Find out how popular the first name Minori has been for the last 30 years (from 1994 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Minori by gender

Based on the last 30 years of data, Minori is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Minori.

The history of the first name Minori

The name Minori has its origins in Japanese culture, where it has been used as a given name for centuries. It is derived from the Japanese words "mi" meaning "beautiful" and "nori" meaning "law" or "principle," suggesting a meaning of "beautiful principle" or "beautiful law."

In ancient Japan, the name Minori was often bestowed upon children born into noble or samurai families, as it conveyed a sense of beauty, grace, and adherence to the principles of honor and duty. The name can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185 AD), when it appeared in historical records and literary works of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Minori can be found in the "Genji Monogatari" (The Tale of Genji), a classic work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. In this work, a minor character named Minori is mentioned, suggesting the name was in use among the nobility during that era.

Throughout Japanese history, several notable individuals have borne the name Minori. One such figure was Minori Kawana (1828-1898), a prominent samurai and politician who played a crucial role in the Meiji Restoration, which ushered in the modernization of Japan in the late 19th century.

Another famous bearer of the name was Minori Watanabe (1910-1975), a Japanese writer and novelist known for her works exploring the complexities of family relationships and societal norms. Her novel "Tsugaru" (1963) was widely acclaimed and earned her the prestigious Noma Literary Prize.

In the realm of sports, Minori Nakata (born 1980) is a former professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the Yakult Swallows in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He was known for his defensive skills and was recognized as one of the best fielders in Japanese baseball during his playing career.

Minori Chihara (born 1988) is a renowned Japanese voice actress and singer who has lent her voice to numerous anime and video game characters. She is particularly famous for her roles in popular series such as "Yuri!!! on Ice" and "Steins;Gate."

Lastly, Minori Kawamoto (born 1995) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed with the prominent wrestling promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom. She has won multiple championships and is regarded as one of the top wrestlers in the "joshi puroresu" (women's professional wrestling) scene in Japan.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Minori was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Minori, please contact us.

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