What does Hikaru mean?
Hikaru means “light” or “radiance” in Japanese.
What does Akira mean?
Akira is commonly written with a kanji meaning “bright” or “clear.”
Hikaru vs Akira
Which is more popular?
Akira is more popular than Hikaru today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
| Hikaru | Akira | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light, radiance | Bright, clear |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | hee-KAH-roo | ah-KEE-rah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1992 | 1973 |
| Peak year | 2006 (14) | 2008 (424) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 257 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hikaru
Akira
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hikaru | Akira |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | 1,378 |
| 2010s | 36 | 2,521 |
| 2000s | 69 | 2,625 |
| 1990s | 46 | 955 |
| 1980s | 0 | 288 |
| 1970s | 0 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hikaru or Akira more popular?
Akira is more popular than Hikaru today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
What is the difference between Hikaru and Akira?
Hikaru means Light, radiance (Japanese origin), while Akira means Bright, clear (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Hikaru or Akira?
In US records, Hikaru first appears in 1992 and Akira in 1973, so Akira has the longer recorded history.