朽葉, Kuchi-ba means "Decaying Leaves." We adopt this form of the name over the 1739 くちは, which Nakajima gives as a synonym, preferring the modern for of rendaku with "ha" becoming "ba." Note that, had Nakajima not determined synonomy, we would probably keep these separate, since Kuchiha, especially written in kana, is a relatively common girl's name. Although the name may at first seem incongruous, it is a happy one for lovers of maples and forests generally, evoking the rich tapestry of the wet, leaf-covered forest floor, all in shades of russets and browns and displaying infinite patterns, while smelling richly of loam, mushrooms and Autumn. This image reflects the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi, 侘寂, the beauty of impermanence and imperfection, as decaying leaves contribute to the cycle of the forest. (ED)