Saburō

Saburo is the traditional Japanese name given to a third-born son, its characters literally meaning third and son. Part of a counting series that also includes Ichiro, Jiro, and Shiro, it carries the architecture of family order on its face. The name was extremely common through the early twentieth century and has since softened in frequency, giving it a warm midcentury patina. The long final vowel lends it gravity, a name that settles rather than skips. Worn by generals, poets, and painters including Saburo Kawakita. Ordinal in origin, personal in effect. Steady, grandfatherly, proud of its place in line.