What does Riku mean?
Riku is written with the kanji for “land.”
What does Haruto mean?
Haruto commonly combines kanji for “sun/light/spring” with “fly” or “person.”
Riku vs Haruto
Which is more popular?
Haruto is more popular than Riku today: about 15 US babies were given the name Haruto in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
| Riku | Haruto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Land | Sun, light; soar |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | REE-koo | hah-ROO-toh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1996 | 1925 |
| Peak year | 2024 (24) | 2014 (22) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 15 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Riku
Haruto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Riku | Haruto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 121 | 66 |
| 2010s | 180 | 142 |
| 2000s | 145 | 66 |
| 1990s | 37 | 0 |
| 1920s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Riku or Haruto more popular?
Haruto is more popular than Riku today: about 15 US babies were given the name Haruto in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
What is the difference between Riku and Haruto?
Riku means Land (Japanese origin), while Haruto means Sun, light; soar (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Riku or Haruto?
In US records, Riku first appears in 1996 and Haruto in 1925, so Haruto has the longer recorded history.