What does Hinata mean?
Hinata means “a sunny place” or “toward the sun.”
What does Makoto mean?
Makoto is written with a kanji meaning “sincerity” or “truth.”
Hinata vs Makoto
Which is more popular?
Hinata is more popular than Makoto today: about 24 US babies were given the name Hinata in 2025, compared with 11 named Makoto.
| Hinata | Makoto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sunny place | Sincerity, truth |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | hee-NAH-tah | mah-KOH-toh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 2005 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2023 (49) | 1922 (17) |
| In 2025 | 24 | 11 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hinata
Makoto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hinata | Makoto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 226 | 55 |
| 2010s | 193 | 107 |
| 2000s | 29 | 81 |
| 1990s | 0 | 72 |
| 1980s | 0 | 59 |
| 1970s | 0 | 31 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 | 11 |
| 1920s | 0 | 101 |
| 1910s | 0 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hinata or Makoto more popular?
Hinata is more popular than Makoto today: about 24 US babies were given the name Hinata in 2025, compared with 11 named Makoto.
What is the difference between Hinata and Makoto?
Hinata means Sunny place (Japanese origin), while Makoto means Sincerity, truth (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Hinata or Makoto?
In US records, Hinata first appears in 2005 and Makoto in 1915, so Makoto has the longer recorded history.