Major contemporary works such as "Murasaki Shikibu Diary," "Sarashina Nikki (As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams)," and "Mizukagami (The Water Mirror)" mention the title of 'The Tale of Genji'; therefore, it is thought that the tale had that title from the beginning.
『紫式部日記』、『更級日記』、『水鏡』などのこの物語の成立時期に近い主要な文献に「源氏の物語」とあることなどから、物語の成立当初からこの名前で呼ばれていたと考えられている。