Will the reform of the family registration law that limits readings of names decrease the rates of unique baby names?

Abstract

This article summarizes the reform of the family registration law that was enacted in 2023 and is planned to be acted in 2024, and discusses the potential influences on naming, especially on the rates of unique baby names. This reform includes two major changes: registering readings of names in the family database and limiting readings of names written in Chinese characters. However, based on the information available at the time of writing this article (September 2023), it is predicted that these two changes will not extensively affect the rates of unique baby names. It is expected that the trend of increasing unique names will not reverse, which means that the predicted influence of the reform is not so profound. Until readings of names are forced to be registered in the family database, it has been common that they are registered in many other databases and people do not change their readings of names that are given at birth. Thus, even when readings of names are mandated for registry in the family database, major changes in naming are not predicted. Moreover, even when some readings of names are restricted, as long as “Japanese traditional naming practice that has allowed a broad range of readings of Chinese characters such as nanori” (stated in the draft proposal) continues, giving unique names is permitted, and the extent of the restriction is estimated to be small.