What does Hikaru mean?
Hikaru means “light” or “radiance” in Japanese.
What does Nagi mean?
Nagi is written with the kanji for the calm “lull” of the sea between wind and waves.
Hikaru vs Nagi
Which is more popular?
Nagi is more popular than Hikaru today: about 8 US babies were given the name Nagi in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
| Hikaru | Nagi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light, radiance | Calm, lull |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | hee-KAH-roo | NAH-gee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1992 | 1992 |
| Peak year | 2006 (14) | 2024 (10) |
| In 2025 | 7 | 8 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hikaru
Nagi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hikaru | Nagi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | 26 |
| 2010s | 36 | 41 |
| 2000s | 69 | 48 |
| 1990s | 46 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hikaru or Nagi more popular?
Nagi is more popular than Hikaru today: about 8 US babies were given the name Nagi in 2025, compared with 7 named Hikaru.
What is the difference between Hikaru and Nagi?
Hikaru means Light, radiance (Japanese origin), while Nagi means Calm, lull (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Hikaru or Nagi?
In US records, Hikaru first appears in 1992 and Nagi in 1992, so Hikaru has the longer recorded history.