What does Haru mean?
Haru is written with kanji for “sun/light” or “spring.”
What does Riku mean?
Riku is written with the kanji for “land.”
Haru vs Riku
Which is more popular?
Haru is more popular than Riku today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
| Haru | Riku | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sun, light; spring | Land |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HAH-roo | REE-koo |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2003 | 1996 |
| Peak year | 2025 (29) | 2024 (24) |
| In 2025 | 29 | 13 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Haru
Riku
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Haru | Riku |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 147 | 121 |
| 2010s | 128 | 180 |
| 2000s | 37 | 145 |
| 1990s | 0 | 37 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Haru or Riku more popular?
Haru is more popular than Riku today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
What is the difference between Haru and Riku?
Haru means Sun, light; spring (Japanese origin), while Riku means Land (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Haru or Riku?
In US records, Haru first appears in 2003 and Riku in 1996, so Riku has the longer recorded history.