My girlfriend is pregnant and it is going to be a girl. Strangely enough, she wants to choose an English name while I choose a Japanese one. What would be an interesting name that is not too common but also not so strange it would get her teased in school?

I've always thought that みちこ, written as 美智子, was a great and beautiful Japanese girls name. It's pretty common, but not super-over-the-top common.

You could compromise with a name that works in both languages, like 花（はな）/Hannah or 直美（なおみ）/Naomi. (OK, they don't work exactly, but they're pretty close.)

Edit: Or why don't you name her with a Japanese first name and an English middle name, or vice versa? Then people could call her by either.

Further edit: Oh, wait, actually that sounds like that might be what you're doing. Sorry, I think I just misunderstood your post.

This is just my opinion, but I would suggest thinking about it yourself. To me naming one's child is different from naming anything or anyone else. It's a lifelong gift given from the heart to the one you love more than anything in the world. There's no hurry either, you've got months and months, and it's not uncommon for a child to be named after she is born.

First and foremost (tsk tsk other guys!) CONGRATULATIONS

I don't have japanese installed atm, but I like the name hikara from the idiom hikarakiyou

Guess it also really depends where you two will decide to live. Obviously, if you live in Japan, a kanji Japanese name will lead to less headaches legally and socially. Some people still go the other route though. If you two decide to move outside of Japan to live, then of course it depends on where you're going.

Some cultures who live submerged within bigger, different cultures often maintain a legal name of the society that they live in, and then use a name of the culture they come from privately with close ones (like how some Jews might have a public legal name like "Jonathan", but use a Hebrew name like "Yonatan" in private settings...)

Regardless, first step is to explore all the angles with the Misses.

liosama Wrote:First and foremost (tsk tsk other guys!) CONGRATULATIONS

恥ずかしい。 Huge congratulations bodhisamaya!

At0m5k Wrote:This is just my opinion, but I would suggest thinking about it yourself. To me naming one's child is different from naming anything or anyone else.

I kind of agree, but I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for suggestions. It's still up to the parents to choose a name that appeals to them. I don't think this is really much different from consulting a book of baby names.

Congratulations bodhisamaya!!

Tzadeck Wrote:I've always thought that みちこ, written as 美智子, was a great and beautiful Japanese girls name. It's pretty common, but not super-over-the-top common.

Makes me think of this song:

They also had a song called 'Japanese Girls'..the singer was definitely a bit weird..

She is due April 22nd so plenty of time. Just collecting some ideas. I like 美智子, Beautiful + higher knowledge but Hitomi says it doesn't sound sweet :/
Difficult to know what is cool and sweet yet uncommon if you don't grow up in a culture.

春香　（はるか）
光　（ひかり）
愛理　（えり）　＜ーーーpersonal fav.

おめでとうございます。

Eri used to be my fav, and then I dated a girl named Eri. Now I date Erina.

Nowadays I like names like Rina, Reina (any kanji), 雪／有希, or 愛.

I think Aya is a beautiful name. Aya can be written in this kanji 理 or this one. 礼.

理 (but with the reading ri) means reason, truth, logic, and rational principle. It refers to the underlying principles of the cosmos or the underlying intelligence and order of nature as reflected in its organic forms.

Short, simple, and meaningful.

mezbup Wrote:愛理　（えり）　＜ーーーpersonal fav.

Signed! Also, congratulations.

aphasiac Wrote:Makes me think of this song:

They also had a song called 'Japanese Girls'..the singer was definitely a bit weird..

Nice, haha. Actually, when I think of the name 美智子 and songs, this one will always be first in my heart:

It's composed by none other other than なるけ美智子. Probably her name was the first time I heard Michiko, and I've met two Michiko's since then in Japan--both were awesome!

I knew a girl in college who could whistle like crazy, and with me on guitar we rocked this song at an open mic. Too bad the whistling is suffering horribly in the Youtube clip, thanks to the sound quality.

Interesting site:
Female Japanese Names

I've always liked 佐知子(さちこ).

I generally like names starting with S.

さおり
さえこ
しおり

さえこ is nice, but becomes bad in an English context. "Haha, psycho."

EDIT: さちこ sounds like a male name to me, mainly because I have a friend named さちひろ whom we simply call さち.

響(ひびき) ?

Or make up your own! 運子(うんこ).
Just kidding!

Hashiriya Wrote:響(ひびき) ?

Or make up your own! 運子(うんこ).
Just kidding!

Wouldn't someone named ひびき be called にきび? I sure would!

bodhisamaya Wrote:Interesting site:
Female Japanese Names

Thanks for that site and congratulations.

I'm in a similar position. My wife will give birth to our first baby in February. We don't know if it's a boy or girl so we need to think of both.

I want a name that's both English and Japanese but my wife seems happy with a purely English name.

Just can't seem to come up with any good ideas!!!

Name her YUMI, because American guys will thinks its YUMMY...... :-p

chamcham Wrote:Name her YUMI, because American guys will thinks its YUMMY...... :-p

lol that reminds me of Gran Torino so much!
But a real name I really like is きりこ but I don't know the kanji for it... It just sounds nice to me

As long as you don't write it as 切り子 I think it's OK... :-)
Also, if you've ever seen "Swallowtail Butterfly" you can name her "Glico".

shirokuro Wrote:Edit: Or why don't you name her with a Japanese first name and an English middle name, or vice versa? Then people could call her by either.

Second this. I have a Korean friend who named his kids (1/2 Korean, 1/2 White) with a Korean first name and an English middle name. That way, growing up they're called by their Korean name and when they're older they can decide if they want to go by their middle name. If it was done the other way around as many people do, he says they'd never use their Korean name...so what would be the point of their having one? His daughter's Korean name is absolutely beautiful: Hae Yeon.

Congratulations to you and your gf on the baby!

Try looking at Japanese forums for inspiration:

http://www.iinamae.net/beboard/

真知子 みちこ

琉那（るな）

里咲　りさき

杏南　あんな

花音　はなね

and Congratulations!