Yuma (悠真) was the most popular name for baby boys in 2013, while Yuina (結菜) was the most popular girls' name this year, according to a survey conducted by Meiji-Yasuda Seimei, a major insurance company in Japan.

The survey, conducted on a yearly basis by Meiji-Yasuda, sampled approximately 10,000 parents of babies born this year, the company said on its website.

According to the survey, the name most chosen for boys was Yuma, which surpassed last year's most popular name, Ren (蓮), and became the most popularly used name since the survey began.

The kanji used in most Japanese names hold a significant meaning and thus the time and thought put into choosing a name is very important. Meiji-Yasuda said that with Abenomics in full swing and the Tokyo Olympics coming in 2020, Japanese economic recovery is on the horizon. "As such, boys' names were chosen to promote confidence towards a brighter future, and girls' names were chosen to promote the importance of nurturing human relationships," Meiji-Yasuda said.

© Japan Today