What’s In a Name? Part 15

On the first day of holidays I give to all of you.. a new entry in the ongoing kanji series! Since this is a happy time of year we’re going to be looking at some happy kanji! Sono - 園 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Garden New (Standardized) Meaning: Garden Found In: All Five Hanamachi Thinking about flowers in beautiful gardens is a nice change from the cold outside! The kanji itself kind of resembles an old, stately garden with high walls and a water feature running through the middle Examples 晃園 Kōsono (Gion Kobu): “Clear Garden”, can also be translated as “Garden of Clarity,” a name that eludes to finding inner peace or enlightenment through meditation in a garden. 市園 Ichisono (Pontocho): “First Garden,” the most stunning garden of them all, possibly referring to a woman with many highly cultivated gei. 勝園 Katsusono (Kamishichiken): “Victorious Garden” or “Garden of Victory,” a name that brings to mind a garden that celebrates the triumphs of its owner. 園ハ Sonoha (Miygawa Cho): “Eight Gardens,” likely put together to make a sound rather than a deeper meaning, but it’s quite unique ^^ つね園 Tsunesono (Gion Higashi): “Constant Garden,” likens to a place that can weather any storm and still be beautiful. Some - 染 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Color New (Standardized) Meaning: Color Found In: All Five Hanamachi What would a flower be without color? This kanji is sometimes linked with dyes, specifically for kimono, but I don’t want to over complicate it too much ^^ Examples 染蝶 Somechō (Gion Kobu): “Colored Butterfly,” could also be “Colorful Butterfly.” It’s a lovely name either way! 福染 Fukusome (Pontocho): “Lucky Color,” another very happy sounding name. 尚そめ Naosome (Kamishichiken): “Esteemed Color,” the hiragana form of the kanji that still holds the same meaning. It brings to mind colors that are used for formal situations and hold special connotations.  菊染 Kikusome (Miyagawa Cho): “Colorful Chrysanthemum,” pretty straightforward. 染友 Someyū (Gion Higashi): “Colorful Friend,” it’s hard to have a boring name when it’s full of color, so a colorful friend must be just as exciting ^^ Yuki/Kō/Sachi - 幸 Prefix or Suffix: Both Old Meaning: Happiness, Being Blessed New (Standardized) Meaning: Happiness, Being Blessed Found In: All Five Hanamachi How can we talk about happy kanji without the kanji that symbolizes happiness!? We can’t, so of course it has to be showcased! Examples 幸苑 Yukizono (Gion Kobu): “Blessed Garden” or “Garden of Happiness,” the “苑” kanji, also pronounced as “some” (or “zome” in this case), also means garden (it’s like name-ception!). 幸子 Sachiko (Gion Kobu): “Blessed Child” or “Happy Child,” a name I had initially overlooked and had forgotten about, but it was brought to my attention as it has such a unique pronunciation.  久幸 Hisakō (Pontocho): “Long Time Blessings” or “Long Time Happiness,” a name likely given to a woman who was always smiling. さと幸 Satoyuki (Kamishichiken): “Village Fortune (Fortunate Blessings)” or “Village Happiness,” even bigger than a garden, so a woman with wide reaching happiness. 叶幸 Kanayuki (Miyagawa Cho): “Blessed Wish” or “Happy Wish,” given to a girl with a promising future who makes others happy. 幸べん Kōben (Gion Higashi): “Blessed Flower Petal” or “Happy Flower Petal,” a bit more difficult than the others since “ben” can have many meanings, but flower petals seem to work best in a world of flowers and willows.