When Japanese people see or hear a given name, they can often make a fairly natural guess: “probably male” or “probably female.” But a name does not always make the answer clear. Some names strongly suggest one gender, while others leave even Japanese people unsure.
For example, names such as Masaru, Atsushi, and Daisuke sound strongly male to many Japanese people. Names such as Ayano, Mariko, and Yoko are more likely to sound female. Sometimes the sound or ending of a name gives an impression of gender even before you see the kanji.
The ending -ko has traditionally been strongly associated with female names, while -ro is strongly associated with male names. But Japanese people do not judge gender from endings alone. Certain sounds and kanji also appear more often in male or female names, and people gradually develop a sense for these patterns.
At the same time, names such as Aoi, Hikaru, and Tsubasa can be used for both males and females. Even a Japanese person may not know someone’s gender from the name alone. The same pronunciation can also give a different impression depending on the kanji used, and sometimes even seeing the kanji does not settle the question.
Another complication is that many newer names are difficult to read from the kanji alone. Japanese people themselves may look at a name and wonder, “How do you pronounce this?” Yet the kanji or the overall impression of the name may still suggest one gender more than the other. You may not know how to read the name at all, yet still have a sense that it is probably male or female.
Naming trends also change over time, so older clues are not always enough. Endings such as -ko for women and -ro for men can still be useful, but newer names do not always follow those patterns. A Japanese name may give a strong impression of gender, but it is still only an impression. Some names simply do not tell you whether the person is male or female, even if you are Japanese.
