What does Haru mean?
Haru is written with kanji for “sun/light” or “spring.”
What does Kenta mean?
Kenta joins the kanji for “healthy, strong” with “thick” or “big.”
Haru vs Kenta
Which is more popular?
Haru is more popular than Kenta today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 7 named Kenta.
| Haru | Kenta | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sun, light; spring | Healthy and big |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HAH-roo | KEN-tah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2003 | 1973 |
| Peak year | 2025 (29) | 1977 (48) |
| In 2025 | 29 | 7 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Haru
Kenta
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Haru | Kenta |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 147 | 29 |
| 2010s | 128 | 98 |
| 2000s | 37 | 155 |
| 1990s | 0 | 216 |
| 1980s | 0 | 120 |
| 1970s | 0 | 93 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Haru or Kenta more popular?
Haru is more popular than Kenta today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 7 named Kenta.
What is the difference between Haru and Kenta?
Haru means Sun, light; spring (Japanese origin), while Kenta means Healthy and big (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Haru or Kenta?
In US records, Haru first appears in 2003 and Kenta in 1973, so Kenta has the longer recorded history.