What does Hikaru mean?
Hikaru means “light” or “radiance” in Japanese.
What does Hinata mean?
Hinata means “a sunny place” or “toward the sun.”
Hikaru vs Hinata
Which is more popular?
Hinata is more popular than Hikaru today: about 24 US babies were given the name Hinata in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
| Hikaru | Hinata | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light, radiance | Sunny place |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | hee-KAH-roo | hee-NAH-tah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1992 | 2005 |
| Peak year | 2006 (14) | 2023 (49) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 24 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hikaru
Hinata
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hikaru | Hinata |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | 226 |
| 2010s | 36 | 193 |
| 2000s | 69 | 29 |
| 1990s | 46 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hikaru or Hinata more popular?
Hinata is more popular than Hikaru today: about 24 US babies were given the name Hinata in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
What is the difference between Hikaru and Hinata?
Hikaru means Light, radiance (Japanese origin), while Hinata means Sunny place (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Hikaru or Hinata?
In US records, Hikaru first appears in 1992 and Hinata in 2005, so Hikaru has the longer recorded history.