What does Aoi mean?
Aoi can mean “hollyhock” or “blue/green,” depending on the kanji.
What does Hikaru mean?
Hikaru means “light” or “radiance” in Japanese.
Aoi vs Hikaru
Which is more popular?
Aoi is more popular than Hikaru today: about 9 US babies were given the name Aoi in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
| Aoi | Hikaru | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Hollyhock; blue | Light, radiance |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | AH-oh-ee | hee-KAH-roo |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1994 | 1992 |
| Peak year | 2014 (14) | 2006 (14) |
| In 2025 | 9 | 7 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Aoi
Hikaru
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Aoi | Hikaru |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 9 | 18 |
| 2010s | 95 | 36 |
| 2000s | 81 | 69 |
| 1990s | 23 | 46 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Aoi or Hikaru more popular?
Aoi is more popular than Hikaru today: about 9 US babies were given the name Aoi in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
What is the difference between Aoi and Hikaru?
Aoi means Hollyhock; blue (Japanese origin), while Hikaru means Light, radiance (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Aoi or Hikaru?
In US records, Aoi first appears in 1994 and Hikaru in 1992, so Hikaru has the longer recorded history.