What does Hikaru mean?
Hikaru means “light” or “radiance” in Japanese.
What does Makoto mean?
Makoto is written with a kanji meaning “sincerity” or “truth.”
Hikaru vs Makoto
Which is more popular?
Makoto is more popular than Hikaru today: about 11 US babies were given the name Makoto in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
| Hikaru | Makoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light, radiance | Sincerity, truth |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | hee-KAH-roo | mah-KOH-toh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1992 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2006 (14) | 1922 (17) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 11 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hikaru
Makoto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hikaru | Makoto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | 55 |
| 2010s | 36 | 107 |
| 2000s | 69 | 81 |
| 1990s | 46 | 72 |
| 1980s | 0 | 59 |
| 1970s | 0 | 31 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 | 11 |
| 1920s | 0 | 101 |
| 1910s | 0 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hikaru or Makoto more popular?
Makoto is more popular than Hikaru today: about 11 US babies were given the name Makoto in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
What is the difference between Hikaru and Makoto?
Hikaru means Light, radiance (Japanese origin), while Makoto means Sincerity, truth (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Hikaru or Makoto?
In US records, Hikaru first appears in 1992 and Makoto in 1915, so Makoto has the longer recorded history.