Japanese names associated with season: Summer

Following the previous article about Japanese names associated with spring, let me introduce names associated with summer in this article.

In the traditional calendar, summer in Japan officially begins on Rikka around the 5th of May and ends on Risshu around the 7th of August.

Most parts of Japan have the rainy season called tsuyu before full-blown hot summer comes. Tsuyu 梅雨 literally means “plum rain.”

It’s because plums ripen in this period. Tsuyu brings a lot of rain and damp humid weather, but it brings lovely delight, too: hydrangeas.

Japanese people are so passionate about viewing colorful hydrangeas in the parks and temples.

The biggest event in summer in Japan is Bon holidays.

It is believed that the spirits of ancestors return to this world during this period.

During Bon holidays Japanese people go back to their hometowns for family gathering and to remember the ancestors.

It’s the main traditional event during the year, along with the New Year.

Kanji that are used for names related to summer often have bright and gorgeous meanings, and they also symbolize spaciousness and magnificence associated with sea and stars.

Names with the kanji that represents summer

Summer is natsu in Japanese and represented by this kanji: 夏.

It symbolizes vigor, vitality and dynamism. Here are some cool names that include 夏.

Boy names

Natsuki 夏樹 summer + tree
Natsuhiko 夏彦 summer + accomplished man
Natsuhisa 夏久 summer + forever
Natsuyoshi 夏芳 summer + fragrance
Natsuyuki 夏之 summer + move on

Girl names

Natsuko 夏子 summer + child
Natsumi 夏津美 summer + harbor + beauty
Natsuyo 夏代 summer + era, reign
Natsuki 夏希 summer + hope
Chinatsu 千夏 thousand + summer

Sea, waves, sailing

Names associated with sea, ocean, waves, and sailing are often given to summer-born children.

Here are some romantic and charming examples.

Boy names

Takumi 拓海 open, expand + sea
Kaito 海人 sea + human
Masami 雅海 grace + sea
Yoichi 洋一 ocean + one
Wataru 航 sail, ship

Girl names

Miyu 海優 sea + gentle
Ami 愛海 love + sea
Nanami 七海 seven + sea
Minami 美波 beauty + wave
Yoko 洋子 ocean + child
Kaho 華帆 beauty, splendor + sail, sailing boat

Names with the kanji that represents star

Because summer is the best time of year to view the full splendor of the Milky Way, kanji for star 星 is very often chosen for names for summer-born children.

Boy names

Seiichi 星一 star + one
Issei 一星 one + star
Ryusei 龍星 dragon + star
Kaisei 海星 sea + star

Girl names

Hoshimi 星美 star + beauty
Hoshie 星江 star + bay, creek
Seika 星香 star + scent
Seira 星来 star + come, future
Seina 星南 star + south

Brilliant sunshine and glory for boys

The power of the Sun and yang (in contrast to yin) reaches its peak in summer and it symbolizes the most glorious time of life, so names with brilliant, glorious and prosperous meanings are popular for boys.

Taiyo 太陽 the Sun (The combination of these two kanji represents the Sun. )
Akito 陽翔 the Sun, yang + soar
Natsuki 夏輝 summer + shine, bright
Moriaki 盛明 florish, prosper + light
Masashi 昌志 bright, beautiful, glorious + will

Summer flowers for girls

Flower names are always popular, but flowers are at their most gorgeous in summer.

Here are some gorgeous flower names for girls.

Himawari 向日葵 sunflower (The combination of these three kanji represents sunflower. )
Yurika 百合華 lily + beauty, splendor
Marie 茉莉絵 white jasmine + picture
Karen 夏蓮 summer + lotus
Aika 葵香 hollyhock + scent

I can’t wait to introduce names associated with autumn in my next article!