Ī set of warabi-naa appeared in the very beginning of recorded history and has not been changed since then. For example, Tukū (徳) was a name for commoners, Umi-tukū (思徳) for samurai, and Umi-tuku-gani (思徳金) for aristocrats. A commoner used neither a prefix nor suffix, a samurai used either a prefix or suffix, and an aristocrat used both a prefix and a suffix. Later in history, stylized use of prefixes and suffixes differentiated social statuses. While it was overshadowed by other name components, even adult male members of the samurai class used warabi-naa at home and when referring to their friends. Although literally meaning childhood name, it was used by commoners for their entire life. It was during the 17th century that other name components prevailed among the samurai class. They appeared even in appointment letters by the king, written mostly in hiragana. They were used as the official names during the early era of the Ryukyu Kingdom. They were the oldest component of Okinawan names as, like people in mainland Japan, the inhabitants of Ryukyu islands did not originally have names for families, clans or lineages. Warabi-naa were most prevalent among Okinawans, from the king to commoners, both male and female.

For example, the warabi-naa of Tamagusuku Chōkun was Umi-guraa (思五良). Warabi-naa (warabe-na/ warabi-naa, 童名) were personal names. Okinawan names underwent great changes after the Ryūkyū Kingdom fell under the Satsuma Domain's control. People with different social statuses bore different kinds of names, maintained several names to use in different occasions, and sometimes changed them in their lifetime. 島袋寛子 Hiroko Shimabukuro ( Speed), Jake ShimabukuroĪs in mainland Japan, historical names in Okinawa are more complicated. 玉城幸也 Yukinari Tamaki ( Da Pump), 玉城千春 Chiharu Tamashiro ( Kiroro), 玉木宏 Hiroshi Tamaki 新垣結衣 Yui Aragaki, 新垣里沙 Risa Niigaki ( Morning Musume) 大城バネサ Vanesa Oshiro, 大城美和 Miwa Oshiro, 大城みさき Misaki OshiroĪragaki, Arakaki, Shingaki, Niigaki, Arakachi 金城武 Takeshi Kaneshiro, 金城綾乃 Ayano Kinjō ( Kiroro) In addition, the Okinawan language has its own means of reading Japanese kanji. Since the Japanese language allows for multiple possible 'readings (pronunciations)' for each character, the reading of Okinawan family names written with the same characters varies. This top 10 list is based on the name as written in kanji (Chinese characters). In contrast it becomes increasingly difficult to find unique Okinawan given names. Japanese family names generally show regional variation, but Okinawan family names are known for its distinctiveness. The given name may be referred to as the 'lower name' because, in vertically-written Japanese, the given name appears under the family name.

A family name is called myōji (苗字 or 名字), uji (氏) or sei (姓), and a given name is called the 'front name' (名前, namae) or 'lower name' (下の名前, shita no namae). Accordingly, an Okinawan name has only two components, a family name and a given name. Modern namesĪs Japanese citizens, Okinawans today comply with the Japanese family register ( koseki) system.

Expatriates originally from Okinawa also have these names. Okinawan family names represent the distinct historical and cultural background of the islands which now comprise Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Okinawan names today have only two components, the family names ( surnames or last names) first and the given names last. Okinawan last name Hanko seals in Tsurumi Okinawa Street

Meaning of name shiira in okinawan