What does Haru mean?
Haru is written with kanji for “sun/light” or “spring.”
What does Sota mean?
Sota often joins the kanji for “sudden, gallant” with “thick” or “big.”
Haru vs Sota
Which is more popular?
Haru is more popular than Sota today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 15 named Sota.
| Haru | Sota | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sun, light; spring | Gallant, big |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HAH-roo | SOH-tah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2003 | 1997 |
| Peak year | 2025 (29) | 2015 (22) |
| In 2025 | 29 | 15 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Haru
Sota
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Haru | Sota |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 147 | 55 |
| 2010s | 128 | 110 |
| 2000s | 37 | 38 |
| 1990s | 0 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Haru or Sota more popular?
Haru is more popular than Sota today: about 29 US babies were given the name Haru in 2025, compared with 15 named Sota.
What is the difference between Haru and Sota?
Haru means Sun, light; spring (Japanese origin), while Sota means Gallant, big (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Haru or Sota?
In US records, Haru first appears in 2003 and Sota in 1997, so Sota has the longer recorded history.