Konnichiwa J44xm-san!
Yes, Japanese boys had -maru in their name ending as like Bonten-maru. But what it means, -maru? First of all, I answer the question. Maru means excreta, feces, excrement, lavatory or something dirty. Oh, Japanese boy has a excreta in their name? :nailbiting:
Why Japanese parents name their baby "excreta"?
This custom "name -maru" was done in ancient(old) times. In ancient times, infant mortality was very high rate. Because there was not medical treatment and medicine. People depended on a superstition, charm or god. "name -maru" is one of those charm. Ancient people believed that illness (pestilence) is brought by Oni (Oni is a demon). Oni take baby's life easily. People must protect their baby from Oni (pestilence). And they named their baby as like "excreta" or something dirty. "excreta" is dirty and people hate to touch dirty things. And ancient people thought that "Oni must hate to touch dirty things too!". And they name their baby as "excreta". This is a charm to protect their baby from Oni (pestilence).
Other charm name "Ohiroi", "Hiroimaru".
"Ohiroi(Hiroi-maru)" is "hirou" originally, and means "pick up" in Japanese. Japanese people believed that abandoned child has long life. And Japanese King Hideyoshi named his son "Hiroimaru". And Hiroimaru was called "Ohiroi". "Ohiroi" means a foundling. But this name "Ohiroi" is very rare and name "Ohiroi" is not common custom. King Hideyoshi had gotten two children but they died in babyhood. He desired his baby earnestly, but his age is 57. It was very hard for him to get his baby. But he get his baby! He was very glad and he name his baby "Hiroimaru". It is a wish to get long life. :notworthy:
Dose Japanese boy has the name "-maru"? and "-maru" means "excreta" even now?
Nowadays, name "-maru" has not meaning dirty things, and most of all boy has not name "-maru" now. The least I have not friends who has name "-maru". On the contrary name "-maru" means noble child. Because name "-maru" was used for child of feudal lord, high-ranking samurai or noble.
a superfluity information
Some characters has name "-maru" in Anime "Naruto", Konohamaru, Orochimaru, Shikamaru, Akamaru... But usually Ninja has not the name "-maru" because Ninja is farmer but not feudal lord or noble. But Naruto is fictitious world but not Japan. Don't mind small things!
And Orochi means monster(giant) serpent.
Shika means deer. "Ino shika Chou" originate in the Japanese card game "Hanafuda". "Ino" is Inoshishi and means a wild boar. "Chou" is Choucho and means butterfly. Is "Ino" a wild boar? Is "Chouji" a butterfly? Is it the opposite?
"maru" never means "excreta" now, is it right?
Yes, usually maru means a circle or full now. But there is a thing that originate in ancient "maru". It is a "Omaru". Omaru is a chamber pot(or small scale toilet for baby). But Omaru is a proper noun, and Omaru has no relation to Maru nowadays.
Why suffix for ship names, "-maru"?
The reason of suffix for ship names "-maru" is the same as beby's name. People wished a safety of cruise and they named their ship "-maru" to protect their ship from see monster. But this is one of some reason to suffix for ship names "-maru". :note:
Name "-maru" was not only ship but also Katana!
Some well known Katana has name "-maru", an instance "Kishinmaru". In this case, name "-maru" derived from "Maro". "Maro" is ancient word and means "I : the first person". The Katana which is named "-maru" express a pair of the owner, and the katana named the first person "-maru".
"Kishinmaru" is famous as Saitou Hajime's Katana. Saitou Hajime is a member of Shinsengumi. And he is in Anime "Rurouni Kenshin" / "Samurai X".
NANGI
you must know what i mean.
