Nobu was used as a girl's name back in the olden days. Based on some research that I've done (gathering names from passenger lists and US census data), Nobu was uncommon in the late Edo period and the Meiji period. Those that do have the name were more likely to have theirs written in kana.This goes back to the fact that 2 syllable names were preferred at the time, more so before the Meiji period. Towards the 2nd half of the Meiji period and the Taishō period, those types of names were quickly shunted out in popularity by names ending in *ko.
This goes back to the fact that 2 syllable names were preferred at the time, more so before the Meiji period. Towards the 2nd half of the Meiji period and the Taishō period, those types of names were quickly shunted out in popularity by names ending in *ko.