Ju

Origin: Chinese
Gender: Female
Meaning: "Chrysanthemum"
Pronunciation: JOO
Other forms: N/A

Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers, native to Asia and northeastern Europe, and are of the family Asteraceae. The word "chrysanthemum" comes from the Greek chrysos, meaning "gold", and anthemon, which means "flower". They were first cultivated in China as far back as the 15th century, and are thought to have been brought to China sometime in the 8th century, when the Emperor made them his official seal. The chrysanthemum is one of the four gentlemen usually depicted in traditional Chinese ink and wash paintings. The other three are the plum, the orchid, and the bamboo. In some parts of Asia, the white or yellow species are boiled and made into a tea.

They are also often boiled or steamed and used as greens, especially in Chinese cuisine. In Europe, incurve chrysanthemums are symbolic of death, and used only for funerals. In China, Japan, and Korea, white chrysanthemums are symbols of lamentation, or grief. While the name Ju is certainly short, oftentimes it will be paired with another name, like in many parts of Asia. I think it is lovely, though it might encounter a few odd stares here. Another thing to beware of is that in China, the "Chrysanthemum Gate" often just referred to as "Chrysanthemum" is a euphemism for "anus", with sexual connotations.