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