What does Riku mean?
Riku is written with the kanji for “land.”
What does Sota mean?
Sota often joins the kanji for “sudden, gallant” with “thick” or “big.”
Riku vs Sota
Which is more popular?
Sota is more popular than Riku today: about 15 US babies were given the name Sota in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
| Riku | Sota | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Land | Gallant, big |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | REE-koo | SOH-tah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1996 | 1997 |
| Peak year | 2024 (24) | 2015 (22) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 15 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Riku
Sota
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Riku | Sota |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 121 | 55 |
| 2010s | 180 | 110 |
| 2000s | 145 | 38 |
| 1990s | 37 | 11 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Riku or Sota more popular?
Sota is more popular than Riku today: about 15 US babies were given the name Sota in 2025, compared with 13 named Riku.
What is the difference between Riku and Sota?
Riku means Land (Japanese origin), while Sota means Gallant, big (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Riku or Sota?
In US records, Riku first appears in 1996 and Sota in 1997, so Riku has the longer recorded history.