I found there are a lot of common first names between America and Japan! : for example, Erica, Anna, Emma, Sarah, Marie, Lisa, Anne, etc. Are these names popular in the US? Isn't old? (In fact, these are my friends' ones!)

In addition, there are some first names that's pronunciations are the same as somethings of English words : for example, あい(i), めい(May), るな(Luna), のえる(Noel), なな(Nana), ゆうだい(Youdie)... What do you think?

Question

I found there are a lot of common first names between America and Japan! : for example, Erica, Anna, Emma, Sarah, Marie, Lisa, Anne, etc.  Are these names popular in the US? Isn't old?  (In fact, these are my friends' ones!)

In addition, there are some first names that's pronunciations are the same as somethings of English words :  for example, あい(i), めい(May), るな(Luna), のえる(Noel), なな(Nana), ゆうだい(Youdie)...  What do you think?

katiem415 · Answer

Yes those are all very common names in the US. The only one that sounds slightly 'old' to me is Lisa

CorvusTheStrigoi · Answer

I'd say a large reason for this is because Japan has been incorporating words and names from other languages for a few decades now; in fact I believe it's some 15-20% of Japan's total vocabulary that's comprised of foreign words(?). More than any other language in the world. Which isn't really surprising. Once the post-war tension died off Japan became obsessed with Western culture, resulting in the creation of numerous music and fashion subgroups.

Of course, another thing is that the names you've listed are fairly simple and fit nicely into Japan's phonetics. So even the ones that appear in both languages organically aren't really that surprising.

Of course, another thing is that the names you've listed are fairly simple and fit nicely into Japan's phonetics. So even the ones that appear in both languages organically aren't really that surprising.

Chris301 · Answer

May is a name in America too. so is Noel.

cindy1897 · Answer

My middle name is Marie and I'm 20, Marie isn't that old. My younger step sister's first name is Emma and I have a couple friends named Sarah and Emma.

C0DY · Answer

we have slang for names like anna may actually be annabell or sarah may be short for s Sierra lisa maybe lisabell so on so that may be it

eve23 · Answer

those are very common names. some of them are older names tho.

Monraya · Answer

Most common for me is "Sarah, erica and Emma"

Alisha_D · Answer

Those names were all fairly common among girls I knew growing up. I am 39. I think Emma and maybe Sarah are still fairly popular. I don't think any of them would seem unusual to name a girl born today, except maybe Lisa. And even that wouldn't be very odd.