ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2480 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2480 ************************************ 25 Mar 2002 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for a Japanese woman of the samurai class at any time before 1600. Here is what we have found. is the transliteration of at least nine different modern Japanese names [1]. We have not found evidence that it was used before 1600. We can't recommend it as the best re-creation, but it is a plausible construction for the Heian period or later: There was a name used at some time before 1600 (we can't pin down the date), written with a single kanji that means "toy ball" [2]. The suffix <-ko>, which meant something similar to "lady", could reasonably be added to such a name. A better choice is , a name recorded in the Nara period that ended in 793 [2]. However, this name is unlikely to have remained in use past the beginning of the Heian period. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Solveig Throndardottir, Juliana de Luna, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Elsbeth Anne Roth, Talan Gwynek, Adelaide de Beaumont, and Mari neyn Brian. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 25 Mar 2002 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Sharp PA 8500 database of common Japanese personal names in use in the late 1980s. [2] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_ (Carlsbad, N. Mex.: The Outlaw Press, 1994; Potboiler Press, 1999 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]), p.269.