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TOKYO, Dec 7 (AFP) - Japan's new baby princess, born seven days ago, has been named Aiko, literally meaning "Love Child".

The baby girl was also given the official royal name Toshimomiya, to be used during the princess' youth, said Hirofumi Oka, head of the general affairs division of the Imperial Household Agency.

"Toshi" means "respect", while the suffix "miya" denotes an imperial prince or princess. The suffix "ko" in Aiko, means "child" and is only used for girls' names.

In line with tradition, the characters for both names were selected from Chinese classical poetry, Oka said at a news conference where the Chinese characters and their phonetic readings were revealed in fine calligraphy brush strokes on a parchment scroll.

A statement from the agency said the names had been selected from a poem in the fourth century BC Chinese work "Discourses of Mencius", part of which reads: "A person who loves others will be loved by others. A person who respects others will be respected from others."

The baby was formally named by Emperor Akihito, although Japanese media reports said her parents actually chose the names from a shortlist drawn up by scholars.

A message from Akihito with the names was conveyed by a chamberlain on a cedar tray covered with a purple cloth bearing the imperial symbol of a stylised chrysanthemum to Naruhito at his residence.

It was then delivered by courtiers to the baby and her mother, Masako, 37, who is still resting after the delivery at the hospital in the imperial palace grounds.

Before the naming ceremony, Aiko was ritually bathed in a cedar tub as passages were recited from the ancient Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan) and strings of Japanese archery bows were plucked, according to a schedule of rites released earlier by the agency.

The Nihon Shoki, which was completed in 720 AD, is the oldest official history of Japan, recording the adventures of mythical gods up and events up to the end of the seventh century.

The daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, heir to the throne, was born on December 1, their first child in eight years of marriage.

As a girl, Aiko cannot succeed her father to the Chrysanthemum Throne under the present law of succession. 

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