He once changed the Chinese characters applied to his name Motomitsu to "基光," but returned to the original "元光" after becoming the third family head succeeding his retired father, as well as being appointed to Jushiinoge, Jibu taifu.
基光と改名するが、父有光の隠居によって第3代当主となり従四位下治部大輔に任ぜられたことで元光の名に復す。