The use of Joyo Kanji in names


I know that Jinmeiyo Kanji are used in names, but can some Joyo Kanji be used
as well?

For example, on Jisho, I found 夜{ゆみ} being used as a name though it is not a
Jinmeiyo Kanji, although it is a Grade 4 Joyo Kanji. The same goes for 愛{ゆき},
which is only a Grade 2 Kanji.

Can anyone explain this?

Thanks in advance.




Of course they can be used in names. The 人名用 kanzi are just ones that are not
常用 but that are still good to know for (at least) the purposes of recognizing
and using them in names. It just depends on the person and the name. Some
examples of common 常用漢字 names:

  * 浜野 
  * 本田 
  * 松本 
  * 石川 
  * 太郎
  * 中村
  * 高橋
  * 雪子

Some of these examples are last names and some are first names. Notice that
most are composed of two characters.

Note that there can be 常用 and 表外 ways to write names (or even numerous ways of
writing names in either different 常用 or 表外漢字). For example, 濱野 is another name
pronounced はまの. Names are also not limited to 漢字, for example, depending on
the parents' preference when deciding a first name (even if the name could be
written in 漢字). However, the same person always writes their name the same
way.

