Gender-neutral names in contemporary Japan

This study explores the growing use of gender-neutral given names in contemporary Japan, focusing on the motivations and decision-making processes behind their selection. Based on a qualitative content analysis of name-selection narratives submitted to a popular parenting website over a fifteen-year period, the article examines whether gender neutrality is an explicit goal or an incidental outcome of naming practices. The findings reveal that while gender-neutral names are increasingly visible in rankings and media discourse, they are infrequently chosen with gender-related social concerns in mind. Only a minority of namegivers explicitly mentioned gender neutrality, and even fewer cited concerns such as inclusivity, flexibility in gender identity, or resistance to stereotypes. The study situates these findings within the evolving landscape of Japanese naming practices, arguing that gender-neutral naming often reflects broader shifts in naming conventions rather than a conscious engagement with gender issues. Nonetheless, such names contribute to a subtle reconfiguration of gender norms in everyday life.