asians often pick from the colonial classics like “Godfrey,” “Nigel,” or even “Cornelius.” Ever met a Percival Wang? I have. Instant classic.
Conversely...there used to be a youtube channel who did camera reviews. They were based in Hong Kong, and one of the presenters was named Kai Wong - a fully Chinese name, essentially. People in the comments had incredible trouble working out why he spoke with a pretty standard British accent...
Peeping_Tom
@Jay
Other East Asians were colonies of the West.
Japan was a colonial power instead.
Easy answer.